Is Pistakee Lake safe to swim?

As of August 20, 2026, Pistakee Lake in McHenry County, Illinois has no advisory posted. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 0.3 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Pistakee Lake is a lake in McHenry County, Illinois covering about 2.7 sq mi, the 18th-largest of the 68 lakes SwimZone monitors in Illinois. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee.

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.

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Pistakee Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 7 of them, most recently in July 2026. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 1,600,000 cells/mL in August 2022. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in most monitored summers (7 of 7), historically peaking around August. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.

Is it safe to swim in Pistakee Lake right now?

Pistakee Lake has no advisory posted today. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Pistakee Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom at Pistakee Lake in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026). This is a satellite estimate below the sensor's detection limit, not a guarantee: cyanobacteria can appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.

Can dogs swim in Pistakee Lake?

No bloom is detected at Pistakee Lake 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 often does Pistakee Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Pistakee Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 7 of them, most recently in July 2026. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 1,600,000 cells/mL in August 2022. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

How many Illinois lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 0 Illinois waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 54 more warrant caution, out of 130 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Pistakee Lake'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 Pistakee Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.

• Blue-green algae and dogs→
• What does blue-green algae look like?→
• When is algae season?→