Great Salt Lake & drought
In Utah we're either in a drought or getting ready for the next one. Stored water and everyday conservation both help.
Drought affects water supply, fire danger, farms, and the Great Salt Lake. When the lake drops, more lakebed is exposed to wind, and dust can blow into Wasatch Front communities. Household readiness means stored water, smarter outdoor watering, and knowing how to protect your lungs on dusty days.
Why it matters in Utah
- 2026 is a drought emergency year. On May 21, 2026, Gov. Cox declared a statewide drought emergency after the warmest winter on record; snowpack was the lowest recorded since 1930, and all 29 counties were in severe drought (22 in extreme drought). Governor's Office (opens source in a new tab) Utah Water Resources (opens source in a new tab)
- Snowpack provides about 95% of Utah's water supply, according to the governor's office. Governor's Office (opens source in a new tab)
- Great Salt Lake reached a record low of 4,188.5 feet in November 2022. USGS (opens source in a new tab) Utah Water Resources (opens source in a new tab)
- The state's Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan sets a healthy range of 4,198 to 4,205 feet. GSL Strategic Plan (opens source in a new tab) Check the live USGS gauge for today's level. USGS (opens source in a new tab)
- Utah DEQ says the shrinking lake is exposing over 750 square miles of lakebed, some of which contains heavy metals. Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
Show the science
- What's in the dust? Exposed lakebed sediments contain naturally occurring and industrial metals, including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and thallium. How much ends up in the air people breathe is still unclear. Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
- Utah DEQ reports it has not measured increasing arsenic or other toxic metals in airborne particles over recent decades tied to dust events or lake levels, and that PM10 samples from five urban Salt Lake-area sites in 2022 to 2023 were below established levels of concern. DEQ also says little science exists yet on dust falling in communities, and research is ongoing. Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
- A USGS study of 2022 dust samples estimated that children from birth to 6 years are the most vulnerable at higher dust-ingestion rates; it found arsenic and sometimes lead likely came from the lakebed. USGS (opens source in a new tab)
- Dust of any kind (PM10 and PM2.5) can worsen asthma and COPD. Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
Who's most affected
- Children under 6, and people with asthma, COPD, or heart disease, on dusty days near the lake. USGS (opens source in a new tab) Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
- Households on private wells or small rural water systems during drought.
- Farms, ranches, and anyone with livestock or large gardens.
What to do
1 Before
- Store at least two weeks of water (1 gallon per person per day), more if you can. Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
- Cut outdoor watering first; that's where most residential water goes in summer. Follow the Weekly Lawn Watering Guide and look for rebates at Slow the Flow. Utah Water Resources (opens source in a new tab) Governor's Office (opens source in a new tab)
- Fix leaks, run full loads, and shorten showers by at least a minute. Governor's Office (opens source in a new tab)
- Keep a few well-fitted N95s for dusty, windy days, and a plan for an indoor clean-air room. EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- If you're on a well, know your well's depth and history and who to call if it drops.
2 During
- On dust-storm days, check air.utah.gov, stay indoors with windows closed, and run a HEPA air cleaner or MERV 13 HVAC filter if you have one. Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab) EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- Follow any local water restrictions from your city or water district.
- Keep kids from eating dirt or playing in exposed lakebed sediments; wash hands and toys after outdoor play near the lake.
3 After
- Rotate stored water on a schedule and refill containers.
- Consider waterwise landscaping for the long term; rebates may help. Utah Water Resources (opens source in a new tab)
- Wipe down dusty surfaces with a damp cloth rather than dry sweeping.