Salt Lake City and Sandy Conservation Efforts Enable New Lease

The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy has entered into an agreement to lease approximately 2,500 acre-feet of water annually to the Great Salt Lake. The deal, announced on Monday, April 6, 2026, aims to support the lake’s ecosystem during a period of record-low snowpack levels.

The lease is scheduled to last between five and 10 years, meaning a total of 12,500 to 25,000 acre-feet of water could be directed to the lake over the next decade. The water is designated to flow into Gilbert and Farmington bays to boost their respective ecosystems.

Residential Conservation Efforts

The availability of this water is the result of conservation efforts by residents and businesses in Salt Lake City and Sandy. This agreement represents a collaboration across different sectors to address the drying of the lake.

Marcelle Shoop, the executive director of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, stated that the water is new water for the lake and that it is arriving because of the dedication and focus of the project’s partners.

It goes to show that individual and collective actions to conserve water can make a difference for Great Salt Lake.

Marcelle Shoop, Executive Director of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust

Hannah Freeze, the deputy Great Salt Lake commissioner, described the partnership as proof that we are all in this together and noted that the collective efforts of conservation can have a tangible impact on the lake.

Funding and Legal Framework

The Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust is paying the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City and Sandy an undisclosed sum to facilitate the transfer of water. The trust was established in 2022, following changes to state law that allowed for this specific type of water lease.

While the trust has previously made several deals to assist the lake, Shaela Adams with the National Audubon Society noted that this is the first agreement stemming from increased conservation by homeowners and businesses within cities.

Environmental Context

The agreement comes as Utah faces severe environmental challenges. The state is currently experiencing its hottest winter and lowest snowpack on record, factors that contribute to the continuing decline of the Great Salt Lake.

The lake has reached record lows due to a combination of climate change, drought, and the redirection of water. These conditions have increased concerns regarding environmental degradation and the risk of pollution in the region.

Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski spoke about the city’s conservation efforts during the April 6, 2026, news conference in Salt Lake City, emphasizing the role of local residents in making the lease possible.

This initiative is part of the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism effort involving media, education, and news organizations working to inform the public about the lake’s condition and potential solutions.