Lakes are temporary pools in a watershed. They are born, age, and eventually die. Lakes fill with sediment and naturally become shallower and more eutrophic. Most lakes become wetlands.
Utah Lake is now eying this destiny. I have often suggested allowing Utah Lake to peacefully age into a large wetland. I called this the “80/40 option”: reducing the surface area of Utah Lake by 80% and deepening the remaining lake to 40 feet or so.
This would create approximately 80,000 acres of critical wetland and native cottonwood/pine habitat for many species of wildlife including migratory shorebirds and waterfowl that are rapidly losing wetland habitat throughout the west. Many types of wildlife would flourish in the native habitat including mule deer, turkey and, potentially, elk.
Springs, streams and river corridors would increase in length and sinuosity, shaded by ample native canopy cover, kept cool enough to restore a native Bonneville Cutthroat trout.
Nutrients would be usurped by the wetlands and tributaries would flow clear and cold. Any nutrient or algal bloom concern would be moot. The approximately 20,000-acre remaining lake would have a large shoreline and be deep enough for native fishes and provide ample opportunity for water recreationalists.
Utah residents would inherit a state park that would rival any state park in the nation, a world class travel destination. Tens of miles of hiking and biking trails as well as several campgrounds could be established. Utah County’s economy would flourish.
I have recently estimated that the ecosystem services provided by Utah Lake, presently, could be worth $625 million/year. The “80/40″ option would substantially increase this value.
As it stands now, Utah Lake is trapped in a no-win situation and incapable of returning to a semblance of its former self without ecologically enlightened restoration efforts.
David C. Richards, Vineyard