Why did Mormon settlements near the Great Salt Lake use irrigation?

Mormon pioneers utilized irrigation near the Great Salt Lake as a fundamental method of land reclamation to transform an arid, inhospitable environment into productive agricultural land.12

When settlers arrived in the valley in 1847, they faced a dry climate that was not naturally conducive to farming. To establish self-sustaining communities and develop a stable economy, they implemented irrigation systems that diverted water from mountain streams through canals to reach alluvial valley lands. This practice was essential for growing crops in the region's near-desert conditions.12

By successfully applying these techniques, the pioneers were able to cultivate the land, supporting the growth of over 150 communities by 1860. This early effort served as a significant impetus for the broader development of irrigation-based land reclamation across the western United States.12