Harmful algal blooms at Anderson Cove Beach in Pineview Reservoir reported: warning issued

WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Harmful algae has been reported in the water at Anderson Cove Beach in Pineview Reservoir, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and a warning has been issued.

The DEQ has issued a health watch, and the algae in the water may produce dangerous chemicals that can make humans and animals sick.

Here is what you should and shouldn’t do at Anderson Cove Beach because of this health watch:

• Do NOT drink the water.
• Do not swim, wade, paddle, or water ski in areas with algae.
• Keep dogs away from algae.
• Fishing is okay, but discard the skin and guts from fish you catch.
• Boating is fine.

You can see exactly where Anderson Cove Beach is located at Pineview Reservoir on the map below.

What are harmful algae?

Also known as blue-green algae, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said the blooms are not actually algae at all. It is an aquatic bacterium known as Cyanobacteria that photosynthesizes like a plant.

The DEQ said these harmful blooms occur naturally in bodies of water all over the world, particularly when nutrient levels are high, there is abundant sunlight, warm temperatures and stagnant waters.

If the conditions are right for several days or even months, cyanobacteria can multiply and form large blooms that can cover an entire lake. Blooms generally die and disappear after about a week or two, according to the DEQ, but toxins can linger for days after a bloom dissipates.

How harmful are harmful algae?

Harmful algal blooms can cause irritations and illnesses if you come into contact with them. In the worst cases, harmful blooms have been known to cause permanent organ damage or even death.

Humans and pets that come into contact with harmful algal blooms can experience irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, throat and respiratory systems. Accidental ingestion of harmful algae can lead to abdominal pain, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney or liver damage and neurological symptoms.

If your pet has been exposed to harmful algal blooms, the DEQ advises looking for symptoms such as excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling or muscle tremors, loss of appetite, rashes, difficulty breathing and in serious cases, seizures or paralysis.

DEQ said if you or your pet comes into contact with a harmful algal bloom, rinse off with clean fresh water as soon as possible and remove yourself from the source. You are also encouraged to call the Utah Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222, as experts trained in toxicology can answer any questions and advise you on medical or veterinary treatment.

To stay up to date on the latest reports of harmful algal blooms in Utah’s bodies of water, visit the Department of Environmental Quality website here.