Category: Water Quality

Panguitch Lake is an important cold-water fishery and recreation area for southern Utah communities. This project is designed to improvewater quality in the lake and in Panguitch Creek, the outlet to the lake. The problem Panguitch Lake, a vital sport fishery and recreational hub in southern Utah, is threatened by declining water quality, including recurring harmful algal blooms (HABs) and

The Fremont River is a tributary of the Colorado River system in south‑central Utah that flows east from the slopes of Thousand Lake Mountain through Capitol Reef National Park before joining Muddy Creek to form the Dirty Devil River. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). Find the most

Spanish Fork Reservoir (also called Spanish Oaks Reservoir) is a small man‑made reservoir in Spanish Fork, Utah, that stores pressurized irrigation water. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). Find the most recent monitoring information below.Looks Good!There are no current health advisories for this water body. Conditions may

Millsite Reservoir is located west of Ferron, Utah. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring program checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). Find the most recent monitoring information below.Looks Good!There are no current health advisories for this water body. Conditions may change quickly. Check before entering the water and know how to spot a

Salt Lake City, May 2026 – As the recreation season approaches, the Utah Division of Water Quality is working to ensure that Utahns can safely enjoy the state’s beautiful lakes and reservoirs while avoiding harmful algal blooms (HABs) that require a cautious eye.What are HABs and how do they occur?Harmful algal blooms occur when cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in

At the Division of Water Quality (DWQ), we work to protect, maintain, and enhance the quality of Utah’s surface and groundwater. This work is essential for protecting public health, preserving aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring that Utah’s waters are safe for a wide range of beneficial uses, from drinking water to recreation.On this page: Our mission | What we do |

Panguitch Lake is cherished for its beautiful shores, excellent fishing, and relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, the beloved lake has been struggling. Since the early 1980s, the once-blue waters have increasingly turned green each summer due to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These aren’t just aesthetic issues. HABs are caused by an overgrowth of photosynthetic bacteria called cyanobacteria, which can release dangerous toxins

We are proposing revisions to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Quality (DWQ) permitting fee schedule. These changes are designed to make the fee schedule easier to understand, more equitable for permittees, and better capable of supporting efficient permit processing. What you need to know What has changed? Most changed fees are for permittees who have

The Jordan River is a popular recreational corridor flowing north from Utah Lake through Utah and Salt Lake Counties. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). Find the most recent Jordan River monitoring information below. Warning AdvisoryHarmful Algae Present Do not swim or water ski Avoid areas of algae

Mantua Reservoir is located in Box Elder County, approximately 5 miles east of Brigham City, at the edge of the town of Mantua. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). We post monitoring updates on this page as soon as we can, but our map (also found on HABs.utah.gov) will always

The State of Utah Water Quality Board is administering a competitive program to fund eligible projects in the state to address identified Emerging Contaminants (EC). These are defined as substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials that may pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment.

The 2026 Integrated Report (IR) assesses the quality of the surface waters in the state and identifies waterbodies that are not meeting water quality standards. These standards support the designated beneficial uses that protect water quality for drinking water, recreation, aquatic life, and agriculture. Waterbodies that do not meet one or more of their beneficial uses are classified as impaired

The purpose of the 401 Water Quality Certification program is to ensure that federally permitted or licensed activities (such as 404 permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) will be conducted in a manner that will comply with applicable Utah discharge and water quality requirements in order to maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of waters affected

Sulphur Creek is located in Capitol Reef National Park. DEQ’s recreational water quality monitoring checks for two health concerns: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli). Find the most recent monitoring information below. Warning AdvisoryHarmful bacteria/viruses present Do not swim in this area Do not drink the water Wash hands with soap and clean water after contact with lake or

Read the ReportThe Division of Water Quality worked with Animas Environmental Services to conduct an E. coli analysis in the San Juan River watershed. The study relied on existing monitoring data collected under EPA-approved quality assurance project plans. The consultant made the following recommendations based on its data analysis: Create a multijurisdictional protocol for collecting, assembling, and sharing E. coli datasets. Develop a regional or watershed E.