Dust^2"I feel like my concern for the Great Salt Lake actually has more to do with the ecosystem than it does with the dust because we’re already seeing the dust and potentially, we could have more. But the ecosystem, if it collapses, it could all be gone forever." — Maura Hahnenberger, Atmospheric Scientist and Professor at Salt Lake Community College
Saving the Great Salt Lake: A Community Effort Led by Salt Lake Community College
Posted: October 22, 2024
The Great Salt Lake, one of the world’s largest saltwater bodies, is facing a critical challenge as it continues to dry up. Students, researchers, and faculty at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) are at the forefront of efforts to raise awareness and find solutions to save this vital natural resource.
A recent story published by Community College Daily includes insight from Dust^2's Maura Hahnenberger, an atmospheric scientist and professor at SLCC, emphasizes the urgency of the situation. The lake has hit record low water levels in recent years, and while a record-setting winter has temporarily raised the levels, the lake remains far below its ideal state. Hahnenberger's research focuses on dust, a growing environmental and health concern as the exposed lakebed contributes to dust storms containing dangerous levels of arsenic. She collaborates with other researchers through the Dust across a Desert-Urban-Summit Transect (DUST^2) project, which studies the entire dust cycle to improve air quality and protect public health.
Hahnenberger also highlights the ecological importance of the Great Salt Lake, particularly its role in supporting brine shrimp, a key species in the lake's ecosystem that sustains millions of migratory birds. She warns that the collapse of this ecosystem could have irreversible consequences.
SLCC is also involved in the Great Salt Lake Collaborative (GSLC), a group that includes geosciences experts, writers, and media professionals working to engage the public about the lake’s crisis. One notable project is a visually engaging “StoryMap” created by SLCC professor Adam Dastrup, which explains the significance of the lake’s wetlands. Additionally, SLCC’s Community Writing Center has published Desecrate/Consecrate: A Great Salt Lake Community Anthology, a collection of stories, photography, and artwork that reflects the community's deep connection to the lake.
Through research, storytelling, and public engagement, SLCC is playing a crucial role in the effort to protect the Great Salt Lake and its ecosystem for future generations.