Constructing islands is integral to the restoration of Utah Lake. Removing the nutrient rich sediment greatly reduces the formation of toxic algal blooms. These islands, or containment areas, have been determined to be the most ecologically friendly way to store and sequester the dredged material, as well as creating extensive new wildlife habitat.
Slightly reducing the surface area of the lake will have an enormous impact with regard to combating evaporation (about 24 billion gallons of water annually). It allows the storage capacity of the lake to be increased, which will help the overall water system. The shorelines create an excellent environment for native vegetation to grow, which will also help secure the lakebed and provide habitat for fish.