Utah Valley University students and faculty are developing innovative technologies to combat harmful algal blooms in Utah Lake, combining patented filtration systems and synthetic biology to improve water quality while providing transformative research experiences.
Lindon, Utah — July and 30, 2026
Every summer, harmful algal blooms threaten recreation, wildlife, and public health on Utah Lake. But at Utah Valley University (UVU), Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Kevin Shurtleff and a dedicated team of student researchers are fighting back with patented filtration technology and synthetic biology.
Their goal isn't just to clean the water—it's to transform an ecological hazard into a sustainable resource.
The Microscopic Marvel: Understanding Cyanobacteria
Utah Lake is home to a vast ecosystem of microorganisms, including cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae. Despite their popular label, these organisms are actually a unique form of bacteria capable of photosynthesis, producing their own food using sunlight.
Cyanobacteria are remarkably adaptable, found in environments ranging from desert soil and Antarctic ice to sloth fur. In normal quantities, they play a crucial role in the environment:
What Triggers a Bloom?
Blooms occur when cyanobacteria multiply rapidly at unchecked rates. While scientists cannot pinpoint a single isolated trigger, four environmental factors interact to create optimal bloom conditions:
When these conditions align, dense, floating green mats accumulate near shorelines. In high concentrations, cyanobacteria produce cyanotoxins—most commonly microcystin (a liver toxin), neurotoxins, and protein-synthesis blockers. While these toxins are generally not absorbed through the skin, ingestion poses severe health risks to humans, pets, and wildlife.
UVU's Innovation: The Multipress Filtration Barge
Rather than relying on chemical treatments that could disrupt the lake's delicate biological balance, Dr. Shurtleff took a mechanical approach following a severe outbreak nearly a decade ago.
"When we had the big algae bloom in 2016, I started researching different methods for separating algae from water," said Dr. Kevin Shurtleff. "It's difficult because the algae are microscopic. In 2017, I tried seven different filtration methods. This filter press was the one that worked best."
The resulting technology is a custom 30+ foot algae-filtration barge equipped with a specialized system called the Multipress.
Instead of roaming open waters, the barge targets high-density zones where wind packs the algae against the shoreline:
"We only collect what's floating on the surface. They tend to get trapped here because the wind blows in this direction. It collects along that shore, so that's where we harvest... We suck it in through that floating boom," explained Dr. Shurtleff.
Daily Operations on the Water
Operating the barge is a rigorous summer routine led directly by UVU students gaining real-world field experience. Running five hours a day, five days a week, a two-student crew manages navigation and equipment operation. Students from diverse scientific fields—including biotechnology, physics, and chemistry—run the daily operations from May through August.
From Nuisance to Nutrient: Biofuel & Fertilizer
What sets UVU's approach apart is what happens after the algae is extracted. The filtration process yields dense blocks of material known as filter cakes—a mixture of cellulose and extracted biomass.
Instead of sending this waste to a landfill, the team closes the ecological loop:
Shurtleff explained, "We open the filter press, discharge the algae and cellulose, then take it to UVU's compost pile. The algae naturally contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, making it an excellent soil amendment."
Looking ahead, Dr. Shurtleff sees an even bigger opportunity: energy production. Since the algae is mixed with cellulose, it could eventually become a biomass fuel. "Actually, most petroleum came from algae, not dinosaurs. Massive algae blooms settled to the bottom over millions of years and became oil and natural gas. That's how nature stores carbon."
A Multi-Pronged Attack and The Path Forward
Alongside the barge project, UVU students are also using synthetic biology through the international iGEM program to engineer beneficial algae that reduce excess nutrients feeding harmful blooms—effectively starving harmful cyanobacteria before massive blooms can start.
This experiential learning initiative delivers real scientific impact, but expanding its scope requires community investment.
The work continues each summer, but it depends on ongoing financial support. Operating the filtration program costs approximately $40,000 annually, and each barge costs more than $260,000 to build. UVU is seeking donors and partners to help expand these efforts and protect more of Utah Lake.
Continued financial support allows UVU to deploy additional barges, refine its synthetic biology solutions, and protect broader stretches of Utah Lake's public beaches and marinas.
To learn more about UVU’s lake restoration technology, view student research updates, or contribute directly to the filtration program fund, visit the Utah Valley University College of Science project hub:
UVU Restoring Utah Lake Initiative
