OCR Text |
Show Wildlife managers have raised unjustified alarm about the effect of changing salinity without consideration of historical lake levels and an understanding of the long- term cyclic nature of lake chemistry. IMC Kalium experiences hardships from lower lake concentrations. Potassium content of the lake should be analyzed relative to WDPP. The reduction of potassium content cannot be attributed to IMC's mineral extraction and is further evidence that there is not a net migration of minerals to the north arm from the south arm. The statement in the SCOT that says the relative ion ratios in the lake remain unchanged should be modified. The south arm brine layer has been measured on the surface and this information should be included in the SCCT. The north arm has been saturated only four of the past 16 years. Salt was not deposited in the north arm in 1998. Only portions of the north arm have experienced salt deposition, not the entire north arm. There is a lack of in- depth technical analysis of the lake's water chemistry. The SCCT has not adequately analyzed the lake brine chemistry changes and their causes. There is no net northward movement of salts. Both north and south arm brines are lower in salinity relative to equivalent lake levels of the past by an amount equal to the 12 percent loss to the West Desert. The decrease in south arm salinity is not due to a net flow of salt north because of decreased causeway permeability. The statement that declining south arm salinity is expected to continue until the overall lake elevation rises enough to allow substantial bi- directionflow through the causeway and its openings is incorrect. There is evidence that bi- directional flow exists and there is no evidence of declining south arm salinity in the SCCT. There is no evidence listed supporting the claim that there have been changes in the hydraulic conductivity through the northern railroad causeway. The inverse relationship between lake level and mineral concentration is equally applicable to the north and south arms. This is the most critical issue on the lake and should be addressed immediately before the ecosystem collapses. The breach should be deepened and the culverts cleaned and maintained. A long- range plan to breach the causeway should be developed. The current situation to keep the two bodies of water separated is not in the best interest of industry or the ecology. The state does not understand salinity of the lake. Encouraging mixing between the north and south arms would not make a difference or accomplish anything positive. Before developing new breaches, the effect of storm winds that blow southward and northward across the lake should be examined and may be the only hope for sufficient mixing with one or two breaches. 285 |