Committee OKs Moore’s bill to manage saline lake ecosystems

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) to better manage conservation efforts for saline lake ecosystems and migratory birds in the West.

“I introduced this bill to help us study and better understand what is happening in our saline lake ecosystems to ensure that our water users, animals, habitats, and industry can stay healthy far into the future,” Rep. Moore said.

The Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021, H.R. 5345, which Rep. Moore introduced on Sept. 23 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), would authorize the director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a regional program to assess, monitor and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, according to the text of the bill.

Saline lakes within the Great Basin — which includes areas of Utah, California, Nevada, and Oregon — are experiencing declining water levels due to demand, drought and environmental changes that have dried out these important lakes, threatening habitats, public health, and recreation, according to information provided by Rep. Moore’s office. 

If enacted, H.R. 5345 would provide the USGS, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations, with resources to conduct scientific monitoring and assessments to establish effective management and conservation efforts to preserve essential Saline Lake habitats within the Great Basin network, the information says. 

“The value of Utah’s Great Salt Lake and its neighboring, regional saline lakes cannot be overstated,” said Rep. Moore. “These lakes provide habitats for millions of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, and they are critically important for Utah’s brine shrimp industry, ski industry, broader recreation industry, water users, extraction industry, and more.” 

The measure has been endorsed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R), as well as a coalition consisting of several organizations and companies, including the National Audubon Society, Compass Minerals, Trout Unlimited, the Utah Waterfowl Association, FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy in Utah, among many others.