Is Audubon Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Audubon Lake in McLean County, North Dakota 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

Audubon Lake is a lake in McLean County, North Dakota covering about 24.8 sq mi, the 3rd-largest of the 216 lakes SwimZone monitors in North Dakota. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. Larger, warmer waters like this can hold a bloom for weeks once nutrients and calm weather line up.

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, Audubon Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in July 2024. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 721,279 cells/mL in July 2024.

Is it safe to swim in Audubon Lake right now?

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

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

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

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Audubon Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in July 2024. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 721,279 cells/mL in July 2024.

How many North Dakota lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 167 North Dakota waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 4 more warrant caution, out of 241 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

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