Residents of Salt Lake County, Utah are highly concerned about the shrinking Great Salt Lake, according to new University of Utah-led research examining local perceptions of the lake's health, economic and environmental impacts.
The survey of 515 residents found that 69% reported concern about the lake's decline, with habitat loss and risks to human health ranking as the top issues.
The study also found that concern varied across communities. Hispanic/Latinx, Pacific Islander and foreign-born residents expressed greater levels of concern about several impacts, including wildlife habitat loss, regional identity and the region's ability to sustain life. Researchers say the findings show how lived experience and background can shape views about rapid, environmental changes.
"Our study helps clarify how people with different experiences make sense of the impacts of the drying Great Salt Lake," said Sara Grineski, professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Utah (U) and the study's lead author. "Asking residents about various dimensions associated with a local hazard reveals residents' specific concerns. These insights could help policymakers prioritize interventions that address the most significant sources of concern."
Although public attitudes toward climate change have been widely studied, far less is known about how people perceive an environmental crisis in their own backyard. The new survey is the first to examine how concerns about the Great Salt Lake's decline differ across Salt Lake County residents based on their backgrounds and personal experiences with the lake with regards to multiple dimensions of impact.
The Great Salt Lake hit record-low levels in 2022, driven by a combination of water use, prolonged drought and rising temperatures. As the climate warms, more frequent droughts and extreme heat are expected to speed up the lake's water loss. The researchers asked respondents how concerned they were about seven possible consequences of the lake drying up-for example, dust-related health risks, economic impacts on farmers, harm to lake recreation, loss of regional identity and threats to critical bird habitat.
"Our results suggest that policies for the Great Salt Lake will gain stronger public support if they are framed as actions needed to protect wildlife or other key values rather than actions to stabilize water levels," said Tim Collins, professor at the U's School of Environment, Society & Sustainability and coauthor of the study.
The study, published in the journal Environment and Behavior on May 31, 2026, was coauthored by Malcolm Araos, assistant professor at New York University who conducted the research as a U postdoctoral researcher.
Among their conclusions:
- 69% of Salt Lake County residents are concerned about the drying lake.
- 77% are concerned about the loss of animal habitats, 73% about the impacts of dust emissions on human health, 65% about economic effects, 64% about quality of life, 57% about the region's ability to sustain life, 55% about a loss of regional identity, and 48% about the effects on lake-related recreation.
- Hispanic/Latinx and Pacific Islanders had levels of concern of the lake drying up that were 10 percent greater than White residents. They were also more concerned about the loss of animal habitats and regional identity, consequences for recreation and the region's ability to sustain life for future generations.
- Women's concern about the lake drying was 16% higher than men's, consistent with previous research showing that women tend to perceive environmental risks as more serious than men.
- Residents under age 30 had levels of general concern about the lake drying up that were 14% higher than those 31-64 years old.
- Foreign-born residents versus U.S.-born residents were more concerned about quality of life.
- People who read news articles about the drying lake or had personal experiences with the lake had greater degrees of concern. For example, those who visited the lake in the previous year had a level of concern about health impacts that was 7% higher than those who did not.
The researchers expected residents to be most concerned about dust storms because of the direct health risks. A 2024 study by Grineski, Collins and other U scientists found that everyone in Salt Lake County is exposed to unhealthy levels of dust from the drying lake. Loss animal habitat narrowly beat dust as the greatest concern, suggesting that residents place a high value on the lake's ecosystems. A separate state-wide survey by Utah State University found that ecological health mattered more to Utahns than the lake's economic and recreational uses. Together, these findings indicate that harm to wildlife is a major public concern as climate change threatens the Great Salt Lake.
The researchers were also surprised that greater exposure to windblown dust was not linked to higher levels of concern about the drying lake. The authors estimated dust exposure separately and linked it to survey data based on the participant's neighborhood.
"Areas with higher dust exposure in the northwestern portion of the country also have higher chronic air pollution from more visible sources like industry and traffic, which they may be more concerned about than episodic dust from the lake," Collins said.
The study also found that concern about the lake's decline was highest among women, younger people, foreign-born residents and racial and ethnic minority residents-populations that previous research has identified to be particularly vulnerable to a warming climate.
The authors suggest these patterns could help create more effective policy approaches.
"Social movement leaders and policymakers can use the issues that most resonate with locals as a frame to catalyze action, with the aim of building momentum and support for policies that would raise the lake's water levels and better sustain quality of life in the region," Grineski said.
