Blue Lake (Utah)
Encyclopedia
Blue Lake is large geothermal pond located about 16 mi (25.7 km) south of Wendover, Utah
at 40°30′07"N 114°01′56"W. The lake is 60 feet (18 m) deep and at an elevation of 4,300 ft (1,311 m) above sea level. It is located on land that is part of the Wendover Range, owned by the United States Air Force
, but the lake and its immediate surroundings are publicly-accessible wetlands managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM permits public access and use but does not permit the erection of any permanent structures.
and Nevada
divers
. Since it is warm year-round and reasonably clear it is very heavily used on the weekends for dive training, with programs such as the University of Utah Scuba Program. Other nearby high-mountain lakes are clear but cold even in early fall and lower, warmer waters tend to be very murky. Blue Lake's constant high-volume flow of clear springwater provides underwater visibility of up to 40 feet (12 m) at (rare) times, and year-round bottom temperatures of approximately 85°F (29°C). Surface temperatures vary from the high 60s (~20°C) in winter to the high 70s (~25°C) in summer.
The lake is full of warm-water fish, mostly bass
, tilapia, sunfish and bluegill
, and diving enthusiasts have placed a number of objects on the bottom to add interest. The objects include several large metal sculptures of marine animals, several boats and even a chair and television set. Another attraction for divers is the ever-bubbling hot springs at the bottom.
Late fall is probably the best time to visit the lake, since the summer algal bloom
has died off and the above-water insects are gone but air temperatures are still comfortable in the daytime. The annual bloom cuts visibility to around three feet (1 m) but isn't severe enough to damage the other marine life. Early spring is also nice. In the winter the lake is clear and still very warm, but freezing air temperatures dissuade casual visitors.
The Utah DWR has placed catch and kill restrictions (per 09 Utah Fishing Guidebook) on the tilapia since they are not recognized as a game fish and are actually a detriment to the small sport fishery provided by the bass and bluegill that were present in the lake prior to the introduction of tilapia and other aquarium fish by divers.
Wendover, Utah
Wendover is a city in Tooele County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,537 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 estimated population of 1,632....
at 40°30′07"N 114°01′56"W. The lake is 60 feet (18 m) deep and at an elevation of 4,300 ft (1,311 m) above sea level. It is located on land that is part of the Wendover Range, owned by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, but the lake and its immediate surroundings are publicly-accessible wetlands managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM permits public access and use but does not permit the erection of any permanent structures.
Scuba diving
Blue Lake is a very popular spot for UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
. Since it is warm year-round and reasonably clear it is very heavily used on the weekends for dive training, with programs such as the University of Utah Scuba Program. Other nearby high-mountain lakes are clear but cold even in early fall and lower, warmer waters tend to be very murky. Blue Lake's constant high-volume flow of clear springwater provides underwater visibility of up to 40 feet (12 m) at (rare) times, and year-round bottom temperatures of approximately 85°F (29°C). Surface temperatures vary from the high 60s (~20°C) in winter to the high 70s (~25°C) in summer.
The lake is full of warm-water fish, mostly bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, tilapia, sunfish and bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, and diving enthusiasts have placed a number of objects on the bottom to add interest. The objects include several large metal sculptures of marine animals, several boats and even a chair and television set. Another attraction for divers is the ever-bubbling hot springs at the bottom.
Late fall is probably the best time to visit the lake, since the summer algal bloom
Algal bloom
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system. Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments. Typically, only one or a small number of phytoplankton species are involved, and some blooms may be recognized by discoloration...
has died off and the above-water insects are gone but air temperatures are still comfortable in the daytime. The annual bloom cuts visibility to around three feet (1 m) but isn't severe enough to damage the other marine life. Early spring is also nice. In the winter the lake is clear and still very warm, but freezing air temperatures dissuade casual visitors.
The Utah DWR has placed catch and kill restrictions (per 09 Utah Fishing Guidebook) on the tilapia since they are not recognized as a game fish and are actually a detriment to the small sport fishery provided by the bass and bluegill that were present in the lake prior to the introduction of tilapia and other aquarium fish by divers.