Air Quality and the Great Salt Lake
A healthy Great Salt Lake helps protect air quality for communities across northern Utah.
800+ square miles of exposed lakebed
can generate windblown dust during dry and windy conditions.
2.5 million Utahns
live along the Wasatch Front where dust can travel during seasonal wind events.
Fine dust particles (PM2.5 and PM10)
can affect regional air quality and respiratory health.
Lakebed sediments contain naturally occurring minerals and metals
that can become airborne when dry.
Children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions
are more sensitive to poor air quality.
Maintaining a healthy lake helps reduce exposed lakebed and support cleaner air.
