Lake · Stafford County · KS

Is Little Salt Marsh safe to swim?

Clear to swim

No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.

Updated July 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain
0.0 in
Water type
Lake
Last updated
Jul 20
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored
Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
Clear to swim
Tested
None detected
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL
Sampled Jul 19 · EPA CyAN satellite

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Know before you get in at Little Salt Marsh.

Get an alert the day a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.

What's in the water at Little Salt Marsh right now

As of July 20, 2026, Little Salt Marsh in Stafford County, Kansas is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.0 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Little Salt Marsh

Little Salt Marsh is a lake in Stafford County, Kansas. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026.

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.

Bloom history at Little Salt Marsh

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Little Salt Marsh has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 6 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 4,690,542 cells/mL in August 2021.

Frequently asked: swimming in Little Salt Marsh

Is it safe to swim in Little Salt Marsh right now?
Little Salt Marsh is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. 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 Salt Marsh have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Little Salt Marsh as of July 19, 2026 (below the satellite's roughly 10,000 cells/mL detection limit). Cyanobacteria can still appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.
Can dogs swim in Little Salt Marsh?
No bloom is detected at Little Salt Marsh 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 Little Salt Marsh have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Little Salt Marsh has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 6 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 4,690,542 cells/mL in August 2021.
How many Kansas lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
Today, 10 Kansas waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 1 more warrant caution, out of 30 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
How is Little Salt Marsh'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 Salt Marsh, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.

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