SwimZone

Pond · Portage County · OH

Is Aurora Pond safe to swim?

Advisory

Blue-green algae is above the safe-contact threshold.

Updated July 22, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain
1.2 in
Water type
Pond
Last updated
Jul 22
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored

No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.

Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
Advisory
Tested
1,385,042
cells/mL
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL

Cyanobacteria 1,385,042 cells/mL (satellite, 7-day max), imaged 2026-07-21.

Sampled Jul 21 · EPA CyAN satellite

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There's an advisory on Aurora Pond right now.

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What's in the water at Aurora Pond right now

As of July 22, 2026, Aurora Pond in Portage County, Ohio is not recommended for swimming. Satellite imagery measured 1,385,042 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.2 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Aurora Pond

Aurora Pond is a pond in Portage County, Ohio covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 37th-largest of the 41 lakes SwimZone monitors in Ohio. Satellite imagery measured 1,385,042 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above 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.

Bloom history at Aurora Pond

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

2020: peak 1,892,270 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level202021: peak 2,442,660 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level212022: peak 1,508,075 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level222023: peak 1,551,469 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level232024: peak 1,465,895 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level242025: peak 2,060,359 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level252026: peak 608,391 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level26Advisory100k cells/mL

Each bar is that summer's peak satellite reading (log scale). The red cap is the part above the advisory level.

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Aurora Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 2,442,660 cells/mL in August 2021.

When to swim at Aurora Pond

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in most monitored summers (7 of 7), historically peaking around August. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.

Frequently asked: swimming in Aurora Pond

Is it safe to swim in Aurora Pond right now?
Aurora Pond is not recommended for swimming today. Satellite imagery measured 1,385,042 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above 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 Aurora Pond have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Yes. Satellite monitoring measured 1,385,042 cells/mL of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Aurora Pond on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory level. Avoid swimming and keep children and pets out of the water.
Can dogs swim in Aurora Pond?
No. Blue-green algae at Aurora Pond is above the safe-contact threshold (1,385,042 cells/mL on July 21, 2026). Cyanobacteria toxins can be rapidly fatal to dogs, which swallow it while swimming and lick it from their fur. Keep dogs out of the water and away from any scum along the shore.
How often does Aurora Pond have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Aurora Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 2,442,660 cells/mL in August 2021.
How many Ohio lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
Today, 33 Ohio waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 32 more warrant caution, out of 101 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
How is Aurora Pond'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 Aurora Pond, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.

Before you swim: the basics

Swim spots near Aurora Pond

All Ohio →

Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Aurora Pond, 3 are flagged today.

WaterDistanceTodayAlgae readSampled
Akron City ReservoirReservoir · Geauga County10 miAdvisory855,112 cells/mLJul 21
Lake RockwellLake · Portage County10 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 19
Mogadore ReservoirReservoir · Portage County18 miAdvisory445,311 cells/mLJul 21
Michael J Kirwan ReservoirReservoir · Portage County19 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 19
East Branch ReservoirReservoir · Geauga County20 miAdvisory855,112 cells/mLJul 21
Euclid State ParkBeach · Cuyahoga County20 miClear to swimNot monitoredJul 22