Gov. Cox talks drought at USU

Gov. Spencer Cox sits in front of rows of eager students, faculty, and legislators at Utah State University on Sept. 1.  

With cameras and microphones pointed to him, he’s eager to speak at his alma mater about issues related to the record-breaking drought affecting the Great Salt Lake.  

The USU event was organized into a Q&A format, where over 200 students and faculty submitted questions about Utah’s land, water, and air to both Cox and Brian Steed, the executive director of the USU Institute for Land, Water, and Air.   

One of the first questions asked jumped straight to the point and questioned if it was possible for the Great Salt Lake to be restored at this point.   

Cox answered in a serious tone that things have improved and he does see hope for the future. 

“I am less worried about the Great Salt Lake right now than I was a year ago,” he said. “Is it too far gone? The answer is no, and the experts agree.”  

Cox also noted the lake is at a similar recession as it was in 1964. He explained that newspapers back then had hardly any comments on the dangers of the drought.  

However, that doesn’t mean Cox plans to do nothing.  

To help bring the issue to legislators’ attention, Cox flew them above the Great Salt Lake. He explained that when they saw just how low the lake was, legislators passed policies that “set the foundation for how we save the lake.”  

One of those policies involved donating $40 million dollars to environmental protection groups, such as the Audubon Society and Nature Conservancy.   

But according to Cox, there is still a long way to go. 

“Paradigm shifts in large populations rarely happen quickly,” he said.  

Cox also acknowledged how students can be an integral part of those shifts.  

As a former legislator, he expected to receive thousands of emails from constituents convincing him how he ought to vote—and then received hardly anything.  

“But when someone took the time to actually call me or send me a personalized email, I would respond to that person,” he said. “Students changed my votes.”  

Not only can students change politicians’ minds, but Utah’s Commissioner of Agriculture Craig Buttars, commented on how students can conserve water.   

“The average college student can evaluate the way they use water,” Buttars said. “Then as they make decisions for future occupations or future goals, they can use those wiser water evaluations in whatever field they go into.”  

Former USU VP of Government Relations and director of IODP, Neil Abercrombie, also acknowledged the need for the public and students to understand the issue to better tackle it.  

“Four years ago, nobody was talking about the concerns of the Great Salt Lake. And now it’s a question (Governor Cox) gets in every meeting. That’s progress even there,” Abercrombie said. “Understanding what the threat is, understanding the issue, before we start to address it. I think there will be a lot of continued investment towards conservation.”  

Cox concluded the event by showing his recognition of how valuable students can be in action.  

“We don’t fix the dumpster fire (of drought) by disengaging. We fix it by having smart, young people like you care about it,” he said. “Those are things you can do right now to make a difference. You really can make a difference—I’ve seen you make it.”  

-Jenny.Carpenter@usu.edu

Featured photo by Jenny Carpenter