Saline lakes in the Great Basin (like Great Salt Lake in Utah, Mono and Owens Lakes in California, and Lake Abert in Oregon) are some of the most vital and vulnerable ecosystems in North America, especially for birds. Yet these irreplaceable ecosystems face mounting challenges. As water availability declines due to climate change and increasing human demands, these habitats—and the wildlife that depends on them—are at risk. Very few, if any, ecosystems in the arid West can replicate the conditions saline lakes provide, underscoring the urgency of their protection.
Recognizing these challenges, the U.S. Geological Survey developed the Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment program. Aimed at informing and supporting coordinated management and conservation actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and other wildlife, the program is an innovative effort that has the power to shape the future of saline lakes, and help to secure a stable future for the birds that depend on them. Read more.
American Avocets fly over a saline wetland on Audubon’s Gillmor Sanctuary in Salt Lake County, Utah. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies
At the end of 2024, Congress was able to pass a few water wins. The bills—like the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 and America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act—signify hard-won successes for birds and people across the country. Audubon is proud to have supported these efforts over the past two years of the 118th Congress and looks forward to working with the new Congress to pass legislation that didn’t make it across the finish line in 2024. Read more.
Double-crested Cormorant. Photo: William Pohley/Audubon Photography Awards
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