Toxic Cyanobacteria Bloom in the Virgin River and the Streams of Zion National Park

 

Cyanobacteria can grow on surfaces like rocks, sticks, and sand. The yellow/brown, vein textured material in this photo is cyanobacteria.

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Zion National Park is monitoring for the presence of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in water throughout the park. We share information so you can make informed decisions about whether and how to recreate. We work with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to share recreational advisory levels for still and flowing water throughout the park. Recreational advisory levels are:

• Health Watch
• Warning
• Danger

Learn more about how the Utah Department of Environmental Quality sets these levels. The National Park Service shares current recreational advisory levels for Zion on this page.

Need to know:

Do not drink stream water anywhere in the park. Carry water or filter directly from a spring

 

Waterbody	Popular Areas Affected	Recreational Advisory Level
North Fork of the Virgin River	The Narrows Pine Creek Deep Creek Kolob Creek Orderville Canyon Emerald Pools All canyoneering routes with an active surface water connection to the North Forth of the Virgin River	Warning
North Creek (Tributary of Virgin River)	Right Fork Left Fork (The Subway) Grapevine Spring All canyoneering routes with an active surface water connection to North Creek	Warning
La Verkin Creek (Tributary of Virgin River	La Verkin Creek Timber Creek Hop Valley Creek All canyoneering routes with an active surface water connection to La Verkin Creek	Health Watch

This table shows the current recreational advisory level for each monitored waterbody in the park. During Health Watch and Warning advisory levels we recommend against swimming or submerging your head in the water. During Danger advisory levels recreators should consider avoiding all contact with the water.

 

Frequently asked questions

What to do if you are exposed to toxin-producing cyanobacteria?

If you may have been exposed to toxin-producing cyanobacteria and have any unexplained symptoms, seek immediate medical attention and contact the Utah Poison Control Center by calling [phone]. If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 911.    

Can I filter or boil the water to make it safe for drinking? 

No. There are no known recreational filtration or disinfection method that can remove cyanotoxins from the water so that it is safe for drinking. If you must filter water for drinking while in the Wilderness areas of the park, do so directly from a spring source. 

What symptoms will I experience if I am exposed to cyanobacteria? What about pets?

Symptoms in a humans can include, but are not limited to, irritation in the ears, eyes, nose, skin, or throat. You could also experience a headache, burning, tingling, numbness, pain, incoherent speech, seizures, vomiting and/or diarrhea.  
 
Symptoms in pets can include, but are not limited to, drooling, low energy, lack of appetite, stumbling, paralysis, tremors, and/or vomiting. 

Just how dangerous is cyanobacteria?

Scientist’s understanding of benthic cyanobacteria is evolving. Our understanding of benthic cyanobacteria and the risk it poses to human health are changing with new information. The park uses the best available science and considers the most vulnerable populations (Children and pets) when it sets recreational advisories. 

If I have an open wound is there a health risk hiking in the water?

The risks are unknown. Check recreational advisory levels to make informed choices about recreation in Zion.   

What is causing the growth of cyanobacteria in Zion?

Toxin-producing cyanobacteria naturally live in waterbodies throughout the world and in Zion, however, during extended periods of time without flood events toxin-producing cyanobacteria tend to grow in proliferation. When cyanobacteria have the opportunity to grow in large amounts the risk of harm to humans and domestic animals increases.

 

Cyanobacteria attached to the side of the river in Zion. Note the yellow/brown color and vein like texture

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More About Cyanobacteria

An introduction

Cyanobacteria also known as “blue green algae”, are photosynthetic bacteria found in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and other bodies of water in many places throughout the world. In other waterbodies, cyanobacteria are found on the top of the water or dispersed throughout the water column. In Zion, scientists have found cyanobacteria at the bottom of the Virgin River and its tributaries within the park. The kind of cyanobacteria attached to the bottom of the river is known as benthic cyanobacteria. Benthic cyanobacteria grows on rocks, plants, at the sides of the river and along the river's edge

Why are cyanobacteria harmful?

Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring but can harm humans or animals because some produce toxins called cyanotoxins. Scientists have found anatoxin-a, microcystin, nodularin and cylindrospermopsin in the park.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, when people are exposed to cyanotoxins, they can experience a range of symptoms. These can include a mild skin rash, serious illness, or in rare circumstances, death. Severe (acute) illnesses caused by short-term exposure to cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins during recreational activities like swimming, include hay fever-like symptoms such as skin rashes, respiratory as well as neurological or gastrointestinal distress.

Drinking water contaminated with cyanotoxins (such as microcystin and cylindrospermopsin) could cause liver and kidney damage.

What to do if you are exposed to cyanobacteria

If you are exposed to cyanobacteria, seek immediate medical attention and contact the Utah Poison Control Center at [phone]. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

 

Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins.

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Cyanobacteria attached to a rock near the water's surface in Zion. Note the black color and round shape.

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Recognizing cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria grow in different colors and textures. In Zion, these colors include yellow, tan, green, brown, and black and can appear to be round, ribbed, or mucous-like.

 

Close up of cyanobacteria growing along the bottom of the river in Zion. Note the yellow color and globular texture.

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cyanobacteria

 

Cyanobacteria growing along the river's edge in Zion. Note the bubbly texture and brown color.

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cyanobacteria

 

Cyanobacteria growing at the bottom of the river on a rock in Zion. Note the green color and feathery texture.

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green cyanoabcteria with a feathery apperance growing on rock

 

Cyanobacteria growing along the river's bottom in Zion. Note the yellow color and vein appearance.

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Cyanobacteria growing along river bottom. Note the yellow vein appearance.

 

Cyanobacteria mat growing on a rock in the river in Zion.

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Where do cyanobacteria grow?

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic and can grow in water anywhere sunlight can reach them. Benthic cyanobacteria can grow at the bottom of still and flowing water and can also grow attached to plants, rocks, and at the sides or edges of the river. Benthic cyanoabcteria often appear to form in mats but not always.

 

Scientist pulling off a piece of the cyanobacteria mat growing along the rivers edge in Zion.

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Scientist pulling off a piece of the cyanobacteria mat from the edge of the river.

 

Cyanobacteria growing alongside the edge of the river and on a plant.

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Cyanobacteria growing alongside the edge of the river and on a plant.

 

How is Zion Monitoring for cyanobacteria?

Park scientists monitor popular bodies of water for toxin-producing cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. All data is shared with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Monthly monitoring data inform the recreational advisory level. Recreational advisory levels can be found on the park's website, at all visitor contract stations, and on signs posted at major trailheads.

Monitoring Techniques

Scientists perform visual inspections of selected sites in three major tributaries to the Virgin River in Zion National Park to determine if cyanobacteria are visually present. Additionally, we monitor if there are cyanotoxins within the water column, using a passive monitoring technique called SPATT samples (Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking). These samples are specially designed to monitor for the presence of toxins in the water column over a period of time. Lastly, if toxin-producing cyanobacteria mat are present, staff will perform a sampling technique called Benthic Disturbance. In Benthic Disturbance samples, staff walk through cyanobacteria mats replicating conditions expected when these mats are disturbed through normal recreational activities. Samples are then taken of the disturbed water and analyzed for their concentration of cyanotoxins.

 

Cyanobacteria sampling techniques

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Check out our videos series below to learn more!

 

Learn more about toxic cyanobacteria from:

• Utah Department of Water Quality

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 52 seconds

The first in a series of three videos with information you need before recreating in still or moving water at Zion National Park.

 

Duration:

1 minute, 51 seconds

Information about the cyanobacteria in the flowing and still water of Zion National Park and the types of cyanotoxins they produce that can be potentially harmful.

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 21 seconds

Information on how scientist in Zion study and monitor cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins the Park's still and flowing water.