Utah to receive $3 million donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to support wetland preservation
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 29, 2026) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has committed $3 million to the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner to accelerate the removal of water-intensive invasive phragmites that surround the Great Salt Lake. The funding will bolster critical habitat restoration, protect vulnerable shoreline wetlands and help sustain natural water inflows into the lake.
“The Great Salt Lake is fundamental to Utah’s environment, economy and quality of life, and protecting it will take all of us working together – individuals, institutions and industry, alike,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “We are grateful to the Church for this generous contribution. It directly expands the state’s efforts to remove invasive phragmites, which consume twice as much water as native plants, choke out wetlands and degrade critical habitat for millions of migratory birds.”
Phragmites (Phragmites australis) is an aggressive, non-native reed that grows in dense stands up to 15 feet tall. Not only does it consume several thousand acre feet of water each year, it also degrades vital habitats for millions of migratory birds, poses significant wildfire risk and prevents water from reaching the lake.
“Phragmites has a significant impact on the hydrology of Great Salt Lake,” said Hannah Freeze, Great Salt Lake Commissioner. “This generous donation allows us to continue vital treatment schedules and align those with seasonal ecological windows for multi-phase mitigation, mechanical land clearing and long-term shoreline restoration.”
The mitigation work will be overseen by the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and managed across multiple divisions within the Department of Natural Resources, including Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Wildlife Resources; Water Rights; and Water Resources, in coordination with local waterfowl management entities and conservation groups.
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Phragmites and Phragmites Treatment B-roll
About the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner
In 2023, the Utah Legislature created the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner. The commissioner is tasked with developing and maintaining a strategic plan and coordinating collaborative work among all agencies and interests in relation to the lake.
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