Report on Harmful Algal Blooms in Utah Waterways and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A significant harmful algal bloom (HAB) has prompted public health advisories for Utah Lake and sections of the Jordan River. The Utah Lake Authority and the Salt Lake County Health Department have issued warnings urging the public to avoid direct contact with the water. These events directly challenge the progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, water quality, and ecosystem stability.

Public Health and Well-being: SDG 3

The presence of cyanobacteria in the water poses a direct threat to public health, undermining the core objectives of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Exposure to these toxins can lead to severe health complications.

Health Risks and Safety Directives

• Health Threats: The cyanobacteria present in the blooms can produce toxins capable of causing damage to the kidney, liver, or neurologic system in humans and animals.
• Symptoms of Exposure: Individuals exposed to the contaminated water may experience headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin irritation.
• Official Recommendations: In alignment with public health protection, the following safety measures are mandated:
  1. Avoid swimming, water skiing, and wading.
  2. Refrain from drinking water from the affected bodies.
  3. Exercise caution with non-motorized watercraft like paddleboards and kayaks to minimize water contact.
  4. Keep all pets and livestock away from the water.
  5. Properly clean any caught fish, ensuring the skin and guts are discarded.
• Emergency Contact: Anyone suspecting exposure is advised to contact the Utah Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Water Quality and Ecosystem Integrity: SDG 6, SDG 14, and SDG 15

The recurring HABs highlight a critical issue in water resource management, directly impacting SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The contamination of these freshwater bodies also compromises the principles of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by degrading vital aquatic habitats.

Analysis of Environmental Factors

• Nutrient Pollution: The proliferation of algae is fueled by an excess of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, often originating from agricultural and urban runoff. This points to a systemic failure in managing pollutants entering freshwater systems, a key target of SDG 6.
• Ecosystem Degradation: The blooms disrupt the natural aquatic environment, harming fish populations and other organisms, which contravenes the goals of protecting freshwater ecosystems (SDG 15) and the life within them (SDG 14).
• Climate Factors: Environmental conditions that exacerbate the formation of HABs include:
  • Poor water circulation
  • Above-normal water temperatures
  • Drought conditions

These factors link the immediate water quality crisis to the broader challenges of SDG 13: Climate Action, as climate change intensifies the conditions favorable for such blooms.

Impact on Sustainable Communities: SDG 11

The closure of recreational areas on Utah Lake and the Jordan River affects community well-being and local economies, posing a challenge to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The loss of access to these natural resources for recreation diminishes the quality of life for residents and impacts tourism-related activities.

Specific Regional Advisories

Utah Lake

An advisory is in effect for all areas of Utah Lake. Initial warnings for eastern marinas have been expanded to include the entire lake, including the western shore and the Saratoga Springs Marina. This comprehensive advisory reflects the widespread nature of the bloom.

Jordan River

The Salt Lake County Health Department has issued a warning for the Jordan River and its connected canals. The impacted area currently extends from the southern county line north to approximately 9000 South, with harmful algae also detected in canals as far north as 3000 South. Officials urge caution throughout the entire system due to the rapidly changing nature of algae and toxin levels.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article directly connects the harmful algal bloom to human health risks. It states that the cyanobacteria produced can cause “kidney, liver or neurologic system damage in humans.” It also lists symptoms of exposure such as “headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and occasionally a skin irritation or allergic reactions on the skin.” Health advisories are issued to prevent these illnesses.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The central theme of the article is water pollution in Utah Lake and the Jordan River. The presence of a “harmful algal bloom” is a clear indicator of degraded water quality. The article mentions that these blooms form when “nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon — often from lawns and farms — build up,” which is a form of pollution that this goal aims to reduce.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• This goal includes the protection of inland freshwater ecosystems. The article discusses the degradation of Utah Lake and the Jordan River, which are both inland freshwater ecosystems. The algal bloom negatively impacts the health of these bodies of water, affecting their use for recreation and the well-being of aquatic life, as evidenced by the warning to “discard the skin and guts of fish collected from the lake.”

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • The article highlights the issuance of health warnings by the Utah Lake Authority and the Salt Lake County Health Department to prevent human illness from exposure to toxic algae. It details potential health damage (“kidney, liver or neurologic system damage”) and symptoms, directly addressing the need to reduce illnesses from water pollution.
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…
   • The article identifies the cause of the algal blooms as an excess of “nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon — often from lawns and farms.” This points directly to the need to reduce pollution from these sources to improve the water quality of the lake and river.
3. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
   • The entire situation described—a “massive algal bloom” impacting “all parts of the popular lake” and extending into the Jordan River—demonstrates a failure to protect these specific water-related ecosystems. The advisories and the bloom itself signify a degraded ecosystem in need of restoration.
4. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…
   • Utah Lake and the Jordan River are inland freshwater ecosystems. The article shows that their sustainable use is compromised, as activities like swimming, skiing, and wading are prohibited. This indicates a need for conservation and restoration efforts to return the ecosystems to a healthy state.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Presence and concentration of harmful algae/cyanobacteria.
   • The article explicitly states that “tests confirmed the algal bloom” and the health department is waiting for “laboratory results regarding toxic levels.” This implies that the concentration of cyanobacteria or their toxins is a key metric being used by authorities to assess water safety and quality.
2. Number of health advisories issued.
   • The article is centered around the issuance of a “warning advisory” for Utah Lake and the Jordan River. The frequency, duration, and geographic extent of such advisories serve as a direct indicator of the severity of water pollution and the associated risk to human health.
3. Geographic extent of the algal bloom.
   • Progress can be measured by tracking the size of the affected area. The article notes the bloom is “impacting all parts of the popular lake” and that satellite imagery suggested a “massive algal bloom.” Reducing the spatial coverage of these blooms would be an indicator of improving ecosystem health.
4. Number of reported cases of human illness from exposure.
   • The article implies this indicator by directing people who think they have been exposed to call the “Utah Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.” Tracking the number of calls and confirmed cases related to algal bloom exposure would be a direct measure of progress towards Target 3.9.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: ksl.com