Utah’s Panguitch Lake, about 20 miles east of Cedar City, remains closed after being covered in a blanket of toxic algae last week.
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is warning against both swimming in the lake and eating fish caught in it.
The Spectrum of St. George reports that researchers from the Utah Division of Water Quality have taken water samples to find out what caused the algae bloom.
They said several environmental factors may have contributed to the bloom, including warmer-than-normal weather and nutrient-dense ash from the June 2017 Brian Head Fire.
Wind had concentrated the algae in northeastern part of the lake. Division of Water Quality scientists said they should have a better idea about lake conditions by Friday.
