Salem pond water quality

[Hookbaiter]

Just an FYI for those who fish Salem pond. Seen this on city homepage


Please Note, due to the quality of the Salem Pond Water at this time, the Utah County Health Department has advised that no swimming be allowed in the pond (this includes any animals), until further notice.

Further Information Regarding The Pond
8-4-15
Dear Salem City Resident,

Salem City recently found some dead ducks at Salem Pond. The cause of death of these ducks is not immediately apparent. Because of this, some pre-cautions have been taken. The first and most important precaution, is we have asked that citizens and their animals, specifically dogs, to stay out of the water. Samples have been taken for testing to determine what might be the causing the death of our waterfowl. It will take, at a minimum, a couple of weeks for the lab results to be available. Signs have been posted around the perimeter of the pond warning citizens to keep their animals and themselves out of the pond.

An assumption was made that the ducks could be dying from Avian Botulism. The risk is reported to be very low for humans but, deadly for ducks and for domestic dogs who eat the affected ducks. Avian Botulism is a naturally occurring toxin that is found in anaerobic (low oxygen) environments such as pond sediments. Botulism has increased dramatically in recent years, taking a heavy toll on waterfowl.

Salem City has been in contact with and is working with, The Utah County Department of Health, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Utah Department of Health. These precautions will remain in place until further notice. If you see any dead ducks around or in the water, please do not touch or attempt to remove them yourself. Please call the Salem City Offices at (801) 423-2312 or Utah Valley Dispatch at (801)794-3970.
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[LOAH]

Wow if that's the case, then I guess Fish Lake, Bear Lake, Utah Lake, and Loch Ness are also affected.

...since there are tunnels connecting all of those lakes to each other.[laugh]

(Good info though, thanks for sharing.)
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[fsh4fun05]

That's oddly funny to me because (IMO) Salem has had some pretty gross water for several years. Dead ducks, catfish, goop, pesticides, etc. floating around in the summer.
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[morcey2]

[quote LOAH]Wow if that's the case, then I guess Fish Lake, Bear Lake, Utah Lake, and Loch Ness are also affected.

...since there are tunnels connecting all of those lakes to each other.[laugh]

(Good info though, thanks for sharing.)[/quote]

I hear the Fish Lake one all the time, and from people who should know better. And as for Utah Lake, yes, they're connected. Where do you think the water ends up after it runs out of Salem Pond? [cool]

One of my friends who grew up in Salem swears that the springs that feed salem pond come right out of fish lake and they've done dye tests to prove it. I have no idea how much dye it would take to dye enough water in Fish Lake to make that determination, but it would have made the lake look awful purty.

(not to mention that water moving through sediment tends to get filtered quite well.)

Matt
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