LOOGOOTEE – West Boggs has closed the beach to the public after a routine water quality test showed algae and toxin levels unsafe for swimming. Officials understand this closure can be frustrating to visitors, but the safety of all visitors and park lovers is the priority. Many lakes around the state experience this same algae bloom in the hotter months.
Levels of blue-green algae may be high during summer in some local lakes and reservoirs. Avoid coming into direct contact with the algae or swallowing lake water. Keep a close eye on pets or small children, who may ingest water-containing toxins produced by these algae.
Exposure to blue-green algae during swimming, wading, and water-skiing can lead to rashes, skin, eye irritation, and effects such as nausea, stomach aches, and tingling in fingers and toes. After you swim, wade, or ski, be sure to shower with warm soapy water.
At this time, the swimming beach is closed.
While recreational boating and fishing are still allowed within the guidelines suggested by IDEM, visitors are cautioned to carefully consider their interactions with the lake.
Be careful to keep people and pets out of the water at all times until water testing results indicate it is safe to enter.
If you do come into contact with any lake water, be sure to clean up with hot, soapy water, and keep water away from your mouth and eyes.
Sampling Results – Beach Advisory Alert Level (Yellow Sign)
Swimming and boating are permitted. Avoid contact with algae. Avoid swallowing water while swimming. Take a bath or shower with warm soapy water after coming in contact with lake water. Do not use lake water for cooking or bathing. Do not allow your pets to swim or drink water where algae are present.
- Brookville Lake – Quakertown SRA Beach
- Cagles Mill Lake – Lieber SRA Beach
- Cecil M. Harden Lake – Raccoon Lake SRA Beach
- Chain O’Lakes SP – Sand Lake Beach
- Hardy Lake – Hardy Lake SRA Beach
- Mississinewa Lake – Miami SRA Beach
- Patoka Lake – Newton Stewart SRA Beach
- Potato Creek SP – Worster Lake Beach
- Salamonie Lake – Lost Bridge West SRA Beach
- Starve Hollow SRA – Starve Hollow Lake Beach
- Whitewater Memorial SP – Whitewater Lake Beach
Sampling Results – Beach Low-Risk Alert Level (Blue Sign)
Don’t drink the water, shower after you swim.
- Brookville Lake – Mounds SRA Beach
- Deam Lake SRA – Deam Lake Beach
- Ferdinand State Forest – Ferdinand Lake Beach
- Lincoln SP – Lake Lincoln Beach
- Monroe Lake – Fairfax SRA Beach
- Monroe Lake – Paynetown SRA Beach
- Ouabache SP – Kunkel Lake Beach
- Pokagon SP – Main Beach
- Pokagon SP – Potawatomi Inn Beach
- Summit Lake SP – Summit Lake Beach
What Alerts Mean
Low Risk: Don’t drink the water. Shower After you swim. Indicated with a blue diamond on the sign.
Advisory: Swimming and boating are permitted. Avoid contact with algae. Avoid swallowing water while swimming. Take a bath or shower with warm soapy water after coming in contact with lake water. Do not use lake water for cooking or bathing. Do not allow your pets to swim or drink water where algae are present. Indicated with a yellow diamond on the sign.
Caution: Follow all advisory-level precautions. Children and those with compromised immune systems should not swim. Indicated with an orange diamond on the sign.
Closed: Algae and toxin levels make the beach currently unsafe for swimming. Indicated with a red diamond on the sign.
