Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VINEYARD — Utah County Health Department officials said Wednesday that Lindon Marina is now closed because of a harmful algal bloom, adding to the growing amount of closures and warnings caused by the toxin in Utah Lake this summer.
The department announced the closure in a Facebook post Wednesday morning. In a statement, Utah County Health Department spokeswoman Aislynn Tolman-Hill said the water samples taken at the marina have cyanobacteria cell concentrations of 24 million cells per milliliter, which is 14 million cells per milliliter over the safe threshold of 10 million cells per milliliter.
The level of microcystin, a toxin created by cyanobacteria, was right at the threshold to mandate a closure, as well, according to Tolman-Hill.
"Water with these levels of concentration in the algal bloom can pose serious health risks. To protect the health of people and animals that use the lake, it is necessary for these portions of the lake to remain closed until it is safe for recreation," Utah County Health Department executive director Ralph Clegg said in a prepared statement.
County health officials had previously placed warnings at the marina on Aug. 8 when a warning for the entire lake was issued because of high levels of cyanobacteria in the water.
The high levels of cyanobacteria also led to the closure of Lincoln Beach and Marina in Spanish Fork on Aug. 15, making it the second time this summer the area was closed.
The bacteria, which is sometimes referred to as blue-green algae, can be harmful to humans and pets, according to the Utah Department of Health. The department states people may experience stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes. People may also experience nerve and liver damage after long-term exposure to the toxin.
The toxin can be fatal for pets and other wildlife that consume it, the department added.
Algal blooms aren't a rarity to the lake, as of recently. The state prepared for the possibility of another harmful algal bloom at the lake earlier this year after the body of water experienced algal blooms the past two summers.
The first algal bloom of 2017 was found in Provo Bay in June 2017. It began declining in August 2017.
The largest recent closure came in July 2016 after a large algal bloom covered nearly 90 percent of the lake water, forcing a closure of the entire lake.
