24 Utah waterbodies under advisory for harmful algal blooms ahead of waterfowl season

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — A number of Utah waterbodies are under advisory for harmful algal blooms, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources. Officials are warning hunters of the potential danger ahead of waterfowl season.

There are currently 24 waterbodies under warning and danger advisories throughout the Beehive State. The Division of Water Quality last did their round of checks on Friday, Sept. 27, and the agency will stop monitoring for the harmful blooms on Oct. 31 as temperatures continue to cool off during the fall and winter.

What are algal blooms?

These blooms form when “naturally occurring cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, multiply to high densities and form visible water discoloration, scum and mats,” a press release from the DWR states. “Harmful algal blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint, grass clippings or water that has a green or blue-green hue.”

See photos of harmful algal blooms below:

This specific type of bacteria can produce several toxins that can affect liver, nerve, and skin tissue, according to the DWR. If you think there might be a harmful algal bloom in water that you are considering entering, officials say you should play it safe, stay out of the water, and avoid any contact with the scum.

If you are hunting, be sure to clean waterfowl and fish well with fresh water, and discard all guts. Additionally, hunters should be sure to keep their dogs away, as the toxins have proven fatal for pets in the past, according to the DWR.

The exposure can happen through:

• Skin contact with water or mats that are contaminated with cyanobacteria or toxins
• Swallowing water
• Licking the water off their fur or hair
• Eating algal mats along the edge of a waterbody

If you think your pet may have been exposed to a harmful algal bloom, seek immediate care from your veterinarian.

“Even with proper veterinary care, most exposures are fatal,” the release states. “Prevention is the best way to protect your pet.”

The DWR will reportedly post signs in some of its waterfowl management areas to help warn hunters. You can also report suspected harmful algal blooms by calling the Division of Water Quality at 801-536-4123.

For more on what to look for if you’re concerned about a harmful algal bloom, visit the DWQ website here .

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