View source for Blue Lake (Utah)

{{Short description|Large geothermal pond in Utah, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
|name          = Blue Lake
|image         = BlueLakeDivers.JPG
|caption       = Scuba divers at the lake
|image_bathymetry   = 
|caption_bathymetry = 
|location           = [[Tooele County, Utah]],<br>[[United States]]
|coordinates= {{coord|40|30|07|N|114|01|56|W|region:US-UT_type:waterbody_scale:5000|display=inline,title}}
|type               = spring-fed 
| agency             = [[United States Bureau of Land Management]]
| designation        =
|length   = 
|width    = 
|area     = {{convert|9|acre}} 
|depth    = {{convert|60|ft|abbr=on}}
|volume   = 
|elevation= {{convert|4300|ft|abbr=on}}
| temperature_high   = {{convert|70|F}}
| temperature_low    = {{convert|60|F}}
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| pushpin_map             = Utah#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of Blue Lake in Utah, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
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| website            = 
| reference          = 
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'''Blue Lake''' is a large geothermal pond located about {{convert|16|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Wendover, Utah]] at {{coord|40|30|07|N|114|01|56|W|}}. The lake is  {{convert|60|ft}} deep, approximately {{convert|9|acre}} in size and at an elevation of {{convert|4300|ft}} 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]] (BLM). 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 [[Scuba diving|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 {{convert|60|ft}}  at (rare) times, and year-round bottom temperatures of approximately {{convert|85|F|C}}.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://geology.utah.gov/emp/geothermal/resorts.htm#bluelake |title=Resorts & Recreation|website= Utah Geological Survey|accessdate=January 2, 2008|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006092550/http://www.geology.utah.gov/emp/geothermal/resorts.htm |archivedate=October 6, 2007 }}</ref>  Surface temperatures vary from the high 60s (~20&nbsp;°C) in winter to the high 70s (~25&nbsp;°C) in summer.

The lake supports warm-water fish, mostly [[Bass (fish)|bass]], [[tilapia]], [[Centrarchidae|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scubadiving.com/article/Salt_Lake_City_Utah/|last1=Sturz|first1=James|title=Salt Lake City, Utah |website=Scuba Diving Magazine |date=November 12, 2007|accessdate=November 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215172522/http://www.scubadiving.com/article/Salt_Lake_City_Utah/ |archivedate=December 15, 2008}}</ref>  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 (the summer [[algal bloom]] is absent), 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 (6 fish limit), bluegill (50 fish limit), and tilapia (no limit, mandatory keep and kill). 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blue Lake|url=http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahlakes/bluelake.php|website=UtahFishingInfo.com|publisher=UtahFishingInfo.com|accessdate=June 9, 2014|archive-date=July 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702002543/http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahlakes/bluelake.php|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Blue Lake (disambiguation)]]
*[[Homestead caldera]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Recreational dive sites|fresit}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hot springs of Utah]]
[[Category:Lakes of Tooele County, Utah]]
[[Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in Utah]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Tooele County, Utah]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in the United States]]