Lawmakers and researchers talk Great Salt Lake solutions

• "It's definitely not something that those in this room or I can do alone. It's going to take a concerted effort across the state."

State of play: Wilson announced Weber Basin Water and Jordan Valley Water conservancy districts would send an additional combined 30,000 acre feet of water into the lake before the end of the year.

Details: Utah Department of Natural Resources executive director Joel Ferry said a potential pipeline — floated by International Water Holdings and lawmakers — that would pump water from the Pacific Ocean into the Great Salt Lake would cost the state between $60 to $100 billion.

• "Now that's really expensive … but what is the cost to do nothing if we continue down this road?" he said, adding that no idea was too big or unreasonable.

Context: Climate change, the ongoing drought and the state's rising population have exacerbated the Great Salt Lake's demise, which could result in severe environmental ramifications and threaten Utah's billion-dollar ski industry.

• The Utah Legislature passed a bill this year to spend $40 million to preserve the body of water.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the Weber Basin and Jordan Valley water conservancy districts would send an additional 30,000 acre feet of water to the GSL.