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Show Through its actions, the Economics Committee of the Legislature has recognized the need for a study which synthesizes all available knowledge and which identifies information gaps in establishing a management strategy for Great Salt Lake. As indicated by the recent LAKE COM Report ( 1973), a large number of specific and unrelated studies of various aspects of the lake system have been conducted. Like many other agencies and groups, Utah State University ( USU) has completed several specific investigations. However, in early 1973 a study was initiated at USU with the objective of defining an integrated approach to the management of the entire lake system, including the tributary drainages. The basic characteristic of this study is the development of a framework of realistic computer models which are capable of being used to analyze and predict the consequences of various management alternatives. Over the years research workers at USU have gained considerable experience in the development of computer models of a wide spectrum of natural resource and social systems. This approach is particularly suited to management studies which involve complex systems, and which require the synthesis of much information and many professional disciplines. In addition to providing predictions of the results of management alternatives, computer models are capable of increasing insight concerning the relative importance of system components and processes. In this way, models suggest priorities in the search to gain further information and understanding about various aspects of the system as a whole. The USU study was divided into three basic phases, with the first phase being to define the problem and scope of activities for the subsequent model development and operation phases. The results and recommendations of the first phase of the study comprise this report. Although the study was initiated several months before the formation of the technical team and the policy advisory committee to the Economics Committee of the Legislature, it is submitted that the subsequent phases as proposed for the USU study are capable of providing a much needed basic framework for the broad scope of activities and deliberations which will be undertaken by these two bodies in their efforts to formulate an integrated and meaningful plan for the effective management of the water and related land resources of Great Salt Lake. Scope and Objectives of the Study As previously indicated, at the time of its inception the entire project was divided into three separate phases of specific activity, with Phase I being concerned with the definition of the problem and the development of specific recommendations for work in subsequent phases. It was envisioned that Phase II would involve the actual model development process and that Phase III would be concerned with the application and operation of the models to obtain answers to specific management problems. Thus, depending upon the ultimate stage of model development, various aspects of Phases II and III could be continued for an extended period of time, and could be considerably overlapping. The overall, long- range objective of the entire study is to develop a management strategy for allocating the resources of the region ( natural, manpower, and economic) so as to provide for the optimal enhancement of environmental quality, economic development, and social well- being within the region. This comprehensive objective is broken into sub- objectives as follows: 1. To examine the societal, environmental, economic, and other activities relating to the Great Salt Lake system, such as oil- well drilling, extraction of minerals from the lake, and the construction of physical structures in the lake. 2. To examine the positive and negative impacts ( societal, environmental, and economic) of various commercial and economic activities, such as land use ( including urbanization) and structural developments within the tributary basins to the lake. 3. To examine the positive and negative impacts ( societal, environmental, economic, and others) of various exogenous ( from outside the region) inputs and constraints, such as: a. Federal decisions which affect environmental quality, appropriation of funds, and changing use priorities. b. Economic development outside the region. c. Advances and changes in science and technology, such as improvements in mineral extraction processes and shifts in demands upon particular resources. 4. To develop a comprehensive planning framework for the development of the Great Salt Lake and its immediate environment. This framework will provide productive assessments of alternatives helpful in the decision- making process. This report is concerned with those activities which are associated with Phase I of the study, and the specific objectives of this phase are as follows: 1. To identify and evaluate all previous studies, data, and other information pertaining to the lake system. 2. To identify the following: 2 |