Estimated read time: Less than a minute
ST. GEORGE — With monitoring for known toxic algal blooms paused until summer, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality advises the public to remain cautious when near tainted waterbodies, especially when recreating with dogs.
Last fall, 24 waterbodies across Utah were under either health watches or warning advisories for harmful algal blooms.
In southwest Utah, this includes Newcastle Reservoir, Panguitch Lake, Baker Reservoir, LaVerkin Creek, Left Fork of the Virgin River, North Fork of the Virgin River and lower Virgin River reaching from Zion National Park down into Arizona.
The last known status of these waterbodies can be found on the department's website.
While harmful algal blooms are known to thrive during hot summer weather, they can persist during fall and winter seasons and remain a threat to humans and pets, particularly dogs.
