Land & Environment
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Harmful algal blooms are a persistent problem at Utah Lake, showing up as green streaks, scums, or discoloration in the water. They are toxic to people, pets, and wildlife—but conditions at Utah Lake make identifying them difficult.New research from Jordan Smith, director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, evaluated whether the appearance of water at Utah Lake changed people’s minds about its suitability for activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. He challenged recreationists and residents to judge water quality based just on how it looked. Most people were remarkably bad at it, according to the research, even at extreme algae levels. But further work took a closer look at recreational anglers—and found that they seemed to have better judgement, perhaps because of the higher levels of risk and exposure they encounter when fishing in an impaired water body, said Smith.Algal blooms are caused by cyanobacteria growing rapidly in warm water, especially when nitrogen and phosphorus levels are high. Utah Lake is shallow, with winds that stir the surface to create cloudy, murky conditions. "This likely makes it difficult for most visitors to determine when green becomes too green," Smith said. "Many visitors perceive murkiness as normal, and it is, but it also makes it more difficult to determine if the water may pose health risks."The new research went beyond aesthetics—the team calculated the number of fishing days lost to algal bloom events, based on the threshold for what anglers reported as “too green.” The lake exceeded the angler-defined threshold for 83 days in 2022, including a 35-day stretch during peak summer. The total loss in economic benefit each year due to high algae concentrations, the researchers calculated, was $4.3 million. This value can be a barometer to gauge the potential benefits associated with continued water quality improvement efforts around the Lake, said Smith.The Utah County Health Department, in partnership with other agencies, has made an effort to increase communication about current conditions. They’ve installed permanent educational and warning signs at popular access points, featuring visual indicators of harmful algae blooms. These are complemented by a live Division of Water Quality dashboard and hotline for up-to-date conditions. But the limited reach of the messaging (only 34.5% of visitors to the lake reported seeing them), and the public’s inability to make visual comparisons, are big concerns.The survey results showed moderate levels of awareness and concern about water quality—but only about two-thirds of the people visiting the lake were aware that it was an ongoing issue.“A sizable portion of people—even those who frequently use the lake for swimming and boating—are still not aware of problems with algae blooms,” Smith said. “Many recreationists don’t understand the risk posed, and may be underestimating the danger.”Toxins released by algal blooms are harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. Cyanotoxin exposure can cause serious gastrointestinal illness, respiratory distress, and liver damage. Even getting it on your skin, or ingesting it from fish can be dangerous, according to experts. Pets who ingest the toxins risk death. The takeaway from the research is that communication about the risks during algae bloom events needs to be proactive, said Smith. Visual cues just aren’t enough.Algae blooms in the state can be monitored through the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
WRITER
Lael Gilbert
Public Relations Specialist
S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
435-797-8455
lael.gilbert@usu.edu
CONTACT
Jordan Smith
Director
Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
435-830-6294
Jordan.smith@usu.edu
TOPICS
Water 341stories
Recreation 81stories
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