The Great Salt Lake Initiative
Why Great Salt Lake Matters
Utah’s Great Salt Lake is one of the most important wetland ecosystems in North America. This vast saline lake and its surrounding wetlands support millions of migratory birds each year and play a critical role in the health of the Pacific Flyway. It’s a natural refuge for waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife that depend on this habitat for nesting, feeding and resting during long migrations.
Great Salt Lake's Vital Impact:
- Vital Stopover for Migratory Birds: Waterfowl tracking shows strong flyway connections from Great Salt Lake to breeding grounds across the Pacific Flyway and North American continent, highlighting the lake’s significance
- Rich Biodiversity: The area supports more than 250 bird species and is a major breeding ground and migratory stop for ducks, geese, avocets, stilts and other wetland birds.
- Natural Resource Benefits: Wetlands around the lake help maintain water quality, support local agriculture and protect communities by capturing runoff and limiting dust from exposed lakebeds.
THE CHALLENGE
Great Salt Lake faces growing pressure from upstream water diversions, habitat loss and increased development in northern Utah. As water inflows decrease, lake levels drop, exposing the lakebed, concentrating salts and reducing habitat for birds and other wildlife.
- Wetland habitat is shrinking, limiting space for migratory birds.
- Exposed lakebeds increase dust and reduce air quality in nearby communities.
- Invasive plant species degrade the quality of native wetland habitats.
- Competing water uses upstream reduce the volume reaching the lake, impacting marshes, mudflats and waterfowl food sources.
Our Solution
The Great Salt Lake Initiative is Ducks Unlimited’s regional conservation strategy to protect, enhance and restore wetlands throughout the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. By improving wetland infrastructure and engaging local communities, DU is working to ensure this vital landscape continues to thrive for future generations of birds and outdoor enthusiasts.
How We'll Do It
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
Ducks Unlimited partners with public and private landowners to restore degraded wetlands, improve water delivery systems and remove invasive vegetation that threatens native plant and animal species.
Wetland Monitoring and Mapping
DU uses satellite imagery, field surveys and water data to track wetland conditions across the Great Salt Lake region. This science-based approach helps identify priority restoration zones and improve project design.
Water Management Partnerships
DU works with farmers, ranchers, water managers and agencies to promote smart water strategies that benefit wildlife and people. This includes voluntary agreements that help keep water flowing to critical wetland areas.
Community Engagement
Strong partnerships ensure that restoration efforts support cultural values, working lands and long-term stewardship.
Education and Outreach
Through public events and volunteer opportunities, DU is building awareness of the importance of Great Salt Lake and its wetlands. Our outreach fosters a conservation ethic rooted in science, community and action.
The Power of Partnership
P&G and BEF Invest in the Future of the Great Salt Lake
Water is one of the Great Salt Lake’s most precious resources, and one of its scarcest. Thanks to a partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), DU is putting that water to better use across two major projects in the Bear River Floodplain, a critical source of freshwater for the lake.
The Appledale Slough Project
P&G’s investment in this agricultural water efficiency and wetland enhancement project helped (25 years of expected benefits)
- Convert 3,900 feet of open, earthen ditch to an underground pipeline, reducing water loss
- Improve water delivery to 175 acres of existing wetlands and 160 acres of cropland
- Save more than 40.8 million gallons annually
Bear River Wetlands Enhancement
Paired with the Appledale Slough project, this effort applied the same approach on a larger scale by helping to:
- Convert 1,200 feet of open, earthen ditch to an underground pipeline, reducing water loss
- Improve water delivery to 450 acres of existing wetlands and 73 acres of farmland
- Save more than 17.6 million gallons of water annually
DU's Impact on Great Salt Lake
- Restored over 7,000 acres of managed and semi-permanent wetlands across the lake’s eastern shore and delta systems. Historically, DU has restored nearly 42,000 acres in Utah.
- Improved wetland infrastructure to increase water delivery and retention for waterfowl habitat.
- Supported landowners and state agencies in the removal of invasive phragmites and other harmful vegetation.
- Conducted long-term monitoring to track migratory bird use and habitat quality.
- Signed the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, committing to collaboration and further action to restore health to the Lake ahead of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
How You Can Help
Together, We Can Conserve Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake is a national treasure that is essential to millions of birds, local economies and outdoor traditions. Ducks Unlimited is committed to conserving this critical habitat, but we can’t do it alone. With your help, we can protect the future of wetlands and waterfowl across the region.
