As one of the last functioning inland saltwater ecosystems in the United States, and certainly the largest, the Great Salt Lake's wildlife value as expressed in numbers is eye-popping: stages two-thirds of North America's swan population; yields 1/2 of North America's cinnamon teal; satisfies 40% the world's aquacultural brine shrimp demand; benefits 10 million birds comprising 338 species annually, to include 1/3 of phalaropes and 95% of eared grebes existing in the world. Hunters and society have subsequently benefited, too. But severe drought conditions are greatly exacerbating long-standing water politics. The outlook is dire. Rich Hansen from Utah DNR briefly gives current updates on waterfowl productivity and habitat management implications, describing why they'll luckily be spared major avian botulism outbreaks. Jaimi Butler from the Great Salt Lake Institute then provides big-picture assessments of the Great Salt Lake's importance and drought-induced effects, describing catastrophic consequences and offering possible solutions. We true duck hunters know what Theodore Roosevelt meant when he said, "Wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will." This thought-provoking episode speaks to that.

Related Link: Obituary for the Great Salt Lake: Even Lakes Are Not Immortal

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