Protect Our Water. Clean Our Air. Preserve Our Future.
From the drying Great Salt Lake to dangerous winter air pollution, Salt Lake County is facing serious environmental threats. The impacts are not just ecological—they're personal, affecting our lungs, water supply, and quality of life.
The Problem:
- The Great Salt Lake has reached historic lows, exposing toxic lakebed dust that threatens respiratory health.
- Salt Lake City ranks in the top 10 worst U.S. cities for air quality during the winter due to inversion and vehicle emissions.
- Low-income communities and West Side neighborhoods face fewer trees, more industrial pollution, and less access to green spaces.
Aaron’s Plan: Climate Action with Community Impact
1. Restore the Great Salt Lake – Implement aggressive water conservation policies and advocate for regional water-sharing agreements.
2. Improve Air Quality – Expand investment in public transportation, electric buses, and clean energy infrastructure.
3. Green the West Side – Increase funding for trees, parks, and green spaces in neighborhoods with the highest exposure to pollutants.
Why this Mattres
Because environmental health is human health. We can’t protect our economy, our schools, or our families if our air isn’t breathable and our water isn’t safe. The climate crisis is here—and Salt Lake County has to lead with urgency, equity, and science.
What the County is Doing Now
Salt Lake County supports sustainability through programs like the Office of Environmental Sustainability, the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and partnerships on air quality and transit. But funding and implementation remain uneven, especially in underserved neighborhoods most impacted by pollution.
Local Nonprofits Making a Difference
• Save Our Great Salt Lake – https://www.saveourgreatsaltlake.org/
• Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment – https://uphe.org/
• HEAL Utah – https://www.healutah.org/
• TreeUtah – https://www.treeutah.org/
• Sierra Club Utah – https://www.sierraclub.org/utah