(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Great Salt Lake ever-growing exposed lakebed bakes in the sun during ongoing drought conditions on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. Scientists monitoring the lake's food web said its ecological collapse has begun as the lake continues to hit record-low elevations and dangerous salinity levels by the day.
Leia Larsen is a sixth generation Utahn and a water and land use reporter reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune. She has covered environment, energy and political issues throughout the West. When she’s not chasing the news, Leia can be found exploring the Wasatch Mountains, sleeping in the desert or rooting around her garden.