Is Lake Maloney safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Lake Maloney in Lincoln County, Nebraska carries a swim caution. Satellite imagery measured 81,183 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, elevated but below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.0 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Lake Maloney is a lake in Lincoln County, Nebraska covering about 2.5 sq mi, the 9th-largest of the 75 lakes SwimZone monitors in Nebraska. Satellite imagery measured 81,183 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, elevated but below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold.

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, Lake Maloney 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 807,947 cells/mL in September 2023.

Is it safe to swim in Lake Maloney right now?

Lake Maloney carries a swim caution today. Satellite imagery measured 81,183 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, elevated but below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

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

Low levels. Satellite monitoring measured 81,183 cells/mL at Lake Maloney on July 19, 2026, below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Keep an eye out for surface scum, which can concentrate quickly.

Can dogs swim in Lake Maloney?

Use caution. Blue-green algae at Lake Maloney are elevated (81,183 cells/mL on July 19, 2026). Dogs are far more sensitive to cyanobacteria than people, so keep them out of the water and away from surface scum.

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

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Lake Maloney 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 807,947 cells/mL in September 2023.

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