Is Buchanan Lake safe to swim?

As of August 20, 2026, Buchanan Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota carries a swim caution. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 4.4 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

Buchanan Lake is a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota covering about 1.5 sq mi, the 276th-largest of the 975 lakes SwimZone monitors in Minnesota. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample.

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, Buchanan Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 4 of them, most recently in August 2025. Its highest satellite estimate was about 510,000 cells/mL in August 2025. 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 4 of 7 monitored summers, 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 Buchanan Lake right now?

Buchanan Lake carries a swim caution today. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

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

Unclear. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal at Buchanan Lake on August 19, 2026, but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Avoid any scummy or discolored water and check your state or county health department.

Can dogs swim in Buchanan Lake?

Be careful. The satellite signal at Buchanan Lake is low-confidence and unconfirmed, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people. Keep them away from any green, scummy, or discolored water and check local advisories.

How often does Buchanan Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Buchanan Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 4 of them, most recently in August 2025. Its highest satellite estimate was about 510,000 cells/mL in August 2025. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

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

Today, 0 Minnesota waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 451 more warrant caution, out of 1178 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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?→