Toxic algal blooms have been confirmed at two spots along the Jordan River near Lehi, and the Jordan River Commission is warning residents and pet owners to stay out of the water.

The commission detected harmful algal blooms at the Utah Lake Outlet in Saratoga Springs and the 1500 N Crossing in Lehi as of Aug. 5, according to an advisory the agency posted on its social media accounts Tuesday, Aug. 11. The Utah County Health Department confirmed the advisory Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Both locations sit along the Jordan River Trail corridor, a popular route for bikers, joggers and skaters.

The blooms can produce cyanotoxins that sicken people and animals. Contact may cause skin, eye, nose, throat and respiratory irritation. Swallowing contaminated water can lead to abdominal pain, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney or liver damage and neurological symptoms. In the worst cases, harmful algal blooms have caused permanent organ damage or death in humans and animals.

Pets are especially vulnerable. Symptoms of exposure include excessive drooling, vomiting, stumbling, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing and, in serious cases, seizures or paralysis.

What you can and can't do

The Jordan River Commission's guidelines for the two affected sites:

• Do not swim or water ski.
• Keep pets and animals away from the water.
• Do not drink the water.
• Avoid areas of visible algae when boating.
• Clean fish thoroughly and discard the skin and guts.
• Kayaking is permitted, but avoid direct contact with the water.

How to spot a bloom

Algal blooms can be hard to recognize in rivers, ABC4 reporter Ryan Bittan noted in covering the advisory. Unlike lake blooms that float on the surface, river blooms can grow as mats on the bottom, attached to cobbles, rocks or plants. They may appear green or blue but can also look red, pink, white, gray or purple, with textures resembling spilled paint, surface scum, foam or grass clippings.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality posts information on identifying blooms on its website.

Connection to Utah Lake advisory

The Jordan River advisory follows a broader harmful algae bloom warning issued for all Utah Lake marinas and beaches on July 30. As we reported that day, the Utah Lake Outlet in Saratoga Springs was among the affected sites. The Utah DEQ said in July that the blooms occur naturally "particularly when nutrient levels are high, and there is abundant sunlight, warm temperatures, and stagnant waters."

The 1500 N Crossing is a new location added to the advisory.

What to do if exposed

Anyone who contacts the water at these sites should rinse off with clean, fresh water immediately. The Utah Poison Control Center (800-222-1222) can advise on medical or veterinary treatment.

No end date has been announced for the advisory. Residents can check the Utah DEQ's recreational water quality page at deq.utah.gov for updates.