Payson Lakes Algal Bloom Monitoring 2018

Report a Bloom

24-Hour DEQ Environment Incidents Line: (801) 536-4123

Call Utah Poison Control Center

If you believe you or your pet have been exposed to a harmful algal bloom, call (800) 222-1222.

Update September 21, 2018

The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) received toxin and cell-count concentration test results today for a sample collected at Big East Lake on September 6, 2018. While anatoxin-a levels were non-detect, microcystin levels were 27 micrograms per liter (µg/L) after 10x dilution by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) lab. These microcystin levels exceed the recreation health-based threshold for a Warning Advisory. Likewise, cyanobacteria cell-count concentrations of 6,566,631 cells per milliliter (cells/ml) exceed the recreation health-based threshold for a Warning Advisory.

A thick green bloom that looked like spilled paint was observed at the northwest end of the lake when the sample was collected. Isolated bloom material was also observed intermittently along the west shoreline.

Update September 10, 2018

The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) visited the Payson Lakes complex on September 6, 2018, to monitor conditions and collect samples if needed. McClellan Lake and Box Lake contained thick filamentous algae but no cyanobacteria blooms were observed.

Big East Lake, however, had a thick green bloom at the northwest corner of the lake that looked like spilled paint. Isolated bloom material was also present intermittently along the west shoreline. DWQ collected samples for further lab analysis.