Utah is growing. The West is getting more crowded. We are in a pattern of drought, with several areas in the state experiencing “severe,” “extreme,” and even “exceptional” drought levels. The Colorado River is under extraordinary pressure. And the Great Salt Lake reminds us that every gallon has competing demands.

The lake is one of Utah’s defining natural resources, and the challenges facing it have consequences that extend far beyond the shoreline. Declining lake levels threaten wetlands and critical habitats for millions of migratory birds. They create concerns about exposed lakebed and air quality for communities across the Wasatch Front. They affect industries and livelihoods that depend on the lake. And they raise difficult questions about how we manage a limited water supply while supporting Utah’s communities, agriculture, and continued growth.

Conservation has to be part of the answer to our drought problem, but it alone is not a long-term water strategy for a rapidly growing state.

Locally driven, federally supported solutions are key. I’ve applauded President Trump’s budget request for $1 billion in funding to go toward Great Salt Lake restoration efforts, and am working to ensure the funding is appropriated in Congress. But in reality, that’s only one step toward a sustainable solution. We need big, bold ideas, which is why I’ve engaged as the federal voice with local stakeholders to explore solutions like West Coast desalination plants, water rights exchanges, groundwater extraction, evaporation reduction, better forest management, and agricultural innovation.