Climate change is making it harder to predict and manage water supply and demand. To better understand how climate and human use affect water in the Great Salt Lake Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Utah Division of Water Resources are working together on the Great Salt Lake Basin Study. This project is supported by the WaterSMART program and aims to improve how we plan for a future with increasing water challenges.

To support the study, we’re using a set of loosely coupled computer models that simulate how water moves from mountain snowpack to the Great Salt Lake. These models include detailed climate projections, runoff patterns, and how rivers and reservoirs are managed. We use more than 140 climate projections to explore how future conditions could affect the region’s water supply. From these projections, we’ve created five possible future water supply scenarios. These were developed by combining scientific analysis with input from community partners to reflect real-world needs and concerns. These scenarios will help us test how different water management strategies hold up under a range of possible future conditions and support better decision-making for the region’s water future.