1% for Great Salt Lake
Valhalla proudly donates 1% of annual sales to organizations working to protect and restore the Great Salt Lake.
This race exists because of the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island. Its trails, its wildlife, and the dramatic backdrop of the Great Salt Lake are not just scenery. They are the foundation of the Valhalla experience. As direct beneficiaries of everything this ecosystem provides, we believe supporting its future is not optional. It is a responsibility.
The Great Salt Lake is at a critical moment. Its health impacts air quality, water supply, wildlife migration, regional climate, and the long-term livability of northern Utah. Protecting it is not only an environmental issue. It is a public health, economic, and community issue.
We call on other northern Utah companies to join us in committing 1% of annual sales toward saving the Great Salt Lake.
If you would like to join us in helping protect this irreplaceable ecosystem, we encourage you to support organizations actively working on conservation, water stewardship, advocacy, and restoration efforts focused on the Great Salt Lake.
Why Save the Great Salt Lake?
IT PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH
As the lake shrinks, exposed lakebed turns into dust. That dust can contain arsenic and other heavy metals. When winds pick up, those particles blow directly into nearby communities, increasing risks of asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses.
It sustains a globally important ecosystem
The lake supports one of the largest migratory bird stopovers in the Western Hemisphere. Millions of birds rely on it each year for food and rest. Without the lake, entire migration routes break down, impacting ecosystems across North and South America.
It safeguards Utah’s economy
The Great Salt Lake contributes billions of dollars annually through mineral extraction, brine shrimp harvesting, recreation, and tourism. If the lake collapses, those industries do too. The economic fallout would ripple through jobs, tax revenue, and local communities.
It helps regulate climate and snowfall
The lake moderates regional temperatures and fuels lake-effect snow that feeds Utah’s mountains and water supply. A diminished lake means hotter summers, colder winters, and reduced snowpack. That directly affects agriculture, drinking water, and outdoor recreation.
It prevents an environmental tipping point
Once a saline lake drops below certain thresholds, recovery becomes exponentially harder. Salinity spikes can crash the food web. Dust emissions increase dramatically. At that point, even aggressive action may not reverse the damage.
It preserves Utah’s identity and future
The Great Salt Lake is foundational to Utah’s geography, history, and sense of place. Losing it would be comparable to draining a national park. Saving it is a choice about what kind of state Utah wants to be for the next generation.
