A harmful algal bloom persists at the Highland Glen Park pond, prompting Highland City to issue warnings on Sept. 10 to stay out of the water. The presence of the bloom continues weeks after the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) first issued a health advisory for the site.
New permanent signage has been added at the park, which includes a QR code that visitors can scan to check real-time water quality levels through the DEQ. Temporary warning signs are also posted at the location.
In a July 30 report regarding Utah Lake bloom advisories, the DEQ stated that blooms generally disappear after one to two weeks, though toxins can linger for days after a bloom dissipates. The current bloom has outlasted that general guidance.
Specific restrictions under the health advisory include instructions for visitors to avoid drinking or swallowing pond water, swimming, or wading. Pets should be kept away from the water, and boaters are advised to steer clear of visible algae. While anglers may fish, they should discard the skin and guts of any catch.
Harmful algal blooms, also known as blue-green algae, are caused by cyanobacteria that thrive in warm, sunlit, and stagnant water with high nutrient levels. According to the DEQ, contact can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and airways. Swallowing contaminated water may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, or kidney and liver damage, with severe cases potentially resulting in death.
Pets are considered especially vulnerable to these blooms. The DEQ advises owners to watch for symptoms such as vomiting, stumbling, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, or seizures and paralysis.
Anyone who comes into contact with bloom-affected water should rinse off with clean water immediately. The Utah Poison Control Center can be reached at 800-222-1222.
Highland City has directed residents to the DEQ's recreational water quality page for the latest updates, which was last updated on Sept. 10.
