Frequently Asked Questions

GSL Restoration is a public-private partnership dedicated to addressing the Great Salt Lake dust crisis through innovative, integrated solutions. We combine aquifer science, strategic development, and ecological restoration to create permanent dust mitigation infrastructure while addressing Utah's critical housing shortage.

Farmington Bay represents ground zero for dust events impacting the Wasatch Front. Prevailing wind patterns, extensive exposed lakebed, and proximity to population centers make this area the highest priority for intervention. Additionally, the 2025 discovery of pressurized freshwater aquifers beneath Farmington Bay provides a unique natural resource for our restoration approach.

Unlike conventional development, our approach is fundamentally environmental remediation. Every aspect—from aquifer utilization to community placement—is designed to maximize dust suppression effectiveness. We're not developing in spite of environmental concerns; we're developing because of them. This is restoration through strategic infrastructure, not development with environmental lip service.

Restoration means returning the playa to a stable, non-toxic state. Traditional restoration might focus solely on water conservation, but that's a decades-long proposition. Our approach restores the primary function at risk: public health protection. By stabilizing exposed lakebed through permanent infrastructure and aquifer-fed vegetation, we restore the landscape's ability to protect downwind communities from toxic dust events.

Our development actually protects the lake by stabilizing the playa—the exposed former lakebed that poses the greatest threat to both human health and lake ecosystem recovery. We're not developing in the lake itself, but rather on areas that have already been exposed by declining water levels. By creating permanent surface stabilization, we prevent toxic dust mobilization that harms both communities and inhibits future lake recovery efforts.

Dust events occur when wind velocities exceed 18-25 mph across exposed, dry playa surfaces. Our approach eliminates these conditions through multiple mechanisms: permanent hardscaping (roads, buildings, parking) prevents wind erosion; continuous landscape irrigation maintains surface moisture; and strategic vegetation creates windbreaks that reduce wind velocities. Together, these create comprehensive barriers preventing dust mobilization at the source.

We're not extracting water from the aquifer in the traditional sense. Rather, we're utilizing naturally occurring artesian pressure that already forces groundwater to the surface through documented "round spots" on the playa. University of Utah research showed this water is already discharging naturally—our approach simply channels and distributes it more effectively for maximum dust suppression benefit. We're working with nature's existing system, not against it.

Our development plans include extensive ecological buffer zones and integrated habitat corridors. Wetland enhancement zones expand and improve habitat quality for migratory birds and shorebirds. Strategic phragmites management creates diverse wetland structures. By stabilizing the playa and preventing dust storms, we actually improve conditions for wildlife that depend on Great Salt Lake ecosystems. Current dust events are as harmful to wildlife as they are to human communities.

Climate change is accelerating Great Salt Lake's decline, making our intervention even more urgent. Our development model incorporates climate resilience through water-efficient landscaping, renewable energy infrastructure, and adaptive management protocols. As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns shift, permanent infrastructure-based dust mitigation becomes increasingly critical compared to water-dependent strategies that compete with declining water resources.

Our primary water source is the naturally pressurized aquifer beneath Farmington Bay, which already discharges to the surface without human intervention. We're simply harnessing and directing this natural discharge. Landscape irrigation utilizes xeriscaping principles with drought-tolerant species, and greywater reclamation systems reduce potable water demand by 40%. Because we're working with artesian pressure rather than pumping, energy costs and environmental impacts are minimized.

Our project requires comprehensive environmental impact assessments, water rights determinations, air quality impact analyses, and development approvals from county and state agencies. We're coordinating with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Rights, and Army Corps of Engineers. The regulatory review process ensures rigorous scrutiny of all environmental, hydrological, and public health aspects of our proposal.

While the specific combination of aquifer utilization and strategic development for dust mitigation is innovative, individual components draw from proven precedents. Owens Lake in California provides dust mitigation insights (though our approach is more cost-effective). Terminal basin development in arid regions worldwide demonstrates successful community building in challenging environments. Our innovation lies in the integrated, synergistic approach combining these elements.

GSL Restoration operates as a public-private partnership. Private investment funds infrastructure development and construction, while public sector involvement ensures environmental oversight and regulatory compliance. This model leverages private capital efficiency while maintaining public accountability. Revenue from housing development creates a self-sustaining funding model, unlike traditional dust mitigation approaches requiring ongoing public expenditure.

Unlike traditional dust mitigation (like California's $2.5 billion Owens Lake project funded entirely by ratepayers), our approach is primarily privately funded. Instead of costing taxpayers billions, our development generates over $2.1 billion annually in new tax revenue supporting schools, infrastructure, and public services. The alternative—doing nothing—will cost taxpayers far more in healthcare expenses, lost economic productivity, and eventual emergency interventions.

From a public health perspective, the return is invaluable—preventing respiratory illness, reducing healthcare costs, and protecting 2.7 million residents from toxic dust exposure. Economically, the project generates substantial construction employment, permanent jobs, and tax revenue. For private investors, residential development in a growing market with environmental purpose provides both financial returns and measurable social impact. It's a true triple-bottom-line investment.

Utah faces an 80,000-unit housing shortage in a high-growth market. Our development addresses this demand while solving an environmental crisis. Natural aquifer discharge reduces irrigation costs. Strategic phasing spreads investment over 15 years, managing risk while building market demand. Most importantly, we're solving a problem that must be addressed somehow—our approach simply does so more cost-effectively than alternatives requiring perpetual public subsidy.

We welcome community engagement at every phase. Sign up for our newsletter to receive project updates and community meeting notifications. Attend public comment sessions during regulatory review processes. Share your perspectives through our contact form. Follow our progress on social media. As we advance through planning phases, additional opportunities for community input and participation will emerge.

Our current timeline projects Phase 1 construction beginning in 2028, pending completion of regulatory approvals and environmental reviews during 2026-2027. These timelines allow for comprehensive community engagement, technical refinement, and thorough environmental analysis. We're committed to doing this right, not just doing it quickly.

Absolutely. We project 12,000+ construction jobs throughout the 15-year development timeline, with 45,000+ permanent employment opportunities in retail, services, education, and professional sectors. Our commitment to local hiring and workforce development ensures these opportunities benefit Utah communities. Economic impact extends beyond direct employment through supply chain activation and increased regional economic activity.

We recognize that Farmington Bay has recreational, cultural, and ecological significance. Our development preserves and enhances wetland areas, creates new public access points, and improves water quality through managed discharge. The 18-mile trail network provides expanded recreation opportunities. Educational nature centers will serve as community resources. Rather than closing off the bay, we're creating sustainable access that can coexist with improved environmental conditions.

While the Utah Lake Restoration Project faced legitimate challenges, we've learned from those experiences. Our approach is more modest in scope and focused specifically on dust mitigation through strategic development rather than whole-lake dredging. We're working with naturally occurring aquifer systems rather than attempting to engineer artificial islands. The environmental problem we're addressing—toxic dust events—is immediate and measurable, unlike longer-term lake restoration questions. Our regulatory pathway is clearer, our environmental benefits more direct, and our approach grounded in peer-reviewed research from institutions like the University of Utah.