Beach · Ketchikan Gateway County · AK
Is Vallenar Bay safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated July 19, 2026 · Alaska beach program (EPA BEACON)
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What's in the water at Vallenar Bay right now
As of July 19, 2026, Vallenar Bay in Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska is clear to swim. 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 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Vallenar Bay
Vallenar Bay is a lake in Ketchikan Gateway 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 Vallenar Bay
- Is it safe to swim in Vallenar Bay right now?
- Vallenar Bay is clear to swim 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 Vallenar Bay have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Vallenar Bay. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in Vallenar Bay?
- No bloom is detected at Vallenar Bay 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 Vallenar Bay'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 Vallenar Bay, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.