Utah is a very arid state yet has some large bodies of water like Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake. There are also some areas in Utah, called wetlands, where water saturates the soil during at least part of the year. Special plants live in this wet soil and many animals also are adapted to live in wetland habitats. About 1% of Utah is made up of wetlands. Most of Utah’s wetlands are part of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Click here for some Facts About Utah's Wetlands.
From Salt Lake City, water in the Jordan River moves through the valley and into Farmington Bay. Farmington Bay is a part of Great Salt Lake that is separated from the rest of the lake by the causeway to Antelope Island. Water also enters Farmington Bay from several wastewater treatment plants in Salt Lake County and Davis County. This water carries phosphorous and other pollution into Farmington Bay. Wetlands, and the specialized plants and animals that live there, are important for helping to filter pollution out of water.
Farmington Bay Wetlands (photo by Jack Binch)
Wetlands can also benefit us by absorbing water during floods, preventing erosion, and providing nesting and nursery habitats for many different animals. The Great Salt Lake wetlands are an especially important habitat for millions of migrating birds that pass through Utah each year. Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (FBWMA) and the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve are both located on Farmington Bay and are excellent places to see wetland birds.
Scientists are currently investigating questions about water quality in Farmington Bay and Great Salt Lake. The quality of water affects aquatic biology and ecology too. For instance, many birds visiting Great Salt Lake typically eat insects or fish that live in the water. If the water is too polluted for insects to grow, or if the fish get sick, the birds will also suffer. Because people living around Great Salt Lake also depend on its wetlands, it is important for us to study them and understand how they work. Click here for more information on Scientific Research on Great Salt Lake and its Wetlands.
Utah's wetlands can also serve as excellent educational tools for teaching about birds, habitats, the water cycle, chemical processes, human interactions and environmental concerns. Click here for some Ideas for Educators.
