LOGAN RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT threatens to produce a ribbon of toxic algae in our most used parks, in Merlin Olsen, at Logan High, in the Fairgrounds and Willow Park as summers heat up:
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| Almost every summer this sign is up at Mantua Reservoir. We may be seeing it pop up in Merlin Olsen Park, at Logan High, in the Fairgrounds, and especially at Willow Park if the low flows planned by the Logan River Watershed project are implemented. PROTECT our families and pets by stopping the LRWP. Write an email to Ammon.Boswell@USDA.gov before June 22, 2026 objecting to all the bad impacts of the LRWP. THANK YOU! |
HOW would algae take hold? By permitting a mere trickle of water to flow in the Little Logan River. The flows will often be below the advertised 5-10 cfs during hot summers in our future. Far less than 5 cfs are planned when there is a drought. 5 cfs barely allows tubing by little kids.
(FYI-Our current MEGA-DROUGHT STARTED ABOUT 2000).
More than 1 in 5 summers are likely to have ZERO water flowing through a dozen public spaces and popular parks.
WHY? Because extreme or exceptional drought occurs that often in Cache Valley, and sponsors plan to dry up the Little Logan River entirely in those conditions.
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| TINYURL.COM/RESTORELLR |
+Rivers rarely support algae infestations in northern Utah, unless their flow is dialed down to an unnatural trickle, forming stagnant reaches. The Virgin River in southern Utah, however, regularly has toxic algae and dead pets despite flowing at many tens of cfs.
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| Algae is such a problem along the west Highline canal that we were able to collect a sample of it in May, 2026. |
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| Everyone in Utah must learn to spot and avoid Toxic ALGAE. This is some in Mantua. |
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| ALGAE can be natural and beautifl but in our increasingly hot and dry summers it is also a grave risk for our families and pets. |
+Dated photographs document an algae problem in the Little Logan River arising in part from mismanagement in winter. (Field trips on request). Algae is also a worrisome problem in piped canals.
+Preserving the open flow in the Little Logan River and restoring its winter flow does not preclude an overdue and successful rebuild of outdated irrigation infrastructure and upgrades to reduce flooding.
+Unused river water could be leased to the Great Salt lake. New laws allow such leasing.
The upgrade of irrigation infrastructure in the Little Logan River and the canals it supplies could be reconfigured to a win-win, with modest improvements and A LOT MORE public input. (details on request).
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Little Logan River is under threat from the Logan River Watershed Project
in its current form:
Reports are clickable at blue text.
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ALSO: CLICK for REPORT on the problem of thick ALGAE resulting from re-engineered waterways and fountains. Algae threatens the Little Logan River itself and is a problem along the main Logan River upstream of the Stokes Nature Center. |
| Algal infestations are serious problem in and near several water projects undertaken by JUB. Similar results may develop along the Little Logan River if the project moves forward. Algae is even present in the main Logan River below the Highline canal takeout. |
The Highline Canal take-out dewaters the Logan River so much that Algae has grown to a thick mat there as well. Fish appear to be trapped downstream of the take out because there is too little surface flow
(INFORMATION in this document about ALGAE problems in local waterways has been collected into one document here.
CLICK TO VIEW A photo album documenting algae choking public waterways near walking trails, in parks, along university running tracks, and throughout our community.
A formerly magnificent fountain in the USU SPACE DYNAMICS LAB is also struggling with algae. This fountain used to attract large flocks of waterfowl.
Testing to identify toxic algae is ongoing.)
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