Measuring what nobody else measures.
Our first volunteer cleanups are getting underway, starting with trash and hand-carried debris on the lakebeds. The numbers below are the contamination problem we exist to solve, and the impact goals we'll publish against once heavy-recovery operations begin.
What's out there right now.
Every number below represents an active threat to Utah's waterways and the communities that depend on them. These are the baselines we measure against.
Sources: Fathom Restoration, Utah Waterways: A Submerged Debris Atlas (2026, updated August 4, 2026); Great Salt Lake funding via the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (greatsaltlake.utah.gov, 2024). See the full research →
What we commit to deliver in our first operational year.
These targets are baked into our Form 1023 application, our grant proposals, and our operating budget. We publish quarterly against them.
Documented, end-to-end recovery missions in Year One, targeting high-priority Utah waterways identified with law enforcement and DEQ partners.
Total toxic fluid containment goal: engine oil, antifreeze, gasoline, transmission fluid, and battery acid prevented from entering the water column.
Documented partnerships with Utah DEQ, county sheriffs' dive teams, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources by end of Year One.
Every recovery operation will be publicly documented: water quality testing data, recovery photos, and incident reports filed within 30 days.
Why every vehicle matters.
A single submerged car is not a static object. It's an active source of contamination that bleeds toxins for years.
Under the Clean Water Act, oil is a harmful discharge the moment it leaves a film or sheen on the water (40 CFR Part 110). There is no safe amount.
Combined engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, fuel, and battery acid that leaks from a single submerged vehicle.
Fluid release can begin soon after submersion and continue for months to years, contaminating the surrounding water and sediment.
A vehicle that sank decades ago is still shedding metal and fluids today. USGS documents contamination persisting more than 40 years after a spill.
Five metrics we'll publish every quarter.
Recoveries Completed
Total operations, GPS-documented locations, and recovered asset descriptions.
Contamination Contained
Estimated fluids prevented from entering the water (oil, antifreeze, fuel, acid).
Water Quality Data
Pre- and post-recovery water testing results from each operation site.
Funds Deployed
Dollars spent on equipment, fuel, certifications, and operations, with line items.
Partnerships Active
Agency relationships, grant awards, and corporate sponsors with named recognition.
No recoveries have been completed yet. The first operation is targeted for Q1 2027, pending initial grant funding. All metrics will be populated and updated quarterly from that point forward.
Help us start measuring real numbers.
The faster founding-phase funding closes, the faster these zeros become real recoveries, real fluids contained, and real water-quality wins.