List of Polluted Lakes Points Finger At This One in the Middle of Utah

Utah is home to some amazing mountain lakes with clean, cold water that you can see all the way to the bottom. Ironically, the state has been named as the location for the third most polluted lake in America. 

Utah Lake: The Third Most Polluted in America

World Atlas looked at the most polluted lakes in North America and listed those that are hazardous to swim in or eat the fish harvested there. Number one was Lake Okeechobee in Florida followed by Onondaga Lake in New York. 

That leads to number three on the list which is Utah Lake found just west of Provo in northern Utah. This lake made the list because it is shallow and often plagued by harmful algae blooms. 

Sources of Pollution: Algae Blooms and Industrial History

It also had a steel plant on its shore for many years, although Geneva has been closed since 2002. They also note the pollutants in the lake from storms where water runs off from the farms and fields.   

Carp were introduced into Utah Lake in the 1800s as a food source, and they soon took over with no natural predators. These fish root in the mud at the bottom of the lake stirring up metals that are natural, but normally underground. 

Read More: Eat These Foods and Attract Mosquitos in Utah

It seems like calling a lake polluted for algae and fish is slightly deceptive. Most people think of pollution as floating plastic and garbage. Still, if it is hazardous for humans and pets to swim in, I guess it fits. 

There is work to improve this large shallow lake in Utah. Removing the invasive carp is an ongoing project. Other ideas to dredge the bottom have been controversial.