Breaching the Great Salt Lake Causeway: An Addendum

An analysis (Interfaces, Vol. 10, No. 2) led to a recommendation that the state of Utah not pay for breaching the causeway across the Great Salt Lake because the estimate of maximum benefits to the state was significantly less than the minimum cost. However, between 1982 and late 1984, the lake level increased an unprecedented 9.45 feet, and lakeside mineral industries, transportation, wildlife areas, recreation, and public utilities were severely affected. On August 3, 1984, the causeway was breached by a 300-foot cut; unfortunately, the full benefits of the breach were not realized because the water level had already reached 4,209.25 feet. The only savings will be the incremental difference between losses already incurred and those of future year's if the lake continues to rise.