The Great Salt Lake is a unique terminal lake. Adjacent to a growing metropolitan area, it is a critical ecological resource and an important recreational and mineral resource.
The 1972 Federal Clean Water Act requires states to establish water quality standards to protect the beneficial uses of water bodies. State regulations and related administrative rules can be found online. The Great Salt Lake is protected through the application of the narrative criteria clause in the state water quality standards.
Working with a stakeholder committee, DEQ’s Division of Water Quality has began working to establish numeric standards for the Great Salt Lake. The initial focus has been on selenium. Public concern over the potential of adding more selenium to the Lake as the result of the South West Jordan Valley groundwater cleanup project brought a renewed focus on the need for numeric standards. Other studies will follow.
Selenium Steering Committee meeting on October 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cannon Health Building (288 North 1460 West, SLC) in room 336. For those of you who cannot join us in person, please call teleconference number to join the meeting by phone, 1-866-258-0959, *1204824*
The Selenium Stakeholder process is nearing completion. The Steering Committee hosted a poster session and meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Posters focused on the work that has been going on during the past four years. A formal presentation was made on the proposed new standard. More information is available here:
| Members | Members Steering committee agendas and periodic updates can be e-mailed, upon request.
Documents considered by the workgroup to assist in arriving at a decision are available online.
For more information on this project, call (801) 538-6329 or e-mail William Moellmer, Ph.D.
For fact sheets and other information related to the Great Salt Lake, click here.
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