SwimZone

Lake · Fairfield County · OH

Is Crane Lake safe to swim?

Advisory

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

Updated July 22, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain
6.1 in
Water type
Lake
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
1,272,047
cells/mL
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL

Cyanobacteria 1,272,047 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 Crane Lake right now.

Get an alert the day it clears, and every time a new one goes up.

What's in the water at Crane Lake right now

As of July 22, 2026, Crane Lake in Fairfield County, Ohio is not recommended for swimming. Satellite imagery measured 1,272,047 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 6.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Crane Lake

Crane Lake is a lake in Fairfield County, Ohio covering about 4.3 sq mi, the 7th-largest of the 41 lakes SwimZone monitors in Ohio. Satellite imagery measured 1,272,047 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 Crane Lake

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

2020: peak 2,442,660 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level202021: peak 1,103,832 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level212022: peak 1,135,594 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level222023: peak 1,424,895 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level232024: peak 1,787,899 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level242025: peak 1,737,893 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level252026: peak 1,787,899 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, Crane Lake 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 July 2020.

When to swim at Crane Lake

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 July. 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 Crane Lake

Is it safe to swim in Crane Lake right now?
Crane Lake is not recommended for swimming today. Satellite imagery measured 1,272,047 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 Crane Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Yes. Satellite monitoring measured 1,272,047 cells/mL of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Crane Lake 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 Crane Lake?
No. Blue-green algae at Crane Lake is above the safe-contact threshold (1,272,047 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 Crane Lake have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Crane Lake 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 July 2020.
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 Crane 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 Crane Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.

Before you swim: the basics

Swim spots near Crane Lake

All Ohio →

Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Crane Lake, 3 are flagged today.

WaterDistanceTodayAlgae readSampled
Dillon LakeLake · Muskingum County21 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Hoover ReservoirReservoir · Delaware County27 miAdvisory471,306 cells/mLJul 21
Williams LakeLake · Delaware County33 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Delaware LakeLake · Delaware County45 miAdvisory1,103,832 cells/mLJul 21
Deer Creek LakeLake · Pickaway County45 miAdvisory662,435 cells/mLJul 21
Pleasant Hill LakeLake · Richland County50 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 19