Is Holden City Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Holden City Lake in Johnson 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 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Holden City Lake is a lake in Johnson County, Missouri covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 27th-largest of the 32 lakes SwimZone monitors in 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, Holden City Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 6 of them, most recently in September 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,308,648 cells/mL in August 2021.

Is it safe to swim in Holden City Lake right now?

Holden City 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 Holden City Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Holden City 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 Holden City Lake?

No bloom is detected at Holden City 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 Holden City Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Holden City Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 6 of them, most recently in September 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,308,648 cells/mL in August 2021.

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 Holden City 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 Holden City Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.