As the Great Salt Lake continues to shrink, so do its wetlands, imperiling millions of migratory birds and other wildlife.
Conservation of Great Salt Lake wetlands dates back to the late 1800s. Now it’s more important than ever
“Preserving the marshland was critically important, and you know at that time, the sentiment was that the only good swamp was a drained swamp, and up until a few decades ago, draining a swamp or marsh was considered a civic service, and these people were doing just the opposite,” said Jack Ray, president of the Utah Waterfowl Association.
Along with the duck clubs, Ray said Utah political leaders had the foresight for the state to begin acquiring land along the shores of the Great Salt Lake to set up wildlife management areas, with the earliest being established in the 1920s to provide public access to hunters.Wetlands are not only important for waterfowl, wildlife and hunters.
Chris Bonsignore, manager of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited, said this continues efforts that have been carried out for years and helps support a $62 million annual industry for waterfowl enthusiasts. He revels in the storied history of the club, which would provide ducks for the Chicago area back in the day.
As the wetlands dry, opportunistic phragmites move in, suck up precious water, and spread like a fire. Like wetlands restoration, organizations and state and federal agencies have to be opportunistic about how they spend their dollars, and where.
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