Pacific Ocean Water Diversion Idea to Save Dry Lake

US Scientists are studying the possibility of replenishing the shrinking Great Salt Lake with water from the Pacific Ocean through a 1,300 km long pipeline.

The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, covering 4,400 square kilometers. Photo: Newsweek — The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, covering 4,400 square kilometers. Photo: *Newsweek*

The water level of the Great Salt Lake in Utah has been dropping dramatically in recent years. In November 2022, the lake reached its lowest level on record, at 4,276.6 feet, 5.2 feet lower than normal. The low water level is worrying for many reasons. The Great Salt Lake plays a vital role in the health of the surrounding environment. It is a vital habitat for migratory birds. Due to its large size, it also affects the climate and ecosystem. For this reason, scientists are looking for ways to save the Great Salt Lake.

Utah has faced years of severe drought, meaning the region isn't getting enough rain to replenish the lake quickly enough. One proposed solution to save the lake is to pipe water from the Pacific Ocean . The cost of building the pipeline is estimated at $60 billion to $100 billion, according to state officials. A new study published in the journal Environmental Research Communications shows that the idea comes with a host of daunting challenges, Newsweek reported on November 17.

“There are a lot of potential challenges to bringing water from the Pacific Ocean into the Great Salt Lake, including construction, permitting, and salinity,” said Robert B. Sowby, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University who led the study. “We analyzed energy use and emissions specifically during the operational phase, which no one has ever considered. Even in the best case scenario, the numbers are huge.”

First, the project requires a lot of electricity. The researchers found that pumping water into the lake would require 400 megawatts of electricity, or 11 percent of Utah’s annual electricity needs, at a cost of up to $300 million a year. The team also estimated that this electricity would emit about a million tons of carbon dioxide a year. They fear that number could triple when considering the surrounding terrain and pipeline handling.

The Great Salt Lake gets its water from runoff in the Uinta and Wasatch Mountains. This means that low rainfall could severely limit the lake’s water supply. The southwestern United States saw heavy rainfall last year, with record snow accumulations in the mountains. However, experts fear the winter’s effects will be short-lived. Experts are still monitoring how the Great Salt Lake will fare if the region experiences extremely dry weather in the coming years.

An Khang (According to Newsweek )

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