H.J.R. 20
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature recognizes the significance of the Great Salt
11 Lake.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . recognizes the economic, recreational, and natural significance of the Great Salt
15 Lake.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
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19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake is an economic powerhouse for Utah's economy;
21 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake provides employment for over 7,000 Utahns and
22 annually generates over $375 million of labor income;
23 WHEREAS, the total annual economic contribution of the Great Salt Lake to Utah's
24 economy is estimated at over $1.3 billion and represents industrial, extractive, recreational, and
25 other uses;
26 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake's natural beauty has drawn thousands to make artistic
27 interpretations of its elements, including two landmark earthworks: the Spiral Jetty and the Sun
28 Tunnels;
29 WHEREAS, Willard Bay, the Great Salt Lake Marina, Antelope Island State Park, and
30 the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge draw many visitors who enjoy and recreate on the Great
31 Salt Lake and its shores;
32 WHEREAS, in 1843, John C. Fremont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and in 1847, three
33 days after the pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young visited and swam in the
34 Great Salt Lake;
35 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake's fabled history includes sails and steamboats;
36 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake has provided a home for beloved resorts, including
37 Saltair;
38 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake annually attracts thousands of duck hunters, bird
39 watchers, boaters, tourists, and other outdoor enthusiasts, which contributes to the economies
40 of surrounding communities;
41 WHEREAS, products of the brine shrimp harvesting and mineral extraction industries
42 are sold, and valued, worldwide;
43 WHEREAS, through the lake effect, the Great Salt Lake contributes to the formation of
44 the "Greatest Snow on Earth," which plays a critical role in Utah's economy;
45 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake and associated wetlands provide critically important
46 habitat for brine shrimp, brine flies, and millions of migrating and nesting birds, including
47 American White Pelicans, American Avocets, Western Sandpipers, White-faced Ibis, and the
48 world's largest staging population of Wilson's Phalarope;
49 WHEREAS, the associated wetlands of the Great Salt Lake provide essential habitat for
50 fish, mammals, Bald Eagles, large populations of ducks and geese, and additional large wildlife
51 species in many freshwater bays;
52 WHEREAS, the multiple economic, industrial, recreational, and ecological demands on
53 the Great Salt Lake present a challenge for management of this important natural resource;
54 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake is a diverse and complex ecosystem, aspects of which
55 are not fully analyzed or understood, and few numerical standards exist to measure impacts
56 upon the lake;
57 WHEREAS, recent studies of the economic benefits and the ecological health of the
58 lake, as well as the updated Comprehensive Management Plan for the Great Salt Lake, have
59 been added to the knowledge base and informed efforts to balance the multiple interests in the
60 lake while providing for its long-term management;
61 WHEREAS, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the Great Salt Lake
62 Advisory Council, and the scientific community have developed a long, prioritized list of
63 future scientific studies of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem;
64 WHEREAS, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the Great Salt Lake
65 Advisory Council, and the scientific community have recommended the development of an
66 integrated Water Resources Management Model for the Great Salt Lake to better understand
67 the impacts that consumptive use will have on the Great Salt Lake and to provide a predictive
68 tool for evaluating mitigation measures; and
69 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake is a symbol of our community and state that is
70 recognized throughout the world:
71 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
72 recognizes the economic, recreational, and natural significance of the Great Salt Lake.
73 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
74 Department of Natural Resources and the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-18-14 12:48 PM