Currently, there are 14 water bodies under harmful algal bloom warning advisories across the state of Utah and local water body Matt Warner Reservoir is among them. Starting October 31st, the Utah Division of Water Quality will stop monitoring for the blooms. What does this mean for the Basin? Despite notions that harmful algal blooms only occur during hot summer weather, they can persist throughout the fall and winter and continue to pose a potential threat to humans and pets. Kate Fickas, the recreational health advisory program coordinator explains that “most active advisories will be lifted by the end of the month, and signs and website posts will be removed. However, it’s essential to know that these blooms can continue in colder weather. People should know what to look for, and when in doubt, keep your pets and hunting dogs out of the water.” Fishermen should be sure to clean waterfowl and fish well, and discard all guts. Hunters should also keep their dogs away if they suspect a harmful algal bloom, as the toxins have proved to be fatal in pets.
