Is Portage Lakes safe to swim?

As of July 22, 2026, Portage Lakes in Summit County, Ohio is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 3.8 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Portage Lakes is a lake in Summit County, Ohio covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 38th-largest of the 41 lakes SwimZone monitors in Ohio. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 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.

Over 5 summers of satellite monitoring since 2021, Portage Lakes has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,135,594 cells/mL in September 2024.

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 (5 of 5), 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.

Is it safe to swim in Portage Lakes right now?

Portage Lakes is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 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 Portage Lakes have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Portage Lakes as of July 18, 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 Portage Lakes?

No bloom is detected at Portage Lakes 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 Portage Lakes have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 5 summers of satellite monitoring since 2021, Portage Lakes has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,135,594 cells/mL in September 2024.

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 Portage Lakes'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 Portage Lakes, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.

• Blue-green algae and dogs→
• What does blue-green algae look like?→
• When is algae season?→