Environmental Health
Environmental Information
Algal Blooms
West Nile
Vectors
Used Oil
Algal Blooms
Current Algal Blooms in Southeast Utah
A harmful algal bloom is currently present at Scofield Reservoir. The advisory was issued on August 12, 2026. Algae in the water may be producing dangerous toxins that can make humans and animals sick.
Do not drink the water
Do not swim, wade, or jet/water ski
Do not paddle in areas of algae
Fishing is OK, but discard skin and guts
Boating is OK
For more information visit the Utah DEQ: Recreational Water Quality. (external link)
About Algal Blooms
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occur when normally occurring cyanobacteria in the water multiply quickly to form visible colonies or blooms. These blooms sometimes produce potent cyanotoxins that pose serious health risks to humans and animals.
Although most algal blooms are not toxic, some types of cyanobacteria produce nerve or liver toxins. Toxicity is hard to predict in part because a single species of algae can have both toxic and non-toxic strains, and a bloom that tests non-toxic one day can be toxic the next.
Note: The HABs monitoring season begins yearly on June 1st and ends on October 31st.
The close of the monitoring season doesn’t mean HABs are no longer present. HABs can persist throughout the fall and winter and can pose a potential threat to humans and pets. It’s important to recognize the signs of a bloom and take appropriate precautions, you can reference examples at UtahDEQ: Photo Examples of Harmful Algal Blooms (external link). Recreators are advised to stay out of the water and avoid any contact with water or scum if they suspect a harmful algal bloom. Hunters and fishers should clean waterfowl and fish well and discard all guts.
West Nile
West Nile Virus
Please take extra precautions while outdoors by using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and making sure to have good window screens, or use a screened tent if sleeping outside.
If a person is infected by West Nile virus, the risk of serious disease is low. Most of those affected will have a mild to severe flu-like illness with muscle aches, fever, rash, and headache that usually lasts a few days but can last months. Less than one in a hundred will get meningitis or encephalitis. Those at greatest risk of serious disease are those with weakened immune systems, diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. The elderly are at greatest risk for severe complications.
Prevention
Although not all mosquitoes carry disease, people should avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and long pants that are brightly colored. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients DEET: Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and Icaridin outside the US), IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), 2-undecanone. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is especially important to prevent mosquito bites by having good window screens or by using a screened tent if sleeping outside. Additionally, drain all the standing water around your property, keep roof gutters clear of debris, ensure that all door and window screens are in good repair, and keep weeds and grass cut short.
Vectors
Click on any of the links below to learn more about vectors.
UDHHS Information on Bed Bugs (external link)
Utah State University: Information on Cockroaches (external link)
NCHH: Additional Information on Cockroaches (external link)
Utah State University: Elm Seed Bugs (external link)
Used Oil
Did you know there is a proper and free way to recycle used oil in Utah?
Did you also know that one gallon of used car oil can pollute a million gallons of water, a year’s supply for 50 people!
To learn more about this program and view their location map visit UsedOil.utah.gov.
