The carp is now estimated at 90% of the biomass of the lake and contributes to a decline in native fish populations by severely altering the ecosystem.

Pollution problems still remain; the lake's phosphorus and mineral salt levels are in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The Division manages public use and issues a permit for commercial users of the lakebed and shoreline while the Commission facilitates development.

"[11] The Commission was created by State statute in Utah's 2007 General Legislative Session, House Concurrent Resolution 1, under the authority of the Interlocal Cooperation Act.

[12] An 1827 letter written by American explorer Jedidiah Strong Smith contains the earliest known reference to "Utah" as the name of the lake.

[20] Over the roughly 65,000 years that Lake Bonneville existed, sediments built up, creating a lacustrine plain over Utah Valley.

[27] After several years of drought, irrigation companies argued over their share of Utah Lake's water from the Jordan River.

The decree stated that the irrigation companies "are entitled to a decree awarding to them, subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, the right to the use of all the balance of the waters of the Jordan River, for municipal, irrigation, culinary, and domestic purposes, to the extent of the capacity of their several canals, and the right to impound and store all of the waters of said river in Utah Lake.

[29] After the decree was released, Utah Lake essentially became an irrigation reservoir, and the Jordan River's flow was highly regulated.

Lakes, rivers, and streams that exceed the standard levels are then placed on the DEQ 303d list in accordance with the Clean Water Act.

However, the presence and activity of carp, which stir up solids in the water, makes it difficult to appreciate the improvement without conducting scientific measurements.

[38] There are several cyanobacteria species that are especially common when phosphorus levels and temperature, among other unknown criteria, are favorable for harmful algal blooms.

At the festival, there was dancing, singing, trading, horse races, gambling, and feasting on the plentiful fish the lake provided.

[49] Franciscan missionary Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, while on his expedition in late summer and early autumn of 1776, was trying to find a land route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Monterey, California.

This lake of Timpanogotzis abounds in several kinds of good fish, geese, beaver, and other amphibious animals which did not have an opportunity to see.

Besides this, they gather in the plain grass seeds from which they make atole, which they supplement by hunting hares, rabbits, and fowl of which there is great abundance here.

The settlement of Utah by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began in July 1847, when pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley.

[56] Captain Howard Stansbury of the United States Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers was ordered to map, survey, and explore Utah and Salt Lake Valleys.

"[65] The Utah Lake wetland ecosystem is an important breeding area and stopover for migratory birds in the Pacific Flyway.

[64] A review in 2008 indicates that viable populations are distributed throughout its historic range and do not merit listing as a threatened or endangered species.

[79] Biologists have been rearing the June sucker in Red Butte Reservoir and releasing them into Utah Lake to help build the population.

[81] As of February 3, 2021 the June sucker was officially down-listed from "endangered" to "threatened"; a direct result of conservation efforts made by the JSRIP and its partners.

In addition, they destroy submerged vegetation that holds sediments in place and provides shelter for native fish populations.

[87] Efforts are underway to reduce the population of carp in Utah Lake by employing local commercial fishermen, led by Bill Loy, Jr., to remove 5 million pounds of carp each year as part of the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program's efforts to restore Utah Lake to a habitat in which the June sucker can survive.

The intent is to cause a crash in the carp population which will allow the ecosystem to begin to rebuild and the June sucker to reestablish dominance in the lake.

From the 1880s to the 1930s, up to twelve resorts offering boat rentals, picnic facilities, dance halls, swimming pools, and bathhouses served tourists at the lake.

However, due to the lack of an exact definition and significantly fluctuating lake levels, intermittently dry areas, and wetlands, including all of Provo Bay, have been claimed and farmed by surrounding land owners.

[94] In January 2018, the Utah Department of Natural Resources received a project proposal as a potential solution to the lake's nutrient pollution, invasive species, and murky water.

[102] On October 27, 2022, Utah’s Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands rejected the proposal by Lake Restoration Solutions.

Though listed as endangered in 1986 after ecosystem degradation and invasive species concentration, thanks to the efforts of the JSRIP, the June Sucker was downlisted to “threatened” on February 3, 2021.