Is Lake McKellar safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Lake McKellar in Shelby County, Tennessee is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Lake McKellar is a lake in Shelby County, Tennessee covering about 2.3 sq mi, the 16th-largest of the 20 lakes SwimZone monitors in Tennessee. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 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 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Lake McKellar has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.

Is it safe to swim in Lake McKellar right now?

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

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

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

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Lake McKellar has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.

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

Today, 4 Tennessee waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 0 more warrant caution, out of 24 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

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