Lake · Monongalia County · WV
Is Cheat Lake safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated July 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite
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What's in the water at Cheat Lake right now
As of July 20, 2026, Cheat Lake in Monongalia County, West Virginia 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.
Blue-green algae at Cheat Lake
Cheat Lake is a lake in Monongalia County, West Virginia covering about 2.1 sq mi. 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.
Bloom history at Cheat Lake
From EPA CyAN's satellite archive
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Cheat Lake has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.
Frequently asked: swimming in Cheat Lake
- Is it safe to swim in Cheat Lake right now?
- Cheat 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 Cheat Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Cheat 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 Cheat Lake?
- No bloom is detected at Cheat 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 Cheat Lake have blue-green algae blooms?
- Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Cheat Lake has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.
- How many West Virginia lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
- Today, none of the 2 monitored West Virginia waters SwimZone tracks are above a safe-contact threshold.
- How is Cheat 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 Cheat Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.