Utah’s Great Salt Lake Drops to Record-Low Water Levels, Conditions to Worsen Due to ‘Megadrought’ Gripping the Western U.S.
A sail boat and some birds enjoy an afternoon on the Great Salt Lake,in Utah, 24 July, 2001. The Great Salt Lake is five to eight times saltier than the ocean and is the second saltiest lake next to the Dead Sea. Salt Lake City will be the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images

Utah's Great Salt Lake has experienced a new historic low in its water levels, with experts saying that the conditions at the largest saltwater lake in the West will further decline.

Citing a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) information released on Saturday, July 24, NBC News reported that the average daily water levels dropped by about an inch below the previous record of 4,191.4 feet above sea level recorded in 1963.

The USGS is maintaining a record of Great Salt Lake elevations dating back to 1847. As the water levels in the Great Salt Lake continue to recede gradually, the recent declines were reportedly worsened by the megadrought spreading around the Western U.S.

According to the latest report of the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 99 percent of Utah is under "extreme" drought conditions, with almost 70 percent of the state experiencing "exceptional" drought, which is the highest category.

Candice Hasenyager, deputy director of the Utah Division of Water Resources, said it is already concerning that the Great Salt Lake has been on a slow decline, but the drought even accelerated, which is more alarming.

Ryan Rowland, data chief at the USGS Utah Water Science Center, noted that it is likely that water levels will continue to drop and "may decline an additional foot over the next several months" based on current trends and historical data.

In the past years, the Great Salt Lake usually gains up to two feet from spring runoff. But this year, it was just six inches, Star Tribune reported. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called on his constituents to cut back on lawn watering and "pray for rain."

Drought in The West

The Western United States is experiencing its worst drought in history, threatening to kill crops, spark wildfires, and harm public health.

More than 93 percent of the land in seven Western states is under the state of drought conditions. Around 59 percent of those experiencing drought are categorized as extreme or exceptional.

Drought conditions are seen in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and most of Utah areas, Scientific American reported. Colorado, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Southwestern Texas are also affected.

The conditions have also caused fishing restrictions and wildfire alerts. The National Interagency Fire Center warned that the growing drought across the West is causing wildfire risk.

The wildfire risk can be seen from California to the Northwest and across the northern plains for the next three months.

Douglas Kluck, NOAA's director of regional climate services in Kansas City, said they had a lot of wildfire and smoke last year. Kluck noted that it would be very surprising if this would not happen again this year.

Dennis Todey, director of the Department of Agriculture's Midwest Climate Hub, said they have huge concerns in the northern Plains because conditions are not good.

Experts with the U.S. Drought Monitor noted that they take many factors into account like precipitation totals, snowpack, stream flows, soil moisture measurements, and the use of images from remote-sensing satellites in reviewing the health of vegetation and ranking the severity of drought in a given area, The New York Times reported.

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Great Salt Lake Hits All-time Historic Low - From FOX 13 News Utah