Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW

Academics Skeptical Of Utah Lake 'Island City' Proposal

Island cities proposed for Utah Lake
utahlakecommission.org
Utah Lake

An ambitious proposal to build an island city on Utah Lake to help stymie toxic algae blooms that plague the water got a boost from Utah lawmakers this year, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea.

Developer Lake Restorations Inc. has proposed funding multiple conservation and restoration efforts on the lake by building islands in the lake that people could live on.

Lake Restorations' idea includes a $2 billion dredging project to remove nutrient-rich sediments that algal blooms depend on as well as deepening the lake.

Andrew Follett, a student at Utah Valley University, spoke against the proposal during a panel this week.

Follett says he's skeptical of the ideas of adding residences on the lake when many of the problems were caused by increased urbanization and human population pressures.