I suppose they (the GOVERNMENT) could go the normal bureaucratic route and prohibit the entry to or use of the salt flats by anyone for any purpose whatsoever, indefinitely.

Or they could just pave the whole thing.

With the current administration in place, I don't see any effort to restore the salt in at least the next four years, and by then it may be too late.

The only way action will be spurred is if enough money changes hands to bribe encourage Congress to enact legislation to restore the salt flats.

Mining and money override preservation of natural resources and treasures.

"I don't see any effort to restore the salt in at least the next four years, and by then it may be too late."

Yes, in four years the salt flats may have very well fixed itself, thus depriving anyone from having made money or had opportunity to make more idiotic rules based on the stupid assumption that nature doesn't and can't repair itself.

If you had any idea why the salt had disappeared, you might have a point.

As it is, you're just a country bumpkin blabbering again.

There was quite a bit of info in the thread following the Canadians driving around on the flats in an RV doing irremediable ecological damage to the frail salt flat habitat.

One fellow blamed mining interests, although there was no evidence of digging in the areas in question. Another fellow indicated it was normal leaching of surface salt into substrate due to the annual soaking cycle.

I personally suspect that there is less salt laden water making it to the flats to dry and renew the surface salt layer, as most rivers in the area have been as nearly as possible fully committed to municipal water systems and agriculture elsewhere. (At this point I pull out the sheepskin saying I have a Masters in environmental sciences, specializing in contaminant hydrology). I do know at this point that every drop of water in the region is spoken for by someone and there are often political and legal fights erupting over this specific drop or that one.

In any case, the salt is slowly going away. Candy bars cost more than a nickel and the squeaky wheel walks.

According to a recent economic study, five companies extract salt, magnesium, potash and other minerals in massive evaporation ponds, producing 4.4 million tons a year valued at $685 million and supporting almost 2,000 jobs.

The BLM, with the assistance of the University of Utah, plans to launch yet another study, expected to be complete by 2018.

In the meantime, White said, he sympathizes with the plight of the salt flat racers.

"All I can do is give them the facts and the conclusions we have drawn with those facts," he said. "And unfortunately, it's not a complete picture."

Did some looking into the geology of the area and current thought is that the flats formed from overflows of the Great Salt Lake twice during the last 3000 years. The salt extraction comes from brine pumped from wells to evaporation ponds in the area. The mining companies are participating in a study where they pump brine onto the flats where it is allowed to evaporate, but there is uncertainty whether the pumping is actually helping matters as salt transport mechanisms in the area are not well understood. With Great Salt Lake level falling, it is unlikely that there will be the future overflows to renew the flats. The regular annual inflows and flooding from rain runoff do not appear to have high enough salinity to replace salt that is transported by leaching into the subsurface.

Yes, it may well be the end of it. I've read similar items.

I irked the notorious North Dakota tire burner by suggesting that the newly crowned president will/has turned a deaf ear to any environmental issues which may impede commercialization/extraction/exploitation of natural resources for money.

Trump clears way for controversial oil pipelines | Reuters

Sorry to disappoint but no irks felt here over President Trump telling the Indians to go pound sand. I'm thrilled to hear it!

You have once again been mistaken in your assumptions andor your understanding/definition of a subject andor word.

Definition of 'irk'.

"irk

To annoy/piss off to the point of mental frustration. Stupid people irk me. #annoy #piss off #frustration #stupid people #mental frustration"

It's not what you imply it to mean in the context of the sentence you have used it in.

However to be fair the fact you (once again) showed you can't get basic facts right (and then were proud of it) did leave me minorly 'irked' but not majorly being I, like many others here, have sort of come to expect it from you.

Fail but expected fail so you kind get a wash on this one by self-determined fail trend default.

I hope you are happy swimming in your swamp of arrogance and ignorance.