… The decline of the Great Salt Lake drew increased scrutiny in recent years, after the lake hit record lows in 2022. At the time, experts warned that if conditions continued, the lake could be completely dry within 5 years. Environmentalists sued the state over the lake’s decline, arguing it has violated its public trust obligations by threatening a public health crisis and ecological collapse and also filed an Endangered Species Act petition to protect a bird whose declining population is heavily reliant on the Great Salt Lake during its annual migration.  But the last two years have been wet years, leading to policymakers, including the state’s governor, to downplay the issue, despite continued concern over the future of the lake from academics and environmentalists.