River · Jackson County · MO
Is Little Blue River Lakes safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated July 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite
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What's in the water at Little Blue River Lakes right now
As of July 20, 2026, Little Blue River Lakes in Jackson 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.
Blue-green algae at Little Blue River Lakes
Little Blue River Lakes is a lake in Jackson County, Missouri covering about 1.5 sq mi, the 11th-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.
Bloom history at Little Blue River Lakes
From EPA CyAN's satellite archive
Over 6 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Little Blue River Lakes has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in September 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 408,981 cells/mL in September 2025.
Frequently asked: swimming in Little Blue River Lakes
- Is it safe to swim in Little Blue River Lakes right now?
- Little Blue River Lakes 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 Blue River Lakes have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Little Blue River Lakes 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 Blue River Lakes?
- No bloom is detected at Little Blue River Lakes 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 Blue River Lakes have blue-green algae blooms?
- Over 6 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Little Blue River Lakes has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in September 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 408,981 cells/mL in September 2025.
- 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 Little Blue River Lakes'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 Blue River Lakes, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.