Northern part of Great Salt Lake hits historic low level

Officials say drought has caused water levels in the northern portion of Utah’s Great Salt Lake to drop to a historic low for the second year in a row.

Utah’s Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey said Tuesday that the northern arm’s water level fell to 4,191.6 feet in November.

That’s a foot lower than the historic low set last year.

U.S. Geological Survey scientist Cory Angeroth says the larger northern branch is also at low levels and could hit low records set in 1963 if Utah doesn’t see an above average snowpack this winter.

State officials say they’re making sure bicyclists and ATV riders are not riding across exposed lakebeds and disrupting waterfowl habitats.

The smaller northern arm of the lake is separated from the southern arm by the Union Pacific Railroad’s 21-mile causeway.