Wetland Plants of the Great Salt Lake

Introduction Great Salt Lake wetlands: water, plants, birds, and management Great Salt Lake (GSL) is renowned throughout North America for its size, salinity, and importance to migratory bird flyways. Located in the Great Basin, the lake encompasses approximately 4,400 km² (1,087,000 ac) of northern Utah and is the largest terminal lake in North America.61 Nearly 1,400 km² (351,000 ac) of wetlands surround GSL’s shorelines; these wetlands teem with life and are a flooded oasis in an otherwise arid region.55 From submergent wetlands to playas, plant communities play a vital part in GSL wetland ecosystems. Wetland plants provide habitat for insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, mammals, and birds that thrive in wetlands. In fact, Great Salt Lake was designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network because over 250 bird species migrate to and rely on its wetlands for food, cover, and rest. Together, water, plants, and birds contribute to healthy, vibrant GSL wetland communities. Managing GSL’s wetland plant communities is a tremendous, yet necessary challenge that stands to benefit many stakeholders.

Water Water is the defining feature of wetlands. From tiny microbes to hardy plants and towering great blue herons, all GSL wetland life is tied together by the presence of water. Water factors such as depth, flooding pattern, and chemistry differentiate the types of wetland communities.

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