2023 Utah Code › Title 65A - Forestry, Fire, and State Lands › Chapter 10 - Management of Sovereign Lands › Part 2 - Great Salt Lake Management › Section 203 - Great Salt Lake -- Management responsibilities of the division.

Effective 7/1/2023
65A-10-203.
Great Salt Lake -- Management responsibilities of the division.
The division has the following powers and duties:
(1) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, for the management of the Great Salt Lake that recognize and balance the following public trust values and public interest benefits and policies:
(a) strategies to effectively and efficiently manage the Great Salt Lake based on the Great Salt Lake's fluctuating lake levels;
(b) development of the Great Salt Lake that balances, in a manner that promotes a healthy physical and ecological condition:
(i) migratory and shorebirds habitats;
(ii) wetlands;
(iii) brines, minerals, chemicals, and petro-chemicals;
(iv) brine shrimp;
(v) the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat;
(vi) the protection of recreational access and facilities; and
(vii) search and rescue efforts;
(c) promote water quality management for the Great Salt Lake and the Great Salt Lake's tributary streams;
(d) public access to the Great Salt Lake for recreation, hunting, and fishing;
(e) temperature moderation, a stable role in the water cycle, and dust mitigation;
(f) maintain the Great Salt Lake's flood plain as a hazard zone;
(g) maintain the Great Salt Lake and the marshes as important shorebirds, waterfowl, and other waterbird flyway system;
(h) promote and maintain recreation areas on and surrounding the Great Salt Lake; and
(i) maintain and protect state, federal, and private marshlands, rookeries, and wildlife refuges.
(2) The division shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive management plan for the Great Salt Lake that is consistent with the public trust values and public interest benefits described in Subsection (1) and policies established by rule made under Subsection (1).
(3) The division may employ personnel and purchase equipment and supplies that the Legislature authorizes through appropriations for the purposes of this chapter.
(4) The division may initiate studies of the Great Salt Lake and the Great Salt Lake's related resources.
(5) The division may publish scientific and technical information concerning the Great Salt Lake.
(6) The division shall define the Great Salt Lake's flood plain.
(7) The division may qualify for, accept, and administer grants, gifts, or other funds from the federal government and other sources, for carrying out any functions under this chapter.
(8) The division shall determine the need for public works and utilities for the lake area.
(9) The division may implement the comprehensive plan described in Subsection (2) through state and local entities or agencies.
(10) The division shall coordinate the activities of the various divisions within the Department of Natural Resources with respect to the Great Salt Lake.
(11) The division shall retain and encourage the continued activity of the Great Salt Lake technical team.
(12) The division shall administer Chapter 16, Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program.
(13) The division shall administer Section 65A-10-204 when the Great Salt Lake emergency trigger is reached.
(14) The division shall manage the adaptive management berm in the UP causeway breach to manage salinity to protect the ecosystem of Gilbert Bay. Unless salinity conditions in Gilbert Bay warrant raising the adaptive management berm, the policy of the state is to keep the UP causeway breach open so as to allow the exchange of water between Gilbert and Gunnison Bays.
(15) The division may perform acts other than those described in Subsections (1) through (14) that are reasonably necessary to carry out this chapter.
(16) This part may not be interpreted to override, supersede, or modify any water right within the state, or the role and authority of the state engineer.
Amended by Chapter 205, 2023 General Session
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 208, 2023 General Session