Utah Lake events, carp‑hunt and visitor data: Authority reports strong visitation and an economic estimate
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Summary
The Authority reported record attendance at the Utah Lake Festival, a combined carp removal of roughly 55,500 pounds from event series this year, and an Ernst & Young estimate that non‑county visitors generated $74.3 million in 2024; presenter offered the full report on request.
An unidentified speaker, a recreation specialist with the Utah Lake Authority, summarized the Authority's event programming, invasive‑fish removal pilot and its early visitation and economic figures.
The speaker said the Utah Lake Festival recorded its highest attendance to date and that the Authority partnered with the Provo Farmers Market to expand audience reach. The Authority also ran education activities, including a Utah Lake Symposium, fourth‑grade field trips and a scavenger‑hunt program.
On invasive‑species removal, the speaker described a carp‑hunt pilot and two sponsored bow‑fishing tournaments. "So far, we've brought in just over 20 almost 28,000 pounds from the carp hunt, and then... they brought in another almost 28,000 too," the presenter said, summarizing the season total at about 55,500 pounds of carp removed. The Authority estimated its event costs at around $0.90 per pound and contrasted that with a cited historical commercial pay rate of $0.20 per pound.
On visitation and economic impact: the presenter cited an Ernst & Young analysis estimating $74,300,000 in 2024 visitor spending attributable to Utah Lake from visitors outside Utah County, and about 1,100,000 visitor‑days from outside the county. The specialist offered to share the full report with interested parties.
Why it matters: the figures were presented as evidence that Utah Lake is generating measurable visitor spending and supporting recreation‑economy activity, which the presenter linked to the need for continued funding and local business development (outfitters, rentals, guided activities).
Next steps and caveats: the presenter noted some data limitations (eco counter validation is ongoing and some counts — for example at Eagle Park — can be inflated by environmental interference such as weed overgrowth). The Authority said it will continue to refine counts and share daily and hourly visitation reports.
Ending: the speaker invited audience members to view full visitation reports and the economic analysis, and closed by asking for questions.