Status of the Great Salt Lake

The current elevation of the Great Salt Lake at Saltair Boat Harbor on the south shore is 4192.4 feet.  Although this is above the record minimum from 2022, it is still well below the long-term average of 4200 feet and the so-called minimum health level of 4198 feet.  It has now been about 13 years since we were last at that minimum healthy level. 

Source: USGS

A look over the past year shows a net decline in elevation on this date of nearly 2 feet.  Lake levels will decrease further in the coming months as they typically decline through the summer and fall.  Last year we dropped about 2 feet after this date. 

Lake elevations over the past year at Saltair. Source: USGS

The current elevation at Saline in the north arm is 4191.9 feet, which is very close to where it was last year. 

Lake elevations over the past year at Saline. Source: USGS

So it's a "push" in the north arm and a net loss in the south arm, which means a net decline for the entire lake system, 

Yesterday's crystal-clear skies provided a great view from NASA's MODIS instrument.  There's still a bit of water in Bear River Bay and a sliver in Farmington Bay, but for the most part, those bays are desiccated of water coverage.  

Source: NASA

Keep rooting for big snow years.  We need a few of them.