(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Bear River, the Great Salt Lake's largest tributary, flows into the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Lawmakers have spent millions to help farmers upgrade their irrigation to ensure more water reaches the lake and its tributary rivers, but a recent audit found the Department of Agriculture and Food isn't monitoring water savings.
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.