Great Salt Lake Coordinator
Utah Division of Water Quality
Bio:
Jake coordinates the Utah Division of Water Quality’s Great Salt Lake water quality and freshwater lake assessment programs. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Northern Michigan University and an M.S. in Aquatic Ecology from Utah State University. Jake joined DWQ in 2015 following work as a research associate at Utah State University.
Title: Water Quality Standards to Keep the Lake Great
Abstract: A healthy Great Salt Lake (Lake) provides a wide range of ecological, economical, and recreational uses. To protect these uses, the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) continues to develop Lake-specific water quality standards. In 2009, Utah adopted the first numeric water quality standard in Gilbert Bay for selenium in bird eggs. Ambient egg monitoring shows that selenium concentrations are stable and remain below concentrations of concern. In 2012, DWQ launched a Great Salt Lake Water Quality Strategy that includes a plan for developing additional numeric criteria for the Lake. Progress in developing additional numeric criteria includes development of acute testing methods for brine shrimp nauplii and brine fly larvae, chronic testing methods for brine shrimp nauplii, and the development of a GSL aquatic life use database. Acute tests for brine shrimp and brine flies were conducted for three priority pollutants: arsenic, copper, and lead. Acute test results indicate that brine shrimp are more sensitive to these metals than brine flies. Chronic tests were conducted on brine shrimp using arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc. Comparisons of the toxicity test results to ambient water concentrations in Gilbert Bay indicate that these metals are not adversely impacting brine shrimp or brine flies. Additional studies were completed in Farmington and Bear River Bays to characterize the benthic macroinvertebrate and fish communities. These studies address the data gaps identified by the 2013 Great Salt Lake Aquatic Life Use Workshop. This information regarding the Lake’s inhabitants may be used to adjust Utah’s existing freshwater numeric standards for Farmington and Bear River Bays.