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SALT LAKE CITY — It's not just Utah Lake.
Toxic blooms of algae in the Jordan River and lower Little Cottonwood Creek have prompted state and local agencies to post warning signs and limit access to the Jordan River system.
Utah Lake remains closed.
It's not clear how long the harmful toxins will linger in the river system.
"Algal blooms can last for days or weeks, and toxins can last for days after the bloom," Donna Kemp Spangler, communications director for the Department of Environmental Quality, said in a prepared statement Sunday. "Response agencies don't expect to have a forecast on when the water can be used for any purpose for at least a week."
Officials also warned that residents who receive secondary water from the Jordan River should not use it.
The warning does not affect drinking water, since it comes from a separate source.
The Salt Lake County Health Department is posting warning signs at all major recreational access points to the Jordan River within Salt Lake County.
The Jordan River and all canals in the county are potentially unsafe for people and animals, Spangler warned, though the river was not closed as of Sunday.
Officials urged pet owners to keep their animals away from the lake, river and canals and not permit them to drink the water. Pets that have been exposed to the water and are exhibiting symptoms such as weakness, fatigue and excessive salivation should be seen by a veterinarian.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food officials warned farmers and ranchers against using water from Utah Lake for food production, especially fruits and vegetables, and livestock watering until lab results are available early next week.
The department advised farmers and ranchers to use alternative sources in the meantime.
Spangler also advises anglers not to fish, or consume fish from Utah Lake and sections of the Jordan River that feed in and out of the lake. Anyone who has caught fish from those areas in, or after July 10, is advised to not consume their catch.
