Hydrologic characteristics of the Great Salt Lake, Utah: 1847-1986
Links
- Document: Report (pdf)
- Plate: Plate 1 (15001 pdf)
- NGMDB Index Page: National Geologic Map Database Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Great Salt Lake in Utah is a large body of water bordered on the west by barren desert and on the east by a major metropolitan area. It is the fourth largest terminal lake in the world, covering about 2,300 square miles in 1986. Since its historic low elevation of 4,191.35 feet in 1963, the lake rose to a new historic high elevation of 4,211.85 feet in 1986. Most of this increase (12.2 feet) occurred after 1982. The rise has caused $285 million of damage to lakeside industries, transportation, farming, and wildlife. Accompanying the rapid rise in lake level has been a decrease in salinity-from 28 percent in 1963 to about 6 percent in 1986. This has resulted in changes in the biota of the lake from obligate halophiles to opportunistic forms, such as blue-green algae and, most recently, a brackish-water fish.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Hydrologic characteristics of the Great Salt Lake, Utah: 1847-1986 |
| Series title | Water Supply Paper |
| Series number | 2332 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wsp2332 |
| Year Published | 1990 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Washington, D.C. |
| Contributing office(s) | Utah Water Science Center |
| Description | Report: v, 32 p.; 1 Plate: 38.94 in x 50.82 in |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| Other Geospatial | Great Salt Lake |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |