For all of you lovers, and haters, of Utah Lake out there I thought I’d introduce you briefly to a more in-depth look into the facts of Utah Lake. I, for one, think that the benefits of Utah Lake by far out-weight the negatives. Enjoy…

Utah Lake, at 96,900 acres (392 km²), is the largest natural freshwater lake in the state of Utah^[1] and a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville,^[2] which covered much of the state. It drains via the Jordan River at its north end into Lake Bonneville’s largest remnant, Great Salt Lake.

Endemic to the lake are the endangered June sucker and the Utah Lake sculpin, now extinct. Although 13 species of fish are native to the lake, only the June sucker and Utah sucker remain, together constituting less than one percent of the biomass.^[3] By far the dominant species in the lake is the common carp, introduced in 1881 as an alternative to the overharvested native fish.^[4][5] Common carp are now estimated at 90.9% of the biomass,^[3] contributing to a decline in native fish populations by severely altering the ecosystem.^[6]

Geography

Satellite photo of Utah Lake

Utah Lake dominates Utah Valley in north-central Utah, with major cities such as Provo and Orem hemmed between the lake’s eastern shore and the Wasatch Mountains. West of the lake are the Lake Mountains and jutting into the south portion of the lake is West Mountain, which divides Goshen Bay and Lincoln Beach. Connected to the main body of the lake are two large, shallow bays: the aforementioned Goshen Bay to the south and Provo Bay to the east, where Hobble Creek enters the lake.

Despite its large surface area, the lake is shallow; it has a maximum depth of 14 feet (4.27 m) and an average depth of about 9.4 feet (2.74 m). This shallowness allows winds to easily stir up sediments from the lake’s bottom, contributing to the turbidity seen in Utah Lake’s water.^[2]

Looking east across Utah Lake at Mount Timpanogos.

There are several hot springs around the lake that are popular with local residents, such as those located near Lincoln Beach^[7] and Saratoga Springs.^[8]

Hydrology

Major tributaries include the Provo River, Spanish Fork, and American Fork rivers, as well as Hobble, Mill Race, and Currant creeks. Additionally, there are many hot springs and smaller creeks flowing into the lake. Utah Lake is drained by the Jordan River, which begins at the lake’s north end, where a pumping station has been created to regulate its flow. It then flows north through Utah and Salt Lake counties into the southeast portion of Great Salt Lake.

Ecosystem

Utah Lake’s wetlands are an important stopover and nesting area for migratory birds. More than 220 species of birds use these wetland areas. Utah Lake Wetland Preserve is located at the south end of the lake, in and around Goshen Bay.^[10]

The rapidly growing population of Utah Valley threatens the future of Utah Lake. Various proposals to dike the lake’s bays occasionally surface. Recent development along the lake’s western shore has fueled a proposal to construct a causeway across the lake. To date, economic costs, environmental concerns, litigation, and public opposition have stymied these proposals.^[11]

Historically, Bonneville cutthroat trout were the predator fish in the ecosystem,^[3] and were present in large numbers; in 1864, a commercial fisherman hauled in a single net holding between 3,500 and 3,700 pounds (1,588-1,678 kg) of trout. By 1874, laws were in place to protect Bonneville cutthroats, but commercial netting was not banned until 1897. The trout population in Utah Lake was extinct by the 1920s.^[12] Today, the primary predators in the lake are the non-native walleye and white bass.^[13]

As of 2006, fishing regulations for Utah Lake released by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources protect certain large-bodied nonnative predator species in the lake, such as bass and walleye;^[3] anglers are required to release largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches (300 mm) in length, and can take only one walleye over 20 inches (510 mm).^[14] In an effort to control the population of white bass and walleye, the DWR places no limit on the number of white bass that can be taken, a limit of six fish on walleye (one over 20 inches), and requests anglers to harvest them from the lake.^[15]

Recreational uses

Due to its close proximity to the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, Utah Lake is a fairly popular destination for many water sports, including boating, sailing, water skiing, and fishing. The main marina for Utah Lake is located in Utah Lake State Park on the eastern shore, near the location where the Provo River empties into the lake. Other marinas are located at Saratoga Springs, American Fork, Lindon, and Lincoln Beach.

The lake was more popular historically, before declining water quality made it less attractive for recreational use. Amusement resorts operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries at Saratoga Hot Springs in the northwest corner of the lake, and at Geneva in the northeast. Geneva (named after the owner’s daughter, not the lakeside city in Switzerland) was built where the Lindon Marina is now, at the point the railroad came closest to the lake. It included a hotel, swimming pools, a dance floor, and water slides. It lent its name to nearby Geneva Steel.^{[citations needed]}

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