Years ago I walked a section of the Great Salt Lake’s south shore many times, participating in a five-summer shorebird survey conducted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. I was captivated by the lake and its surrounding habitat in early morning light, as well as sightings of snowy plovers (status: highly imperiled) on the mudflats, and long-billed curlew and burrowing owls in the playas, wetlands and upland habitats.
Now the Utah inland port is being built on 16,000 acres of Great Salt Lake’s extended south shore habitat. That habitat loss is a done deal, so it is ever more important to protect the adjacent habitat and its fresh water sources for the millions of birds that use them.
My major concern is the potential for poisonous polluting discharge and runoff from trucks, trains and their cargos. The warehouses currently under construction are adjacent to canals bringing fresh water to Great Salt Lake, and its marshes, including Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. It seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
I appreciate that the Inland Port Authority is looking into utilizing sustainable energy sources, but there is so much more that is needed in their plan to protect the birds in this designated Globally Important Bird Area.
Deedee O’Brien, Holladay