Ducks Unlimited Joins Utah, Partners in Signing Historic Great Salt Lake Charter 2034

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Sept. 30, 2025 - In a historic step toward restoring one of North America’s most ecologically significant wetlands, Ducks Unlimited (DU) joined the State of Utah and a broad coalition of partners in signing the Great Salt Lake Charter 2034.  

The agreement, announced last week, outlines a 10-year commitment to restore the Great Salt Lake and its surrounding wetlands to healthier levels, a lifeline for wildlife and communities that rely on the lake’s many benefits. 

The charter was unveiled in response to growing alarm over the lake’s declining water levels, which have dropped significantly in recent years due to drought and water diversion. With new funding commitments from the Utah Legislature and a coordinated plan to raise $200 million in support for conservation, water management and habitat restoration, the Great Salt Lake Charter 2034 serves as a unifying vision for how to bring the lake back from the brink. Ducks Unlimited has identified $100 million in conservation projects and pledged to fundraise toward that goal, leveraging philanthropic funds to apply for additional public funding, The remaining $100 million will be raised by Great Salt Lake Rising, a campaign led by Josh Romney. 

“Ducks Unlimited is honored to join the State of Utah and our many partners in signing the Great Salt Lake Charter,” said Jeff McCreary, DU’s director of operations for the Western region. “This charter reflects a simple but powerful truth, we are all in this together.” 

For DU, the lake is more than just a body of water, it’s one of the most critical wetland systems in North America, sustaining millions of migratory birds and waterfowl that travel the Pacific Flyway each year. The wetlands around the Great Salt Lake serve as vital nesting and staging grounds for hundreds of species including American avocets and northern pintails. 

In addition to supporting wildlife, Great Salt Lake provides essential ecosystem services, : improving air quality, regulating local climate and sustaining Utah’s growing outdoor recreation economy. 

“Lake stewardship truly is Utah stewardship,” McCreary said. “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those committed to protecting its future.” 

DU has been an active conservation partner in the Great Salt Lake Basin for decades. Through strategic restoration and enhancement projects, DU has helped improve water delivery, increase wetland resilience and restore critical habitat for both wildlife and people. Recent initiatives have focused on collaboration with state agencies, private landowners and local communities to secure water flows and enhance wetland management practices. 

As part of its ongoing efforts in the Great Salt Lake Basin, DU also works closely with farmers, ranchers and private landowners to implement conservation practices that support agriculture and habitat. By improving water efficiency and restoring wetlands on working lands, DU helps ensure these landscapes remain productive while also benefiting waterfowl and other wildlife. This collaborative, on-the-ground approach aligns with the charter’s vision of balancing ecological health with the needs of Utah’s communities and economy. 

With the launch of the Great Salt Lake Charter 2034, DU has outlined an ambitious 10-year vision to expand these efforts even further. This includes new conservation actions, expanded partnerships and ongoing research to ensure adaptive, science-based management of the lake and its watershed. 

To support its long-term commitment, DU has renewed its Great Salt Lake Initiative, a focused effort to accelerate wetland restoration, water delivery improvements and habitat protection throughout the basin. In the first phase of the initiative, DU reached its $5 million fundraising goal in half the time it originally set, leveraging those private dollars to secure more than $17 million in additional public and partner funding. The initiative now serves as the cornerstone of DU’s $100 million goal, bringing together public and private partners to scale up conservation over the next decade. Individuals, businesses and organizations who want to contribute to this vital work can learn more and donate by visiting www.ducks.org/gsl.

DU has also contributed to the recent documentary Secrets of the Great Salt Lake, which highlights the lake’s ecological importance and the need for intervention. The film supports public awareness efforts, aligning with DU’s broader conservation and outreach mission. 

“The urgency is clear, and so is the opportunity,” McCreary said. “DU is fully committed to this landscape, for people, for wildlife and for the millions of waterfowl that depend on it, now and for generations to come.” 

As Utah embarks on one of the most significant environmental restoration efforts in its history, DU remains a steadfast partner in ensuring the Great Salt Lake not only survives but thrives. 

Please visit the new DU Media Toolkit page for essential resources about Ducks Unlimited’s conservation mission. 

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org. 

Media Contact: 
Molly Jarone 
(916) 903-9199 
mjarone@ducks.org