Our Impact

The Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust (the Trust), or GSLWET, was established in January 2023 pursuant to the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program which provided $40 million to establish and implement a water trust for the benefit of Great Salt Lake, its wetlands, and hydrology. Co-managed by the Saline Lakes Program of the National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy in Utah, the primary purpose of the Trust is to enhance water quantity and water quality for Great Salt Lake and its wetlands, as well as protect and restore wetlands and habitats to benefit the hydrology of Great Salt Lake. Below is a summary of the Trust’s accomplishments, as of January 31, 2024.

Protect / Enhance Water Flows

The Trust and its co-managers, working with the State of Utah’s Divisions of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) and Wildlife Resources (DWR), have facilitated, provided transaction costs, and/or contributed funding to water transactions of approximately 64,000 acre-feet on a diversion basis for Great Salt Lake.

The bulk of this water was donated or partially donated, including the largest-ever permanent water donation of water to Great Salt Lake from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other water transactions include large multi-year donations from Rio Tinto Kennecott, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.

The baseline for water transactions in 2024 is 54,000 acre-feet. The Trust is actively investigating additional water transactions in coordination with FFSL and DWR.

Conserve / Protect / Restore Wetlands & Habitat – Benefit Great Salt Lake Hydrology

At least 25% ($10 million) of the State grant money will be used to “protect and restore wetlands and habitats in the Great Salt Lake’s surrounding ecosystem to benefit the hydrology of the Great Salt Lake.” (Utah Code Section 65A-16-301(2)(b))

GSLWET announced a funding opportunity for such projects in July 2023. On November 7, 2023, the Trust announced the grantees. Eight projects from local, state, federal, and non-governmental entities were awarded a total of $8,525,343 in funding over the next two years to protect and/or restore wetlands and benefit the hydrology of Great Salt Lake.  Spanning more than 13,000 acres of wetlands and habitat surrounding Great Salt Lake, applicants and partners are providing at least $6.5 million in matching contributions.   These projects were selected after a thorough process of eligibility review and scoring by a Technical Review Committee made of Great Salt Lake ecosystem experts. Final award decisions were made by non-applicant members of the Trust Advisory Council.   

Click here for more information on each project proposal and their impact →

Spread across the eastern and southern shore of the lake, the impact of each wetland project will be long-lasting and significant for the wildlife and communities that depend on the health of the wetland ecosystems. Click here to view a map of the selected projects →

While the application period is now closed, if you have an idea or concept for a Wetlands Protection and/or Restoration Project, but it is not at a stage that would support an application for funding at this time, GSLWET will continue to seek high-level Indications of Interest for future Wetlands Protection and/or Restoration projects that benefit the hydrology of Great Salt Lake. Such information will help inform understanding of future funding needs. Click here for more details or to submit an Indication of Interest for future projects →

Engage / Leverage Funding

Below is a summary of the Trust’s financials as of January 31, 2024.

  • The Trust continues efforts to engage with stakeholders and looks forward to increasing the level of engagement.

  • The Trust has worked to leverage the State grant funds with other match, including water donations, other in-kind contributions, as well as cash match.

  • Leverage/Match to State Grant Expenditures is approximately 2 to 1

  • Match (in-kind or cash) to date for the Trust is estimated at approximately $3,523,821.

  • Available uncommitted Trust funds are approximately $25.9 million

Looking Forward

  • The Trust looks forward to continued coordination with the Great Salt Lake Commissioner,  many other state agencies, and legislative leaders.

  • The Trust also looks forward to continuing outreach and engagement with partners, including agricultural and communities.

  • The Trust will continue in its goal of investing in protecting and enhancing water flows for Great Salt Lake through voluntary water transactions and other innovative means.

  • The Trust will administer the wetlands and habitat project awards and partners begin wetland restoration work.

  • The Trust will leverage grant funding with match from other sources.