chevron takes leading role in supporting the great salt lake shorelands preserve

May 18, 2023 – Millions of migrating and nesting birds have a new place to rest their wings along the Great Salt Lake. With support from the Chevron Salt Lake Refinery, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Utah created a new 40-acre wetland at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. The expanded habitat comes at a critical time—just months after the Great Salt Lake reached a record low.

“The Great Salt Lake is the sixth-most hemispherically important stopover for shorebirds and waterfowl,” said Chris Brown, Director of Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy. “As the lake has dried down, we’re losing a lot of their habitat.”

TNC created the additional 40 acres of wildlife habitat by building the Freeport Drain, an extensive drainage system with trash booms. The system filters storm water from the Clearfield area and diverts it to the Freeport Drain to be cleaned and distributed throughout the Shorelands Preserve before it reaches the Great Salt Lake. The process will maintain a healthy and active habitat for wildlife.

“Chevron is proud to support this project that not only benefits shore birds, but also mitigates some of the Great Salt Lake’s losses,” said Kristina Brown, Chevron Corporate Affairs Manager. “The lake is a vital part of our community that Chevron is committed to protecting.”

Spanning over 4,000 acres, the Shorelands Preserve is a combination of wetlands and uplands that serves as a feeding ground for shorebirds and waterfowl migrating from as far as the Artic to Central and South America. Approximately 6 million birds travel through the area every year. The lake and preserve are both a critical tourism attraction in Utah, but more importantly, a staple of life and culture in the state as well. Supporting the Great Salt Lake Shoreland Preserve is crucial for both the economy and for the natural beauty that Utah is known for, a mission that Chevron has long supported.

“The Freeport Drain is a wonderful example of the substantial work Chevron is doing to support its local communities,” said Brown. “Projects completed by the Nature Conservancy in partnership with Chevron have made real positive impact throughout Utah, generating meaningful change that will be witnessed years on.”