FAQ

What is the purpose of the Utah Lake Study?

The Utah State Legislature passed Senate Bill 270 “Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake Study Amendments” during the 2024 Utah Legislative Session. This bill directs FFSL to conduct a study that will determine how to enhance benefits associated with Utah Lake in a manner consistent with FFSL’s management authority over sovereign lands.
How is this Utah Lake Study different from the other current or ongoing Utah Lake studies?
Over the years, many issues have heightened concern over Utah Lake. Water quality and clarity issues, invasive species such as carp and phragmites, diminishing habitat, and expansion of growth and development are some critical stressors that affect all uses of Utah Lake. The immediate need for innovative action to address these challenges on and around Utah Lake has led to several studies and plans, legislative policies, strategic planning efforts, and scientific research, including the following:

The Utah Division of Water Quality is developing a water quality implementation plan as part of the Utah Lake Water Quality Study that specifically seeks to improve water quality conditions in Utah Lake.

The Utah Lake Authority adopted the Utah Lake Management Plan, prepared in January 2024, that outlines a vision and process for achieving goals and objectives that are shared among management agencies.

In parallel to conducting the Utah Lake Study, FFSL is also updating the Utah Lake Comprehensive Management Plan. The primary purpose of the Utah Lake Comprehensive Management Plan is to guide FFSL, along with other local, state, and federal partners, in managing, allocating, and appropriately using Utah Lake’s sovereign land resources. The Utah Lake Comprehensive Management Plan expected completion date is spring 2026.

FFSL intends to leverage these existing plans and studies—not duplicate them—to ensure that the Utah Lake Study is based on the best available science and information and can effectively work in concert with existing plans.

Please visit the Additional Resources page for more information.
About the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.

FFSL is a Utah state government division under the Department of Natural Resources. FFSL is responsible for forest health, responding to wildland fires, and has regulatory authority to manage Utah’s sovereign lands. Sovereign lands are those lands lying below the ordinary high-water mark (or, in the case of Utah Lake, the boundary settlement line) of navigable bodies of water at the date of statehood and owned by the state by virtue of its sovereignty (Utah Code §65A-1-1[6]). The bed of Utah Lake below the established boundary settlement line is sovereign land and is managed by FFSL.
How is FFSL coordinating with other agencies?

FFSL has a seat on the Utah Lake Authority Governing Board and, as such, works in close partnership with the Utah Lake Authority as it works to implement the 2024 Utah Lake Management Plan. In addition, FFSL is directly involved with jurisdictional partners in managing invasive species like phragmites and carp in Utah Lake.
How will FFSL conduct the Utah Lake Study?

To begin the study, FFSL is reviewing available information, literature, and data concerning improving Utah Lake, and assessing the scientific, technical, measurement, and other informational needs for determining methods to enhance Utah Lake. FFSL has formed an interdisciplinary Planning Team to serve as a technical working group. This group will evaluate ways to enhance the 10 Utah Lake benefits defined by SB-270. It is comprised of representatives from state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, and others. In addition, FFSL has formed a Steering Committee, comprised of state agency directors or designees, to provide executive input on the Utah Lake study process and outcomes. The Steering Committee’s job is to ensure that the findings of the study are scientifically sound, legally defensible, and do not interfere with water rights, water collection, storage, or delivery associated with Utah Lake.

The Utah Lake Study findings and a proposed plan to implement the findings will be presented during the Interim Session of the Utah State Legislature in November 2025.
How can I get involved?

We encourage everyone who is interested to sign up to receive email announcements on the Contact Us page of this website to stay up to date on meetings and opportunities for public input. You can also provide a comment to FFSL at any time during development of the study. FFSL plans on conducting information sessions associated with the Utah Lake Study in conjunction with the development of the draft version of the study in the summer and fall of 2025.

Questions? Comments? Contact the Study Team
385-347-0477
info@utahlakestudy.com