As Lake Abert shrinks, the government begins to act

(OCTOBER 8, 2021) Lake Abert is an unusual lake in Oregon's desert. Most lakes are freshwater. Lake Abert, however, is a saltwater lake.

In addition, Lake Abert is becoming smaller and smaller. Scientists think that climate change is making the lake dry up slowly. People can't swim in the water, and there are no fish in the lake.

Still, a lot of shrimp live in the salty water. Every year, up to 83,000 migrating birds (such as ducks and geese) stop to feed on the shrimp. But if the lake continues to get smaller, then it might become too salty even for the shrimp. Without the shrimp, the birds would not have anything to eat. The birds would die or no longer stop at the lake. That is a big change for wildlife in the area.

Some people in the federal government want to study the problem. They are asking the U.S. government for $5 million every year for six years. They want to find a way to fix the problem. They want to learn how to manage water in a better way.