Is Cut-Off Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Cut-Off Lake in Chariton County, Missouri 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

Cut-Off Lake is a lake in Chariton County, Missouri. 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.

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Cut-Off Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,787,899 cells/mL in August 2022.

Is it safe to swim in Cut-Off Lake right now?

Cut-Off Lake 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 Cut-Off Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Cut-Off Lake 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 Cut-Off Lake?

No bloom is detected at Cut-Off 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 Cut-Off Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Cut-Off Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,787,899 cells/mL in August 2022.

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

Today, 14 Missouri waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 1 more warrant caution, out of 34 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Cut-Off 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 Cut-Off Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.