Officials Announce Partnership to Boost Great Salt Lake Water Levels

New water flows will help replenish the shrinking lake after a warm winter.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:48am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting the vast expanse of the Great Salt Lake, surrounded by dramatic clouds and hazy light that dwarfs any physical structures or human elements, conveying the sublime scale and fragility of this natural wonder.As the Great Salt Lake nears record low levels, a new partnership aims to quickly replenish the vital body of water through innovative water conservation efforts.Salt Lake City Today

The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy has formed a partnership with several state agencies and environmental groups to direct an additional 2,500 acre-feet of water per year into the Great Salt Lake's Farmington and Gilbert bays for the next 5-10 years. This comes at a critical time as the lake nears record low levels due to an unseasonably warm winter.

Why it matters

The Great Salt Lake is a vital natural resource for Utah, providing economic, environmental, and public health benefits. However, the lake has been steadily shrinking in recent years due to drought and water diversions. This new partnership aims to quickly boost water levels and prevent further ecological damage.

The details

Through the partnership, the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy will be directing an average of 2,500 acre-feet of additional water into the Great Salt Lake's Farmington and Gilbert bays each year for the next 5-10 years. This water is made possible by conservation efforts by Salt Lake City and Sandy residents, who have been changing landscaping habits and taking advantage of municipal incentive programs.

  • The partnership was announced in April 2026.
  • The additional water flows will continue for the next 5-10 years.

The players

Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy

A regional water provider serving the Salt Lake City and Sandy areas.

Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust

A non-profit organization focused on protecting and restoring the Great Salt Lake watershed.

Great Salt Lake Rising

A coalition of state agencies and environmental groups working to address the declining water levels of the Great Salt Lake.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The state agency responsible for managing Utah's wildlife and natural resources.

Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands

The state agency that manages Utah's public lands, including the Great Salt Lake.

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What they’re saying

“The one luxury that we don't really have with the lake is time. We spent a long time getting to this point, and we don't have the luxury of taking that much time to get the lake back.”

— Timothy Hawkes, Interim Executive Director, Great Salt Lake Rising

“Even in these tough times, we're able to make these commitments. If we can do this in the bad times, imagine what we can do in the good times.”

— Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Utah Division of Natural Resources

“We are proud Sandy's conservation efforts have made this water available to shepherd downriver to Great Salt Lake. Not only is Sandy conservation helping save the lake, it saves our community from future water development costs over the long term.”

— Tom Ward, Director of Sandy City Public Utilities

What’s next

Officials say this partnership is just the beginning, and they hope to see more cities and communities join the effort to conserve water and replenish the Great Salt Lake.

The takeaway

This historic partnership demonstrates how individual water conservation efforts can have a direct, positive impact on the health of the Great Salt Lake. By working together, local communities can take bold action to address the lake's declining water levels and protect this vital natural resource.