Lake · Churchill County · NV
Is Upper Foxtail Lake 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 Upper Foxtail Lake right now
As of July 20, 2026, Upper Foxtail Lake in Churchill County, Nevada 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.
Blue-green algae at Upper Foxtail Lake
Upper Foxtail Lake is a lake in Churchill County, Nevada covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 42nd-largest of the 47 lakes SwimZone monitors in Nevada. 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.
Frequently asked: swimming in Upper Foxtail Lake
- Is it safe to swim in Upper Foxtail Lake right now?
- Upper Foxtail 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 Upper Foxtail Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Upper Foxtail 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 Upper Foxtail Lake?
- No bloom is detected at Upper Foxtail 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 many Nevada lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
- Today, 13 Nevada waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 1 more warrant caution, out of 50 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Upper Foxtail 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 Upper Foxtail Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.