Church gives $3 million to Utah's fight against phragmites at the Great Salt Lake
The state spends about $800,000 a year on the invasive reed, which covers more than 50,000 acres around the lake.
Based on reporting by Utah News Dispatch. Read the original story →
Continuing storyThe Great Salt Lake: levels, water and policy
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will give $3 million to the state's work removing phragmites, an invasive reed around the Great Salt Lake, Gov. Spencer Cox announced Thursday. [1][2]
About $800,000 in ongoing state money goes to the project each year, so the gift expands it, Cox said. [1] Great Salt Lake Commissioner Hannah Freeze said it lets the state keep treatment schedules on track with mechanical clearing and long-term shoreline restoration. [1]
Phragmites can grow 10 to 15 feet tall, blocks water from spreading across the lakebed and uses far more water than native plants. [1] State officials estimate it still covers more than 50,000 acres around the lake, and that converting 40,800 acres to native inland saltgrass could save 82,000 acre-feet of water a year. [1]
The donation comes after the lake dropped again this year. The south arm fell about 2½ feet over the summer to 4,189.8 feet, more than 8 feet below its minimum healthy level. [1] The church said there is "no single solution" and that a full recovery depends on more precipitation. [2]
Sources
- Utah News Dispatch: Church of Jesus Christ donates $3M to Utah's effort to remove phragmites along Great Salt Lake utahnewsdispatch.com
- The Salt Lake Tribune: LDS Church joins the battle against an invasive enemy threatening the Great Salt Lake sltrib.com
This story was written by AI from the report by Utah News Dispatch, which has the full story. How we write stories.