Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has issued a warning to visitors who plan on entering Lake Powell as a algal blooms have been reported scattered around the park.
Lake Powell is the second manmade reservoirs in the nation. It’s 2,000 miles of shoreline and 96 side canyons are popular with the millions of visitors of the park who each year. Lake Powell compromises 13% of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and at full pool it has a a capacity of 27 million acre-feet and maximum depth of 561 feet at Glen Canyon Dam.
Certain species of algae and phytoplankton can produce toxins that may cause illness in humans, pets and wildlife. During Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) visitors are advised avoid any contact with water or scums if you see pale-green or pea-green scum on or in the water and suspect a waterbody is experiencing a harmful algal bloom. This includes swimming and boating.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Statement:
Lake Powell enthusiasts: Algal blooms have been reported scattered around Glen Canyon National Recreation Area this fall. Certain species of algae and phytoplankton can produce toxins that may cause illness in humans, pets and wildlife. Some may be harmless, but please follow the following guidelines on how to stay safe during Harmful Algal Blooms:
-Don’t swim in water that has an algal bloom.
-Don’t boat, water ski, or jet-ski on scummy water. These activities can cause toxins to become airborne, increasing the likelihood you will inhale them.
-Keep children away from scum in the water or along the shore. Keep pets or livestock from swimming or drinking from scummy waters.
-Always take a shower after coming into contact with any surface water whether or not an algal bloom appears to be present. Rinse/wash animals immediately if they swim in scummy water and don’t let them lick their fur.
Algal blooms can occur for a variety of reasons. Warm, still water is the perfect breeding ground for cyanobacteria and the addition of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that enter the lake from outside sources, encourage the growth of algae and bacteria.
If you suspect a waterbody in Glen Canyon is experiencing a harmful algal bloom, send photos and gps coordinates to the email in our bio.
Be On The Watch For Signs of Harmful Algal Blooms
With warm summer water temperatures and plentiful nutrients from monsoonal storms there is a possibility that conditions leading to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) may develop. HABs occur when normally occurring cyanobacteria in the water multiply quickly to form visible colonies or blooms. These blooms sometimes produce potent cyanotoxins that pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Stay out of the water and avoid any contact with water or scums if you see pale-green or pea-green scum on or in the water and suspect a waterbody is experiencing a harmful algal bloom.
Report potential harmful algal blooms by emailing glca_information@nps.gov with photos and gps coordinates.
How to stay safe during HABs:
Always take a shower after coming into contact with any surface water whether or not an algal bloom appears to be present. Rinse/wash animals immediately if they swim in scummy water and don’t let them lick their fur.
Don’t swim in water that has an algal bloom.
Don’t boat, water ski, or jet-ski on scummy water. These activities can cause toxins to become airborne, increasing the likelihood you will inhale them.
Don’t let children play with scum in the water or along the shore.
Don’t let pets or livestock swim in or drink from scummy waters.
