Payson Lakes Recreational Monitoring 2021

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 October 18, 2021 (HABs)

HABs samples taken from the Big East Lake shoreline on October 5th show toxigenic cell density results of 33,393 cells/mL of Microcystis, which is below the UDWQ/UDOH recommended Warning Advisory threshold. The DWQ HABs team will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Update October 6, 2021 (HABs)

The DWQ HABs monitoring team re-visited Payson Lakes on October 6th. Harmful algal blooms were observed at Big East Lake. Cyanotoxin and cell density samples were collected and results are pending. Harmful algal blooms were not observed at McClellan Lake. DWQ will continue to monitor the Payson Lake closely.

Update September 28, 2021 (HABs)

The Warning Advisory for Big East Lake remains in place.

Toxigenic cyanobacteria cell density results for samples taken from Big East Lake and McClellan Lake on 9/22/2021 were delivered on 9/28/2021. They show cell cell densities are below the UDWQ/UDOH recommended Warning Advisory threshold of 100,000 cells/mL. DWQ will continue to monitor the Payson Lake closely.

Update September 23, 2021 (HABs)

The Warning Advisory for Big East Lake remains in place.

The DWQ HABs monitoring team re-visited Payson Lakes on September 22nd. Harmful algal blooms were observed at McClellan Lake and Big East Lake. Cyanotoxin and cell density samples were collected and results are pending. DWQ will continue to monitor Payson Lake closely.

Update September 1, 2021 (HABs)

The Warning Advisory for Big East Lake remains in place.

The DWQ HABs monitoring team re-visited Payson Lakes on September 1st. Harmful algal blooms were observed and cyanotoxin and cell density samples were collected. Results are pending and DWQ will continue to monitor Payson Lake closely.

Update August 18, 2021

A Warning Advisory has been issued for Big East Lake by the Utah County Health Department.

Toxigenic cyanobacteria cell density results for samples taken from Big East Lake on 8/12/2021 were delivered on 8/17/2021. They show cell counts at 5,451,558 cells/mL of Microcystis, a known toxin producer. Cell densities are above the UDWQ/UDOH recommended Warning Advisory threshold of 100,000 cells/mL.
Box Lake and McClellan Lake both had cell densities below the UDWQ/UDOH recommended Warning Advisory threshold.

Keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe during a harmful algal bloom.

Update August 13, 2021

The Health Watch for Payson Lakes remains in place.

The DWQ HABs monitoring team visited Payson Lakes on August 12th. Harmful algal blooms were observed near the center of Box Lake, McClellan Lake and the southwest and northwest shoreline of Big East Lake. Cyanotoxin and cell density samples were collected, and results are pending.

Update July 22, 2021

A Health Watch has been issued for Payson Lakes by the Central Utah Health Department. This includes McClellan Lake, Box Lake, and Big East Lake.

Note: This is not a formal advisory level but rather an indication that a bloom may exist or become more severe based on available information from Utah DWQ and Utah Department of Health.

Update July 13, 2021 (Waterborne Pathogens)

On June 29th, Utah County Health Department visited the Payson Lakes for routine waterborne pathogen monitoring. Samples from near the southwest beach did not contain E. coli above recreational thresholds. Routine sampling will continue monthly.

Update June 23, 2021 (HABs)

Cyanotoxin and cell density samples from Box Lake and Big East Lake were returned reporting cell densities less than the UDWQ/UDOH recommended Warning Advisory threshold of 100,000 cells/mL. The DWQ HABs monitoring team will resume routine monitoring.

Update June 17, 2021 (HABs)

The DWQ HABs monitoring team visited Payson Lakes on June 16th. Harmful algal blooms, specifically grass clippings, were observed near the center of Box Lake and the southwest shoreline of Big East Lake. Cylindrical nodules were observed near the northwest shoreline of Big East Lake as well. No harmful algal blooms were observed in McClellan Lake. Cyanotoxin and cell density samples were collected, and results are pending.

Update June 2nd, 2021 (HABs/Waterborne Pathogens)

The Division of Water Quality and the Utah Department of Health began monitoring for harmful algal blooms and waterborne pathogens on June 1st, 2021. As UDWQ and UDOH continue to visit and monitor waterbodies, updates will be posted.