Is Carson Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Carson Lake in Garfield County, Nebraska 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

Carson Lake is a lake in Garfield County, Nebraska covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 61st-largest of the 75 lakes SwimZone monitors in Nebraska. 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, Carson Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in June 2026. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 6,977,551 cells/mL in August 2024.

Is it safe to swim in Carson Lake right now?

Carson 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 Carson Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Carson 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 Carson Lake?

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

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Carson Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in June 2026. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 6,977,551 cells/mL in August 2024.

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

Today, 44 Nebraska waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 4 more warrant caution, out of 83 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

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