OCR Text |
Show ( b) Present Environment The waters of the Bear, Weber, and Jordan Rivers presently provide inflow to waterfowl refuges and hunting ponds for duck clubs at the edge of the Great Salt Lake, provide inflow to the Great Salt Lake for use in general recreation such as sightseeing and boating, and provide brines as inflow to several mineral- extraction companies on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. The lake has a complex ecosystem which centers around the small brine shrimp which is very plentiful in the lake brine. The brine shrimp is not found in higher quality waters. Several developments on the lake in recent years have had a significant impact on the environment. The major impact was a result of the railroad causeway constructed by Southern Pacific Railroad Company. This causeway has divided the lake into two separate parts of differing quality. The brine north of the causeway contains about 270,000 to 300,000 mg/ 1 of salts, and the brine south of the causeway has been diluted to about 150,000 mg/ 1. A causeway to Antelope Island State Park has resulted in a further dilution of the waters south of that causeway to Farmington Bay. This difference in concentration has helped the mineral industries on the north end of the lake and has hindered those on the south end of the lake. The two causeways have caused much concern and the State of Utah is currently seeking ways to correct the situation. The lake has a long history of recreational use, with many recreation sites along its shores. The most famous resort was Saltair, located on the south shore. The Antelope Island State Park, located on the north end of Antelope Island, is particularly scenic. The higher ground contains unique rock formations and permits excellent panoramic views of the water of the lake with Fremont Island, Promontory Island, and the Davis and Weber County shorelines in the distance. Crystal Bay, located on the west side of the island, contains a wide, sandy beach of superior quality. A sandy beach of fair quality also exists on the east side of the island opposite Crystal Bay. Bear River Bay, Weber Delta, Farmington Bay, and Jordan River Delta have extensive areas of phreatophyte growth which are used extensively by waterfowl. 517 |