Beach · Aleutians West County · AK

Is Little South America (East) safe to swim?

Use caution

Recent heavy rain may have spiked bacteria since the last clear sample.

Updated July 19, 2026 · Alaska beach program (EPA BEACON)

Recent rain
2.2 in
Water type
Beach
Last updated
Jul 19
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Clear to swim
Tested
No advisory
Sampled Jul 19 · state beach program
Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored

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What's in the water at Little South America (East) right now

As of July 19, 2026, Little South America (East) in Aleutians West County, Alaska carries a swim caution. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 2.2 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Little South America (East)

Little South America (East) is a lake in Aleutians West County, Alaska. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Frequently asked: swimming in Little South America (East)

Is it safe to swim in Little South America (East) right now?
Little South America (East) carries a swim caution today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
Does Little South America (East) have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Little South America (East). Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
Can dogs swim in Little South America (East)?
No bloom is detected at Little South America (East) today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
How many Alaska lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
Today, 0 Alaska waters are under a swim advisory and 89 more warrant caution, out of 203 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
How is Little South America (East)'s water quality measured?
SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Little South America (East), and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.

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