Utah Bill Allows Conserved Water to Flow to Great Salt Lake

Legislation aims to help address the lake's dwindling water levels

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Utah House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee unanimously approved a bill that would allow water suppliers to redirect conserved water to the Great Salt Lake. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Hoang Nguyen, gives providers the option to include the lake in their conservation plans as it faces record-low water levels.

Why it matters

The Great Salt Lake has reached its third-lowest water levels on record, posing ecological, economic, and public health risks to the surrounding community. This bill is an effort to address the lake's water imbalance by enabling water suppliers to commit conserved water resources to the lake.

The details

HB296 amends existing law to require water providers to present conservation goals, provide public notice, and officially adopt those goals. The bill does not mandate that conserved water be sent to the Great Salt Lake, but rather gives water districts more flexibility to consider the lake in their conservation strategies.

  • The House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee voted to approve the bill on January 28, 2026.
  • The Great Salt Lake reached its third-lowest water levels on record in 2025.

The players

Rep. Hoang Nguyen

The Democratic state representative from Salt Lake City who sponsored HB296.

Laura Briefer

The director of Salt Lake City's Department of Public Utilities, which provides drinking water to nearly 400,000 people in the Salt Lake Valley.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This change will help water suppliers account for water that's committed to (the) Great Salt Lake in the development and implementation of conservation goals and strategies.”

— Rep. Hoang Nguyen (Utah News Dispatch)

“One of the most important ways to ensure that more water makes its way to Great Salt Lake is to reduce water demand and commit those water savings to Great Salt Lake.”

— Laura Briefer, Director, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (Utah News Dispatch)

What’s next

The bill is now headed to the full House for consideration.

The takeaway

This legislation represents a proactive step by Utah lawmakers to address the pressing issue of the Great Salt Lake's dwindling water levels, which pose significant ecological, economic, and public health risks to the surrounding region. By enabling water suppliers to direct conserved resources to the lake, the bill aims to improve the lake's long-term sustainability.