Ultrarunner Dakota Jones has launched a 260-mile relay across Utah to advocate for the preservation of the Great Salt Lake. The five-day initiative, titled "Where the Water Was," begins at the Utah State Capitol and follows the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to highlight the lake's receding waters.
Tracing the 30,000-year-old ghost of Lake Bonneville
The Great Salt Lake is currently facing a crisis of recession that creates a massive gap between the modren waterline and the ancient shores of Lake Bonneville.. As reported by the source, the relay participants are traversing paths that once sat beneath a massive prehistoric body of water that dominated the Utah landscape approximately 30,000 years ago. This geological history provides a stark, visceral contrast to the current reality, where the lake's water is often invisible from the trail due to significant recession.
This environmental shift is part of a much larger trend of water scarcity affecting the Western United States. The receding shoreline is not just a local issue but a symptom of broader climate and management challenges that threaten the region's long-term sustainability. By walking where the water once stood, the participants aim to make the invisible loss of the lake feel tangible to the public.
A 260-mile non-competitive trek starting at the Utah State Capitol
Dakota Jones and the organizing group Footprints have structured the "Where the Water Was" relay to be an inclusive community event rather than a traditional athletic competition. Starting at the Utah State Capitol, the five-day journey covers nearly 260 miles around the perimeter of the Great Salt Lake. The event is shceduled to conclude on October 17.
Unlike standard ultramarathons, this relay prioritizes social connection and conversation over personal bests or racing records. the organizers intend for the physical challenge to mirror the endurance required to fight for ecological stewardship. The event is designed to be accessible, inviting locals to join the runners for short distances or participate in community gatherings throughout the week, emphasizing that this is a movement through the landscape rather than a race against the clock.
Mobilizing support for the Utah Rivers Council and Grow the Flow
The relay serves as a platform for three specific calls to action aimed at securing the lake's future. According to the report, organizers are urging the public to provide financial support to the Utah Rivers Council and the organization Grow the Flow. These groups are focused on implementing practical, science-based solutions for the lake's health and long-term recovery.
Beyond financial aid, the initiative promotes the People's Charter for the Great Salt Lake, a petition driven by a coalition of high school and college students. This charter seeks to influence legislative and ecological policy to prevent the total disappearance of the lake. By linking physical movement to the democratic process, Jones is attempting to bridge the gap between environmental science and political action, urging citizens to use upcoming elections to ensure environmental concerns are prioritized in the halls of power.
Will the People's Charter trigger legislative change?
While the relay provides a platform for activism, several critical questions remain regarding the long-term efficacy of these efforts. It is currently unclear how much legislative traction the People's Charter has already gained among Utah's policymakers or if the coalition of students has secured formal endorsements. Additionally, the report does not specify the exact funding targets required by the Utah Rivers Council or Grow the Flow to achieve their stated goals.
The source also leaves open the question of how the broader Utah electorate will respond to the call for political engagement in upcoming elections. While Jones advocates for voting as a primary tool for conservation, the direct link between this specific relay and shifts in state-level water policy remains to be seen. Without more data on legislative response, it is difficult to gauge if this physical endurance test will translate into lasting political change.
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