Blue Lake (Utah)


Blue Lake is a large geothermal pond located about south of Wendover, Utah at. The lake is deep, approximately in size and at an elevation of above sea level. It is located on the Utah Test and Training Range, which is controlled by the United States Air Force, but the lake and its immediate surroundings are publicly accessible wetlands that are managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management. The BLM permits public access and use but does not permit the erection of permanent structures.

Scuba diving

Blue Lake is a popular spot for area divers. Since its water is warm year-round and reasonably clear, the lake is 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 lakes tend to be murky. Blue Lake's constant high-volume flow of clear springwater provides underwater visibility of up to at times, and year-round bottom temperatures of approximately. Surface temperatures vary from the high 60s in winter to the high 70s in summer.
The lake supports warm-water fish, mostly bass, tilapia, sunfish and bluegill. In addition, divers have placed objects on the bottom, such as large metal sculptures of marine animals, boats, a chair and TV set, to add interest. The bubbling thermal spring on the lake floor is also an interesting site for exploration.
Late fall or early spring provides the best overall diving conditions, since the water is clear, daytime air temperatures are somewhat mild, and the summer's insects are absent. The algal bloom can reduce underwater visibility to a meter or less. However, it is not severe enough to damage the other marine life. During the winter, the lake's water is also clear, but area temperatures make diving unpleasant.
The Utah DWR allows fishing in the lake; bass, bluegill, and tilapia. The tilapia criteria reflect the fact that this species was introduced to Blue Lake illegally, and it competes with the native game fish for habitat.