Watershed Symposium 2024

Summary:
Great Salt Lake is shrinking, yet cities along the Wasatch Front and in the lake's drainage basin continue to grow unabated. Both the lake and cities need water to prosper, setting up an existential crisis. Is it possible for the needs of the lake AND Utah's growing population to be met? The answer is YES, and this presentation will explore how.

Full Abstract:
In a world experiencing rapid population growth and limited water supplies, many cities have successfully eliminated the need to develop additional supplies as their population grows. This is known in academic circles as “decoupling” or breaking the traditional link between urban water demand and population growth. Successfully decoupling municipal and industrial (M&I) water demand from population growth has allowed these cities to continue to grow and prosper despite diminishing water availability and climate change stresses. In order for Utah to continue to grow and not cause further harm to the GSL and other aquatic ecosystems, Utah’s communities need to follow the proven decoupling model. This presentation will explore successful examples of decoupling in the Southwestern United States and assess how cities in Utah measure up and what needs to be done to ensure a bright future for all who rely on the state’s precious water resources.