Is Kaw Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Kaw Lake in Kay County, Oklahoma 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

Kaw Lake is a lake in Kay County, Oklahoma covering about 25.3 sq mi, the 4th-largest of the 57 lakes SwimZone monitors in Oklahoma. 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, Kaw Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 1 of them, most recently in September 2023. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 219,110 cells/mL in September 2023.

Is it safe to swim in Kaw Lake right now?

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

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

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

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Kaw Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 1 of them, most recently in September 2023. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 219,110 cells/mL in September 2023.

How many Oklahoma lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 22 Oklahoma waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 2 more warrant caution, out of 64 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

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