WILLARD BAY STATE PARK — Harmful algal blooms have been plaguing many Utah waterbodies. The algae blooms have been a recurring problem at Willard Peak Pond for years.
The blooms are harmful to humans and pets so it puts water recreation on hold during the peak heat of summer.
Willard Peak Pond opened in 2022 and is located inside Willard Bay State Park in Box Elder County west of I-15, exit 357.
The last several years the Utah Department of Water Quality has expressed increased concerns over water quality at the pond. They have two health concerns: algae and waterborne pathogens.
On Tuesday, scientists and government leaders explained how they plan to tackle the issue with a proven treatment. The treatment has been used to fix the problem in other waterbodies.
EutroPHIX Vice President of Environmental Restoration and Advocacy Mark Heilman explained to state officials and the media about the science of the anti-algal treatment they were using.
Phosphorous is the leading cause of the algae. Aqua Technex, a company based in Bellingham, Washington, is known for managing water issues. They use a high-efficiency formulation designed to weaken phosphorus and keep it at the bottom of lakes and reservoirs.
The treatment offers immediate water quality improvement by removing phosphorus rapidly and permanently without harming aquatic wildlife.
It’s the first time this approach has been used in Utah but Terry McNabb, the owner of Aqua Technex, said they have been using the technique for lakes in Idaho, California and Washington to treat algae blooms with success.
“We have been around for 50 years,” he said. “We got the technology from an Australian company.”
Zach Swank, one of the technicians, said they use custom made boats that suck water in and use it to mix their concoction with clay and spray it into the water.
“Today, we are using 12,000 pounds of EutroSORB G — a phosphorus-binding material meant to keep the algal blooms at the bottom of the pond,” he said. “We will have to do the treatment two more times before we’re done.”
Swank said the company also has treatments for quagga mussels, aquatic plants and other invasive species.
He said as part of the treatment they are monitoring the PH of the water constantly to protect aquatic wildlife.
Utah State Representative Thomas Peterson said the cost of the Willard Peak Pond treatment was $75,000.
“The money for this initial treatment came from a private donation,” he said. “Every year they close the pond early due to algae blooms.”
He said the legislature has allocated $500,000 for this treatment in other areas in the state and he is hoping to get a federal match.
The 1,100-acre feet of water is generally open Memorial Day Weekend and is for day use only, and it accommodates non-motorized watercraft like kayaks, paddle boards innertubes and other floatation devices.
It is also used by SCUBA divers and fishermen.
“Mantua closes earlier than Willow Peak Pond due to algae blooms,” Peterson said. “Mantua would be the next on our list to treat the harmful algae.”
The media was invited to watch the boat spread the application across the water and speak with scientists.
State leaders and other officials were there to talk about what this application could do for other impacted waterbodies across the state.