Field Trips and Activities

Pre-Conference Field Trip, Sunday 11 May (7:30-5:00), Cost $10

The Hypersaline North Arm of Great Salt Lake

Trip Leader: Dr. Bonnie Baxter, Westminster College

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is actually two lakes bisected by railroad causeway.  The south arm, closest to Salt Lake City, is currently at 12% salinity while the more remote north arm is at saturation, closer to 30%. Led by Dr. Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who studies the microbiology of the lake, this pre-conference field trip will introduce you to this hypersaline part of the Great Salt Lake.  We will explore the pink water, the geology, the oil seeps, the salt crystals, the colony of pelicans, and the eco-sculpture, "Spiral Jetty" by artist Robert Smithson.  This excursion is limited to the first 20 registrants.

Mid-Conference Field Trips, Wednesday 14 May (all day), Cost $40

The Great Salt Lake

Trip Organizer: Dave Naftz

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the world’s fourth largest terminal lake with an average area of 4400 km² (1,700 square miles). The ecosystem has been divided by causeways that influence salinity levels. Farmington and Bear River Bays on the east side of the lake receive the majority of the lake’s inflows, and salinities in them range widely from <1 to >10%. The south arm (Gilbert Bay) normally has salinities of 11-16%, whereas the north arm (Gunnison Bay) receives water from the south arm and then evaporates to saturation (ca. 29%), where Dunalliella salina and Archaea thrive. Two options are available for visiting the lake and its environs on the Wednesday fieldtrip.

Option 1. Gilbert Bay. Biogeochemical, limnological, and ecological issues concerning the Great Salt Lake ecosystem will be presented and discussed while touring Gilbert Bay aboard a 65-foot luxury cruise liner (outside and inside seating available) that will depart from Great Salt Lake marina on the south end of Gilbert Bay. Avid bird watchers and accompanying spouses will also enjoy the 2 to 3 hour cruise. Catch-of-the-day lunch and bus travel included. Limited to first 70 registrants. Convene in Officer’s Club parking lot at 9:00 for 9:15 departure.

Option 2. Antelope Island. We will travel to the island by bus across a causeway separating Gilbert and Farmington Bays. The tour of Antelope Island State Park will include: a stop at a hydrological monitoring station and discussion of hyper-eutrophication of Farmington Bay; geologic points of interest; an option for a short hike to Buffalo Point overlooking the lake; a chance to wade, swim and collect brine shrimp, and a visit to the park’s visitor’s center. Ample opportunities will be provided to photograph the island’s resident buffalo herd, birds and other wildlife. Sack lunches and bus transportation provided. Convene in Officer’s Club parking lot at 8:45 for 9:00 departure.

10^th Annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival (15-19 May)

The latter part of the conference coincides with the beginning of the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. This event provides a variety of field trips, presentations and activities for adults and children. There will be several field trips options to the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and many other sites. The event is based in the city of Farmington, about 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The conference will not provide transportation to this event so you would need to rent a car to participate. For more information see www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com.

Post-Conference Field Trip (17-19 May) Cost, $300

Post-conference field trip:  This is a 3-day vehicle/camping tour of the perimeter of the Great Salt Lake. This trip will introduce participants to the wetland areas of the east shore, the remote North Arm of the lake where salinities are near 30%, and the remote western margins of the lake.  Highlights of this trip will include the following as time and weather permit: Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve, commercial salt ponds, Golden Spike National Historic Site, an eco-sculpture (Spiral Jetty), ghost town of Kelton, archaeologically important Hogup Cave, Lucin Cutoff (railroad causeway bypass crossing GSL)  and the  Lakeside Mountains.  Trip cost, $300, which includes food, transportation and camping equipment.