This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the current state of the shrinking Great Salt Lake and evaluation of current proposals to mitigate further shrinking.
This inquiry requires basic prerequisite knowledge of issues surrounding water scarcity and climate change. The Great Salt Lake is facing critical water shortages due to water diversion for agricultural and municipal uses and extreme drought. Issues of dwindling water resources are further exacerbated by rapidly expanding population and culture of water misuse (lawns). This inquiry does not comprehensively detail all actions already taken by the government of Utah to mitigate water loss. Instead, it investigates proposals in debate as of July 7, 2022. For more information on actions the State of Utah has already taken, see the July 6, 2022, KSL article, “Gov. Cox responds to water loss criticism: There’s so much ‘so much happening’ with Utah policies.” The authors of this inquiry acknowledge that the proposals referenced herein are likely outdated by the time of publication. Therefore, we invite teachers to supplement or replace the proposals as new proposals enter the public discourse.