Airport Land Sold for Wetland Protection | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City is poised to sell 950+ acres near the airport—acquired in 1995 to offset runway expansion habitat loss—to the state for conservation, specifically to protect vital wetlands around the Great Salt Lake. The city currently spends $70K annually just to maintain the land, and while airport leadership initially balked, officials see the bigger picture: a conservation easement will permanently block future development. This move supports broader efforts to create buffer zones between urban growth and the lake, with groups like Utah Open Lands ready to enforce protection. The land’s value ranges from $3.8M to $5.1M, pending FAA and Army Corps approval—and a waiver for a hefty easement fee. If finalized by November, proceeds will fund airport infrastructure, turning environmental stewardship into smart economic strategy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/09/14/why-salt-lake-city-is-seeking-to-sell-over-950-acres-near-its-airport-to-the-state/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6d7fe43d088b3ff8 Report issues to [email protected].