Campaign gets underway to entice residents to re-explore Utah Lake
-
- A bike rack in the shape of a fish is shown next to a Utah Lake Authority sign at new Skipper Bay Trailhead near the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
-
- Utah Lake Authority Executive Director Luke Peterson speaks before a crowd during a press conference at Skipper Bay Trailhead near the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
-
- Provo resident Amalie Simrer kayaks along the recently reconstructed Provo River Delta just north of Utah Lake on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
-
- Utah Lake Authority Deputy Director Sam Braegger and conservation biologist Addy Valdez stand before a crowd during a press conference at Skipper Bay Trailhead near the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
-
- A warning sign posted near Utah Lake State Park in Provo is shown in this 2024 photo.
With a backdrop of the newly reconstructed Provo River Delta and Mount Timpanogos off to the far east, the Utah Lake Authority on Wednesday detailed efforts to inspire citizens to reconnect with the ecosystem and all that it has to offer.
The organization held a kickoff event at Skipper Bay Trailhead in Provo launching its new campaign titled “Utah Lake is My Lake.” The yearlong push will begin with a series of branded ads produced by Harmon Brothers, founders of Provo-based Angel Studios, and starring actors from Studio C, ULA said in a media release.
Ryan Powell, creative director at Harmon Brothers, said the production leans on the humorous nature of the subject but also supports the positive message about the lake, emphasizing its potential and encouraging others to appreciate it.
“It’s not criticizing the lake,” Powell told the Daily Herald. “It’s all about spreading the positive message of how great this lake is, so it’s all in the name of uplifting.”
While the ads gently poke fun at the fact that tourists love recreating at Utah Lake — and the locals that are missing out — Luke Peterson, executive director of the Utah Lake Authority, says the campaign aims to change the public’s perception of the lake.
“People don’t have a really positive view of Utah Lake,” he acknowledged before a crowd of attendees who gathered during Wednesday’s briefing.
Peterson noted results of a summer study that showed people, primarily Utah County residents, prioritize conserving Great Salt Lake over Utah Lake.
He agrees that saving the Great Salt Lake is vital, but reiterated that Utah Lake also plays a role in the ecosystem’s health.
“A third of the water that goes into Great Salt Lake comes through Utah Lake. So we have to really focus on appreciating and valuing the lake that’s in our backyard,” Peterson said.
In February, the Central Utah Water Conservancy District announced that nearly 23 billion gallons of water would be released from Utah Lake flowing down the Jordan River to the Great Salt Lake.
He also cited findings from their study that explores the difference of behaviors between newer Utah County residents who may be a little more optimistic about visiting the lake and longtime residents whose negative views of it keeps them away.
Peterson doesn’t shy away from the struggles Utah Lake has faced over the decades but notes ongoing restoration efforts.
Among the work includes a reduction in invasive species like Phragmites and carp, improved water quality, and reduced harmful algal blooms, according to the Utah Lake Authority.
“There is always room for improvement, and Utah Lake has room for improvement, but it is just getting better with each day,” Peterson said.
Ben Abbott, professor of aquatic ecology at Brigham Young University, also spoke during the event and described the body of water as two lakes: the physical and biological ecosystem and the perception in people’s minds.
He hopes the campaign will aid in changing people’s vision about the lake as recovery efforts persist.
“The most important factor that’s going to decide if this ecosystem is resilient and continues recovering is what relationship people have with the lake,” Abbott said. “And so a marketing campaign is great. I think this will move us in a good direction, but no marketing can replace the need to have a good product … thankfully, the product is amazing.”
Utah County Commissioner and Utah Lake Authority board member Skyler Beltran commended the Utah Lake Authority for its efforts. He believes as more people regain their passion for Utah Lake, the impacts could prove beneficial for the local economy.
“We know that when people see the lake as a place worth visiting, they use it more. And that leads to more recreational opportunities, stronger local businesses and a boost to our economy,” Beltran said.
With the messaging that reads “Utah Lake is My Lake” ULA conservation biologist Addy Valdez encourages citizens to also become engaged through various service projects.
The organization hosts annual events to promote community engagement along Utah Lake like The Great Carp Hunt, annual wildlife counts, ecological field trips, and their series of “planting parties.”
“I think as long as you can just convince yourself to get out of your own backyard, into your actual backyard, then you can really have a great time and create your own experience and relationship with the lake,” Valdez said.
As for the overall campaign, other efforts will focus on educational resources for the community that paint an accurate picture of the lake’s status, an economic impact study, a recreation access plan, town halls, fundraising for a new nature center, formation of a youth council and more, ULA said in a release.
“The ads are really just the start of a large push to help change the perception of Utah Lake. This is not the lake you remember from 20 years ago,” said ULA Communications and Events Manager Kelly Cannon-O’Day. “Utah Lake is a thriving, beautiful ecosystem that is perfect for boating, fishing, bird watching or just enjoying the outdoors.”
A link to the first ad can be seen online at utahlake.gov.
