DUBOIS COUNTY — State environmental and park officials have issued a formal Beach Advisory for Patoka Lake following routine water quality testing during the peak summer swimming season.
The advisory was triggered after ongoing monitoring by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) indicated elevated levels of blue-green algae and E. coli bacteria within the reservoir’s designated swimming areas.
Beach Remains Open for Recreation
Despite the alert status, park officials confirmed that the popular swimming beach located at the Newton Stewart State Recreation Area remains fully open to visitors. Both swimming and boating are still actively permitted throughout the 8,800-acre reservoir.
Blue-green algae, technically known as cyanobacteria, is a naturally occurring organism found year-round in Indiana waterways. However, when summer temperatures rise, and agricultural runoff introduces nutrients into the water, the cells can rapidly reproduce, forming harmful algal blooms (HABs) that diminish water quality. Concurrently, heavy summer rainstorms can wash organic debris into the reservoir, causing temporary spikes in E. coli bacteria levels.
Public Health Guidelines and Precautions
While the water is deemed safe enough to avoid an outright beach closure, state park staff have posted yellow advisory signs to inform the public. Recreational users are strongly urged to exercise caution and adhere to the following safety protocols while visiting the lake:
- Avoid Direct Contact: Steer clear of visible algae mats, scum, or noticeably discolored water along the shoreline.
- Do Not Ingest: Avoid swallowing lake water while swimming or wading.
- Hygiene Practices: Thoroughly wash skin, hair, and clothing with warm, soapy water as soon as possible after exiting the lake.
- Domestic Restrictions: Never utilize untreated lake water for cooking, drinking, or personal bathing.
- Protect Pets: Though pets are strictly prohibited from the designated sandy beach area, shore-bound visitors must keep dogs out of the water along shallow banks and natural shorelines. Ingesting toxic algae scum or drinking contaminated water can be fatal to pets.
Exposure to elevated levels of these organisms can lead to skin rashes, eye irritation, nausea, stomach aches, and general gastrointestinal illness.
Continued Monitoring
Water testing at the reservoir is conducted weekly to ensure public transparency. The swimming area will remain under the yellow advisory classification until subsequent testing indicates that cyanobacteria cell counts have fallen safely below the state’s standard threshold of 100,000 cells per milliliter of water.
The advisory is designed to balance public awareness with recreational access, allowing families to continue utilizing the park safely during the summer months. Members of the public with immediate questions or localized safety concerns are encouraged to contact the Patoka Lake Property Office directly at 812-338-5589.
