- Utah adopted a lake-specific distribution plan on October 1, 2025.
- The plan regulates water rights below the meander line under prior appropriation.
- A new accounting tool will track lake level, salinity, rights, and dedicated water.
- A companion study mapped flows and 53 current measurement devices.
- Lake elevation on June 15 of the prior year now guides distribution.
Friday, October 3, 2025 — On Wednesday, Utah’s State Engineer adopted the Great Salt Lake Distribution Management Plan
. The plan outlines the process for measuring, apportioning, and distributing water rights located below the Great Salt Lake’s meander line. It is grounded in prior appropriation and multiple use sustained yield under state law.
The plan explains that it applies to Great Salt Lake water rights and, depending on the terms of an approved application, may extend to other rights with a place of use below the meander line. It does not set a priority call on upstream watershed rights. Decisions about moving water between the lake’s arms rest with the government entities that have that responsibility under law.
How distribution will be administered.
Distribution is tied to a clear, dated elevation reference. For administering the priority schedule and calculating volumes in the South Arm, the State Engineer will use the mean daily elevation at the United States Geological Survey gage at Saltair Boat Harbor on June 15 of the prior calendar year. Elevation for the North Arm will rely on the United States Geological Survey gage near Saline, Utah.
To support fair and transparent administration, the State Engineer adopted the Great Salt Lake Distribution Accounting Tool. The tool will track lake elevation, salinity, lake volume, water rights, and the quantity of water delivered to or in the lake under dedicated water approvals. As the plan is amended or administratively modified, the tool will be updated.
The plan also recognizes voluntary arrangements. Where a Great Salt Lake water right is paired with an approved application that fits Section 73-3-30 and contractual obligations consistent with the plan, the State Engineer may exempt that right from curtailment to the extent specified. Future proposals will be evaluated case by case.
What counts as “Dedicated Water.”
“Dedicated Water” refers to water approved for delivery to or in the lake under applications for beneficial use on sovereign lands. Examples include wildlife management, state park management, or the reasonable preservation or enhancement of the natural aquatic environment. The plan lists approved dedicated water applications and notes that the list will be updated administratively as new approvals occur.
What the new measurement report adds.
Alongside the plan, a recent technical report assembled a comprehensive picture of how surface water moves around Great Salt Lake and how it is measured. The study created dozens of flow balance diagrams, documented 53 current and 23 historical measurement devices, and evaluated methods for estimating inflow to the peripheral wetlands, intermediate area, and the lake itself. The authors also identified potential pathways to deliver water that has been dedicated to the lake.
According to the report, many inflows to the lake’s intermediate area display three seasonal flow periods. Summer is generally low flow, fall trends near average, and spring is typically high flow. In more urbanized southern Davis County, two seasonal patterns dominate because inflows are driven by storm drains and small ephemeral creeks. The report points to centralized resources that compile datasets which were previously scattered across agencies and operators.
Report citation:
Turney, E., E. Lukens, S. Null, B. Neilson (2025). Evaluating Surface Water Movement and Measurement near Great Salt Lake, HydroShare, https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.4dff7b44bc574fb29beaa6ee56adbddd
Why this matters.
For the coming distribution year, the lake elevation measured on June 15 of this year will guide the priority schedule for Great Salt Lake water rights. The new accounting tool is intended to make that administration traceable and consistent with statute. The companion measurement report provides baseline maps, devices, and seasonal patterns that can help the public and water managers understand how water moves to, around, and within the lake.
FAQ
What is the meander line and why does it matter?
It is a surveyed boundary around the lake used for jurisdiction. The plan applies to rights below that line and does not create a priority call on upstream watershed rights.
Who decides how to move water between the lake’s arms?
Those decisions rest with the government entities designated by law, subject to any applicable water right terms.
How will lake level be used this distribution year?
The State Engineer will rely on the mean daily elevation of the South Arm recorded on June 15 of the prior year to administer the priority schedule.
What is the Great Salt Lake Distribution Accounting Tool?
It is a state tool that accounts for lake elevation, salinity, water rights, lake volume, and dedicated water deliveries, and it will be updated as the plan evolves.
What new information did researchers publish in the recent report?
They inventoried the existing and historical measurement network, summarized seasonal flow patterns, and compiled resources to help visualize how and when water reaches the lake.
