Scientists found two moments when humans completely rewired this ancient lake.

Imagine a body of water that stayed basically the same for 8,000 years, then suddenly transformed twice in two centuries because of human choices. That’s exactly what happened to Utah’s Great Salt Lake, and the story emerging from muddy sediment cores is more dramatic than anyone expected.
New research shows that what we’re seeing today isn’t just drought or climate change. Two specific human decisions permanently altered how this massive lake works, pushing it into conditions not seen for at least 2,000 years.