Document Type
Report
Publisher
Utah State University
Publication Date
9-2026
First Page
1
Last Page
16
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
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.
Recommended Citation
Creed Jones, Avyrlie Smith, Shae Barber, Stacia Ryder, Mufti Nadimul Quamar Ahmed, Georgie Corkery, Jennifer Givens, Anna McEntire, Carla Trentelman, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Kirsten Vinyeta & Bryn Watkins. 2026. “2026 Report on the State of Great Salt Lake Social Science” Report # 2026-1. Great Salt Lake Social Science Network.
Comments
Funding: The College of Arts and Sciences at Utah State University and the Community and Natural Resources Institute (CANRI)