ST. GEORGE — The presence of a harmful algal bloom has been detected in the Virgin River through a part of St. George.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality announced Friday that the presence of a bloom was found in a segment of the Virgin River between the area of the RV Rental Pad senior community and Mall Drive Bridge.
This stretch of the river includes the local skimboard park and Fossil Falls Park.
Harmful algal blooms were originally discovered in the North Fork of the Virgin River in Zion National Park in 2020 following the death of a puppy that was exposed to the cyanobacterial toxin the blooms produce. It has since been found in the Virgin River tributaries of LaVerkin Creek and North Creek and now in St. George.
Earlier this week St. George News was told of the death of a 7-month-old King Charles Cavalier puppy that had been taken to the Southwest Animal Emergency Hospital with “classic symptoms” of toxin exposure.
The puppy was playing in the river and then became lethargic and collapsed an hour later, veterinary Dr. Christina Shepherd said. Despite efforts to save the puppy, it died soon after being taken to the emergency clinic.
Suspecting the dog had been exposed to a toxic algal bloom, Shepherd contacted the Southwest Utah Public Health Department about the incident. The Department of Environmental Quality was informed soon after.
“We have been looped into this and just received results this afternoon from samples taken by the National Park Service that confirmed that anatoxin-a, a dangerous neurotoxin, was present in one sample at levels that would (have) severe health effects for a dog or person if directly consumed,” Ashley Summer of the Department of Environmental Quality said in an email Friday evening.
Samples tested for the toxin were taken from the Virgin River from algal mats seen in tributary/seeps near Fossil Falls Park, Summer wrote.
“We have made the recommendation to the Southwest Health Department to post a Warning Advisory or informational signs at the location where the harmful algal mats were observed,” she added.
The DEQ’s recommendations include:
- Harmful algal mats may be present anywhere along the Virgin River – in the water OR on the shore.
- Recreation is OK, but do a visual check before you let dogs or kids near the water.
- See photos of what to look for here.
- Dogs and children are most at risk.
- Mats have a musty scent that is attractive to animals.
- Do not touch or eat any algae mats.
- Do not let dogs eat algae mats or drink water near algae mats.
The DEQ has initiated a “health watch” for the stretch of the Virgin River through St. George where the toxins were detected. It is the lowest warning level, but nonetheless worth noting due to the negative health effects the toxin can have on humans and animals.
The bacteria can be absorbed through the eyes, nose or mouth, according to the Utah Division of Water Quality. An individual who is exposed can experience symptoms of skin rash, salivation, drowsiness, tingling, burning, numbness, pain, incoherent speech, muscle contractions or twitching, vomiting and diarrhea. Exposure can also result in liver and kidney damage.
Children are particularly vulnerable to cyanobacteria, and it is extremely dangerous and likely fatal for dogs. According to officials, exposure to the bacteria can kill a dog within 15 minutes.
The latest sampling updates are posted regularly at habs.utah.gov.
Zion National Park has also produced a three-video educational series about algal blooms and their impacts on YouTube that can be found here.
Ed. note: Ashley Summer’s name was originally spelled as Ashling Summer in error and has been corrected in the body of the text above.
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