HAB Squad Methods and Instructions

Harmful algae is naturally occurring in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. With increasing nutrients, lower water levels, and warmer temperatures, blooms are occurring more frequently around Utah and the world. These blooms are made up of billions of cyanobacteria, primitive nitrogen-fixing photosynthetic bacteria that thrive in warm, phosphorus rich waters. While harmless in small concentrations, blooms sometimes produce toxins that can be deadly for humans, pets, and livestock.

Forms and Documents

HAB Squad Volunteer Registration HAB Field Datasheet Field ID Guide HAB Monitoring Instructions

How to Monitor for HABs

Make weekly or bi-weekly observations of lakes and reservoirs across Utah

Record the presence or absence of a possible HAB

If you suspect a bloom, it is important to notify the appropriate agencies as soon as possible. They will determine if further testing is necessary and if a health watch or advisory needs to be issued. Please complete the following steps:

Call the 24-hour Environmental Incidents Line at (801) 536-4123.
Contact UWW by phone or email to alert them of a potential HAB. UWW will follow up with the Utah Division of Water Quality to ensure the HAB has been reported.
Upload data into the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) / Cyanobacteria Datasheet in CitSci as soon as possible.

If you can, return to the waterbody site daily to take photos and upload them to CitSci.

Upload data to CitSci

Record observations on your datasheet while in the field.
If you observe a bloom, take 2 photos- landscape and close-up. If you do not observe a bloom, take a photo of water conditions at the site.

To begin, make sure the suspected bloom is not filamentous green algae or duckweed, two common and harmless aquatic plants. Green algae come in many forms and may look like underwater moss, thick stringy mats or floating slimy scum. Duckweed are tiny aquatic plants with a grainy or couscous-like texture. They may resemble miniature lily pads and are generally beneficial to the environment.

Duckweed