The Bureau of Reclamation this week injected $50 million into efforts to bolster water levels in the Great Salt Lake, announcing funding that will also be used for ecosystem restoration and habitat improvement projects.
The Biden administration on Monday said it had granted Utah’s request for funds under the Inflation Reduction Act, which designated $4 billion for water conservation efforts in drought-ravaged areas in the West, including the Colorado River and Great Salt Lake basins.
The state will match the $50 million grant with its own funds, for a total of $100 million.
“We recognize restoring the lake to a healthy range will take years, and we very much appreciate the funding and ongoing support from the Bureau of Reclamation to help us meet that goal,” Brian Steed, Utah’s Great Salt Lake commissioner, said in a statement. “It’s going to take everyone participating in conserving, dedicating and delivering water to the lake every year.”
