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Show Boating. In recent years the sail boating has increased significantly. This has created a need for navigational aids, hazard warnings, and equipment necessary for search and rescue. The Utah Geological and Mineral Survey ( UGMS) has prepared a navigational chart of the south arm of the lake. The UGMS participates in search and rescue but their capability in this capacity is not adequate for the present extensive use of the lake. In addition, the Utah Department of Transportation ( UDOT) is capable of conducting a wide variety of studies involving the movement of water traffic and the locations of terminal and docking facilities on the lake. Noxious insects. The problem of abundant noxious insects must be addressed in planning recreational development of the lake. The principal insects which may require control are the brine fly, mosquito, deer fly, horse fly, and gnat. The non- biting brine fly is a problem due to the vast numbers which cover both the water surface and beaches in the recreational areas. Noxious insects can be controlled through water management in the marsh lands, the use of chemical or biological agents, or by altering their habitat. Research needs to be conducted on the best way to control insects in specific areas with the minimum effect on the ecology of the lake. Marsh lands often provide the necessary environment for producing mosquitos. Methods of mosquito control on marsh lands through the proper regulation of water levels were described by Rees et al. ( 1966). In this series of studies it was shown that water management techniques and practices effectively used in mosquito abatement often improved the marshes for waterfowl and other wildlife. Other ecologic factors which would affect the recreational uses of the lake need to be defined. For example, at what concentrations of algae in the lake would swimmers and boaters find the conditions objectionable and seek alternative recreational sites. Table 6 contains a list of research needs identified for the recreational use system. Wildlife Wildlife is perhaps the best understood use of the lake resources. Both the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources ( DWLR) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( FWS) have sponsored extensive research in the wildlife area. Rawley et al. ( 1974) provide a detailed discussion of the various aspects of the wildlife resources in the vicinity of Great Salt Lake. The islands of Great Salt Lake and the marsh lands which are found around the shore of the lake provide nesting and rest areas for a variety of migratory birds. The California gull, white pelican, Caspain tern, great blue heron, and double- crested cormorant migrate inland from the Pacific Coast to nest on the islands of Great Salt Lake. During the spring and summer these birds mainly use the smaller islands for nesting, having abandoned the use of the larger islands. An extensive network of marsh lands is found around the shores of Great Salt Lake. These marsh lands provide a vital link in the waterfowl flyway extending from Canada to Mexico. Much of the marsh land is controlled by federal and state agencies and private organizations. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources operates eight waterfowl management areas at the mouths of streams entering Great Salt Lake. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( FWS) operates the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at the mouth of the Bear River. The rest of the marsh lands are managed mainly by private organizations such as hunting clubs. Wildlife provides major recreational benefits from hunting, fishing, and bird watching. The waterfowl management areas around the lake provide the major areas of activity. A summary of the number of annual hunters and visitors to the marsh lands is given in Raw- ley et al. ( 1974). They report that an average of 151,000 hunter trips are made to the marshes annually with an average expenditure per trip of over $ 40. The marshes have an even more significant value to the preservation and perpetuation of waterfowl. The marshes act as a nesting area and a vital flyway link for birds which provide hunting throughout the North American Continent. Presently the main concern of the wildlife system is the damage created by the current high elevation of the lake and the potential dangers if the lake were to rise still higher in the future. The waterfowl management areas are composed of diked areas in which the water level is regulated, and unregulated areas which are principally below the diked areas. The high water already has flooded major portions of the unregulated marshes and threatens to cause major damage to the dikes. Occasional flooding of the area below the dikes is considered favorable since it rejuvenates the vegetation which provdes better waterfowl feed. However, extended periods of inundation are detrimental. Damage to the marsh land diking systems could destroy the ability to regulate the water level in the marsh lands and create expensive repair problems. Understandably, high priority research items are an investigation of methods to alleviate potential short and long- term flood damages and the development of a lake elevation frequency curve. Any solution of the high water problem which includes upstream storage of water should consider methods of improving the inflow to the marsh lands by storing mass spring flows and augmenting summer low flows. A project with this ability would benefit the marsh lands by stabilizing the inflow and reducing the salinity of low flows by dilution. 34 |