Category: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Burraston Ponds Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates October 31, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. Waterborne pathogens may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. September 25, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update GOOD NEWS: E. coli…
Bountiful Pond Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: October 31, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. Waterborne pathogens may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. October 16, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update GOOD NEWS: E. coli…
Blackridge Reservoir Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: October 31, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. A harmful algal bloom or waterborne pathogens may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating.. October 17, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring…
Big Sand Wash Reservoir Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: October 31, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. A harmful algal bloom may still be present at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. October 3, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring update BE…
Adams Reservoir Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: December 1, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. Waterborne pathogen or harmful algal bloom concerns may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. October 23, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring…
Bear Lake Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: October 31, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. Waterborne pathogens may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. July 19, 2023: Waterborne pathogen (E. coli) monitoring update GOOD NEWS: E. coli…
Decker Lake Recreational Monitoring

Related Links Updates: October 31, 2023: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring update Recreational monitoring has ended for the season. Monitoring will resume in summer 2024. A harmful algal bloom may still arise at this waterbody. Know what to look for and check before recreating. April 18, 2023: Harmful algae monitoring update GOOD NEWS: Sample analysis…
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Response Plan: Harmful Algal Blooms

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has developed a Response Plan to inform, educate, and engage with agricultural producers when water-quality issues arise from HABs. Quick response and notification of farmers and ranchers about the possible harmful effects of HABs to their crops and livestock will help them make critical decisions regarding water…
Recreational Health Advisory Guidance for Waterborne Pathogens

Local health departments (LHDs) in Utah have the authority to post a health advisory. LHDs use recreational health thresholds to determine if and when E. coli levels indicate a human health risk. The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) supports LHDs monitoring efforts, and along with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), makes…
Recreational Health Advisory Guidance for Harmful Algal Blooms

Local health departments (LHDs) in Utah have the authority to post health advisories and close water bodies. LHDs use recreational health thresholds established by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to determine if and when a bloom presents a human health risk. The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) supports LHDs through a…
Recreational Water Quality Updates Archive
Other Resources: Harmful Algal Blooms

General Information Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) World Health Organization (WHO) Other Health Effects WHO: Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management (1999)Comprehensive summary of the scientific understanding of cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, harmful algal…
Treating Water in the Backcountry FAQs

Will my filter remove cyanotoxins from water? No. There is no known recreational water filtration method that is effective at removing cyanotoxins. Do not drink water from a water body with a suspected or posted harmful algal bloom. Can boiling water or other treatments remove cyanotoxins? No. Treatments such as boiling, disinfecting water with chlorine,…
Fifth Water Hot Springs Recreational Monitoring

Monitoring for recreational water quality on March 16, 2023 GOOD NEWS: Samples collected on February 8 indicate that the bacteria causing rashes at Fifth Water Hot Springs (“hot tub rash”) is no longer present at harmful levels. MORE GOOD NEWS: No harmful toxins were detected over the period of March 3-12. To be save, when…
Benthic Mats: Harmful Algal Bloom Examples

Harmful algal blooms may also occur as benthic mats. These mats grow on the bottom of the waterbody and may detach and float downstream. They are found in both standing and flowing water.
Grass Clippings
Harmful Algal Bloom Examples

See examples of harmful algal blooms that look like grass clippings.