One of the world’s great lakes is vanishing – and leaving toxic dust in its wake

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Great Salt Lake, and these other saline lakes in the world, are canaries in the coal mine Dr Bonnie Baxter “We were trying to envision what if the lake had died,” she says. “I think that’s when I started to understand that Great Salt Lake, and these other saline lakes in the world, are canaries in the coal mine,” she said. Great Salt Lake is “terminal” as industrial and agricultural by-products, and naturally-occurring elements in surrounding mountains, wash into its basin, and don’t get flushed out. Currently, Utah’s laws to protect Great Salt Lake do not allow “override, substitute, or modify” of water rights.