The Utah Lake Authority issued a warning on Thursday, advising residents to avoid direct contact with water at Utah Lake as data confirmed the presence of lake-wide harmful algal bloom.
The Utah Division of Water Quality conducted visual inspections of the lake on Monday, and believed there was a lakewide bloom of harmful algae. Further data, including satellite imagery, confirmed the initial suspicions.
Residents are advised to avoid swimming, including pets, as well as to steer clear from skiing, wading or drinking the lake’s water.
Motorized boating and sailing are still safe, but paddlers and kayakers in smaller crafts are urged to use caution.
Luke Peterson, the executive director of the Utah Lake Authority, said lakewide harmful algal blooms are part of the natural cycle.
“HABs are an unfortunate, but natural part of lake life that require some temporary adjustments for avid recreators,” Peterson said in the statement. “It’s like the need for precaution in Utah’s ski country during avalanche season, or in red rock country during flash flood season.”
According to the Utah Lake Authority, harmful algal blooms are an annual occurrence around this time of the year.
In the meantime, residents can still enjoy adjacent lake activities such as nature walks, bird watching and fishing, the statement read.
The Utah Lake Authority also reminded residents harmful algal blooms can be dangerous if ingested or in direct contact with the skin, but are not deadly.
Despite the improved quality of the lake water in recent years, the statement read, harmful algal blooms continue to be a reality with different patterns, timing and intensity every year.
The Utah Lake Authority continues to work with various partners to reduce harmful algal blooms on the lake. Since 2019, there’s been an overall 50% reduction in harmful algal blooms at Utah Lake, the statement concluded.
Comments