SwimZone

Lake · Mahoning County · OH

Is Lake Milton safe to swim?

Advisory

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

Updated July 22, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain
1.6 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
354,898
cells/mL
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL

Cyanobacteria 354,898 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 Lake Milton right now.

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

What's in the water at Lake Milton right now

As of July 22, 2026, Lake Milton in Mahoning County, Ohio is not recommended for swimming. Satellite imagery measured 354,898 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.6 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Lake Milton

Lake Milton is a lake in Mahoning County, Ohio covering about 2.6 sq mi, the 14th-largest of the 41 lakes SwimZone monitors in Ohio. Satellite imagery measured 354,898 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 Lake Milton

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

2020: peak 375,615 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level202021: peak 742,033 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level212022: peak 245,439 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level222023: peak 527,938 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level232024: peak 574,835 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level242025: peak 785,350 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level252026: peak 354,898 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, Lake Milton 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 785,350 cells/mL in September 2025.

When to swim at Lake Milton

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 September. 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 Lake Milton

Is it safe to swim in Lake Milton right now?
Lake Milton is not recommended for swimming today. Satellite imagery measured 354,898 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 Lake Milton have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Yes. Satellite monitoring measured 354,898 cells/mL of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Lake Milton 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 Lake Milton?
No. Blue-green algae at Lake Milton is above the safe-contact threshold (354,898 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 Lake Milton have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Lake Milton 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 785,350 cells/mL in September 2025.
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 Lake Milton'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 Milton, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.

Before you swim: the basics

Swim spots near Lake Milton

All Ohio →

Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Lake Milton, 4 are flagged today.

WaterDistanceTodayAlgae readSampled
Berlin LakeLake · Portage County6.9 miAdvisory527,938 cells/mLJul 21
Michael J Kirwan ReservoirReservoir · Portage County8.0 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 19
Meander Creek ReservoirReservoir · Mahoning County9.5 miAdvisory325,944 cells/mLJul 21
Deer Creek ReservoirReservoir · Stark County11 miAdvisory1,103,832 cells/mLJul 21
Lake RockwellLake · Portage County19 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 19
Mogadore ReservoirReservoir · Portage County20 miAdvisory445,311 cells/mLJul 21