Lets look at this from a different perspective. The question comes to mind: Is a professional geologist trained or educated in mathematical theory, physics, meteorology, or fluid dynamics to the point that their "theories" about salt loss due to (insert whatever you want here) can be proven (such as salt loss due to unverified tonnage removal by private industry) or can be accepted as fact by outsiders?
Unless other professionals care to put their reputations on the line by challenging each others "findings", The public can easily be duped.
This has happened in the very recent past in everything from medical research to "Black Holes" to religion to politics. Mistakes are made. Numbers are misunderstood. People lie, Professors lie, Priests lie, Politicians lie, Plumbers lie. Why? To make the rest of the World accept their falsehood's or to make their "higher-ups" or corporate stockholders happy.
I am not calling anyone a liar here, I am only questioning the status quo of how these "findings" came about, what methods were used to corroborate these findings with outside research data by independent sources and sciences.
When a government entity charged with the protection of public lands relies solely on "in house" findings, and being that said entity is under tremendous political and therefor financial pressure, I tend to wince when I read any "sanctioned" report.
As the old Hippy Bumper Sticker read: QUESTION AUTHORITY.
Bob Drury