Health department issues warning advisory for Utah Lake due to harmful algae
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- A welcome sign including information about algal blooms stands on the edge of Utah Lake at Lincoln Beach Park in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
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- Algae is pictured on Friday, July 16, 2016, at Utah Lake in Provo.
The Utah County Health Department has issued multiple advisories for harmful algal blooms in Utah Lake, cautioning residents who may be recreating on or near the lake.
On Wednesday, the health department issued a warning advisory for the entire lake, instructing residents not to swim in the water, be cautious when boating and clean fish thoroughly before eating.
Under a warning advisory, lake visitors also are cautioned to keep their animals away from the lake and not to drink the lake’s water.
Last year, a family dog died after visiting the lake and likely coming into contact with toxic algal blooms on the shoreline.
Direct contact or inhalation of blooms can cause skin, eye, ear, nose and respiratory irritation and ingesting them can cause abdominal pain, vomiting and more, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
For animals, symptoms can include excessive drooling, vomiting, stumbling, excessive scratching, rashes and difficulty breathing.
When on the surface of the water, the blooms are sometimes described as looking like spilled paint or streaks on the surface. They also could look like green clumps, grass clippings or “pea soup,” according to Utah DEQ.
The health department issued a health watch for the entire lake Monday with warning advisories for Provo Bay, Lincoln Beach, American Fork Beach and Saratoga Spring Marina.
Harmful algal blooms in the lake are most common during the summer and early fall. Conditions that lead to blooms include abundant sunlight, high temperatures, high levels of nutrients like phosphorus in the water, and stagnant water.
The first warning for the lake this year was issued May 31 for Provo Bay with warnings for Lincoln Beach, Saratoga Springs Marina and American Fork Beach being issued earlier this month.
Residents can report possible toxic blooms to Utah DEQ by phone at 801-536-4123 or call Utah Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if they come into contact with blooms. Updates on the conditions of Utah Lake can be found at deq.utah.gov/water-quality/utah-lake-recreational-monitoring.
