Managing Editor Andy Cupp discusses one of the worst — if not the worst — winters on record for Salt Lake City, and the importance of not just talking about it, but actually doing something about it.
Like much of the West, Utah has experienced its worst winter in recent memory.
Historical data show that it’s the lowest snowfall ever recorded, and it’s not even close. As of printing, Salt Lake City has seen roughly 3 inches of snow for the entire season; the second-worst winter on record saw more than 14 inches of snow. This doesn’t bode well for the rest of the year.
For many people, “climate change” has become a political phrase. But the science itself is not especially controversial: decades of research show the planet is warming, storms are becoming more intense, and weather patterns are growing less predictable.
For years now, Utahns have been encouraged to “slow the flow” and conserve water — anything to help save the Great Salt Lake from drying up and to ensure there’s enough water to sustain continued growth. On the Westside, we’re on the front lines of the ecological crisis surrounding the Great Salt Lake.
State leaders have floated a range of ambitious — and sometimes controversial — proposals. I’ve been skeptical of some of them myself (a pipeline to the ocean, for example). But the reality is that doing nothing is no longer an option.
We on the Westside need to make sure we’re doing our part to save water, while also speaking out to city, county, state, and federal leaders, reminding them that Westside communities will be the first hit by the toxic dust exposed as the lake dries up. That also means calling to attention the industries that use massive amounts of water, including some large data centers, certain types of agriculture, and other high-consumption operations.
We can’t afford to stay silent. The future of our air, our water, our communities, and our way of life depends on it.
