Oral history interview with John Luft, conducted by Becky B. Lloyd (audio and transcript)

John Luft, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program, discusses his origins, life, and work. Born in Bucklin, Kansas, to a farming family, he grew up farming, fishing and hunting and credits his father and grandfather for instilling in him a love of the outdoors and sense of stewardship. Educated at Kansas State University in wildlife biology, he farmed off and on and worked in wildlife management in Colorado seasonally before moving to Utah and taking seasonal work with Division of Wildlife. After years of seasonal work he took a fulltime job working with waterfowl and then took Don S. Paul's old spot as avian biologist at the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program, becoming director in 2007. He explains the GSLEP in some detail, describes the Belovsky brine shrimp model and the need for it, and talks at length about the complex task of managing the Great Salt Lake's water resources. He is concerned that management of the Lake is moving from proactive to reactive due to climate change and other pressures, but notes the rise of cooperation in managing the Lake's resources between the state, the federal government, industry, universities and nonprofits.