State funding cuts left Southern Utah waters untested for deadly algae

For the past four years, the Utah Division of Water Quality has monitored the state's bodies of water for harmful and even deadly algal blooms.

However, due to a legislative budget during this year's general session, the Division was left with virtually no funding and has had to cut back on regular testing of water Utahn's regular encounter recreationally and otherwise.

Gunlock Reservoir, Sand Hollow Reservoir and Quail Creek Reservoir in Washington County are among the victims of this forced downsize, as well as others in Iron and Kane counties.

They haven't been tested for the harmful algal blooms since last fall.

NEW PHOTOS:Zion's deadly algae at extreme levels, threat raised to 'dangerous'

Division of Water Quality Director Erica Gaddis met with the congressional Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee on Monday, where she presented the consequences of the budget cut on Utah's water.

"As a state Utahns love to recreate in our waters, even more this year with all of the challenges associated with the pandemic, people are wanting to get out and recreate in the outdoors and we want to just make sure that as they do that recreation it's safe and we are providing them with good information for them and their families," Gaddis said in the meeting.

Zion National Park's Virgin River had an unexpected emergence of this deadly algae in July, even though the algae doesn't usually grow in rivers. 

MORE:This family's puppy died at Zion, and officials are warning of deadly algae

"Even if we had fully funded we would not have been doing any monitoring on the Virgin River," Gaddis said. "But if I can’t even monitor the lakes where we know we have a problem, how can I monitor this new problem?"

Ingestion of the algae can cause gastrointestinal issues, some skin irritation and neurological symptoms in humans, pets and livestock. Death can sometimes occur. Pets and children are especially susceptible to the toxins.

The Division usually receives $200,000 from the state legislature each fiscal year to monitor water bodies for harmful algal blooms.

However, because of the dangerous algae problem in Utah Lake, the money was diverted to other agencies to manage the situation there.

This left the Division penny pinching and forced to cut their regular testing of 65 bodies of water, to only 18, which are largely state parks. However, some recreational waters, like those in southern Utah, have been cut.

For an unknown reason, perhaps related to the lack of testing but perhaps not, there have been 43 harmful algal bloom related illnesses this year according to the Utah Poison Control Center, three above the state average in previous years.

"Half of the calls this year have been about Zion," Gaddis said. "I don’t know where that’s coming from." 

She urged lawmakers to restore funding to keep people safe, saying harmful algal blooms are becoming more common worldwide due to rising seasonal temperatures.

Usually, there are 35 health advisories related to the algaes throughout the state between 2017 and 2019, which is about the national average. This year, there have been only four advisories, according to a program summary presented on Monday.  

"I think it’s critical that the state, especially when there’s a risk and especially with the pandemic, that we do the work to provide that information. We owe that to the public," Gaddis said.

View the presentation presented to the subcommittee below, and listen to the meeting here.

K. Sophie Will is the National Parks Reporter for The Spectrum & Daily News through the Report for America initiative by The GroundTruth Project. Follow her on Twitter at @ksophiewill or email her at kswill@thespectrum.com.