- Utah Lake Authority launched the "HABs Happen" campaign to educate visitors.
- The campaign aims to reduce panic about harmful algal blooms at Utah Lake.
- Utah Lake has seen a 50% decrease in algal blooms since 2016.
PROVO — If you're planning to do any sort of recreating at Utah Lake this summer, chances are you'll see harmful algal blooms.
But the Utah Lake Authority hopes the blooms won't stop you from visiting the lake — at least that's the goal of its new campaign launched earlier this week.
The agency isn't shying away from the fact that harmful algal blooms, or HABs, exist in the body of water — but it wants to better inform the public about what they are and what they aren't so people can feel confident visiting Utah Lake.
A naturally occurring cyanobacteria found in bodies of water in Utah and throughout the United States, harmful algal blooms can range in appearance from a green pea soup look to globules that resemble grass clippings, according to the Utah Lake Authority.
On Tuesday, the agency officially kicked off its "HABs Happen" campaign — encouraging visitors to take a "know-before-you-go" approach ahead of recreating at the lake.
The campaign includes information about when blooms are most likely to occur, the risk for adults and pets, as well as comedic, yet informative, videos featuring dialogue from local actors to help ease the public's fears about harmful algal blooms.
The agency conducted a similar campaign last April in efforts to debunk various myths and less-than-appealing perceptions about Utah Lake.
"Just as there is a season for avalanches or flash floods, there is also a season for HABs," Utah Lake Authority said as part of a statement in its press release.
Harmful algal blooms are typically more prevalent during the summer and early fall, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. People recreating at Utah Lake, among other water bodies across the state, can usually expect to see them between July and September. Though the Utah Lake Authority said consistently hot temperatures can create conditions for blooms to grow, it's not completely out of the norm if they're visible earlier in the year.
"(Harmful algal blooms) are treated as an emergency or a crisis, but it's a predictable annual occurrence," Kelly Cannon-O'Day, communications and events manager with the Utah Lake Authority, said in a statement. "If we know it's going to happen at the end of summer, we can shift to a less panicked mentality."
Utah Lake has seen a 50% decrease in algal blooms since 2016. The lake is nutrient-rich and shallow in some parts, which makes conditions right for algal blooms to grow, but the blooms are not always harmful.
"While algae is a natural part of lake ecosystems, it's important to recognize the significant progress that has been made in recent years to mitigate it. In 2025, efforts to reduce phragmites and restore native vegetation achieved more progress than ever before. Those efforts are making a measurable difference, and Utah Lake is now in its best condition in many years," Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran said in a statement. "Utah Lake remains safe for recreational use, and I hope to see residents and visitors out enjoying it this summer."
At times, water officials will issue advisories for places like Utah Lake, urging visitors to avoid swimming, skiing, wading or drinking the water due to a harmful algal bloom impacting parts of the lake.
The campaign hopes to inspire people to take necessary steps to educate themselves on the steps to avoid getting sick and protecting their pets from harmful algal blooms.
"Paying taxes each year is an annoyance, not an emergency, because I know when it is and what's involved," Utah Lake Authority's executive director Luke Peterson said. "HABs are the same. They can only become an emergency if I've done nothing to prepare."
Citizens can learn more about the campaign and how to steer clear of harmful algal blooms by visiting the Utah Lake Authority website.
