Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Great Salt Lake (GSL) faces rapid decline that presents more than just a hydrological risk; it poses an existential social hazard. As water levels decline, ecosystems, economies, cultures, and societies face irreversible harm. Since the lake reached its lowest levels in 2022, this issue has specifically gained increased attention in Utah and beyond. Given both the degree to which human consumption contributes to the problem, and the potential risks that the drying of the lake poses for community health, social science research is a crucial for informing successful water management policies and mitigating impacts. The purpose of this report is to trace the origins of social science research on GSL and establish a baseline of existing GSL social science research to date. It is the first systematic review of social science research on GSL, framing existing scholarship, interpreting findings, and identifying recommendations going forward. It is informed by 42 identified written outputs with an emphasis on social science research related to GSL, and demonstrates a rapid increase in published outputs since the lake’s low point in 2022.
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214853516