Focus On Water Division

2012 Toxic Blue-green Algae
and Bacteria Sampling Results

NDEE conducts weekly or bi-weekly sampling for toxic blue-green algae and bacteria at a number of public recreational lakes across Nebraska from May through September, and these results are updated weekly. Samples are typically collected on Monday and posted on the web site on Thursday or Friday.
At the top of the table below is a list of all Current Lake(s) on Health Alert for toxic blue-green algae. Lakes that have been placed on Health Alert must subsequently have two consecutive weeks of low readings before the alert is ended. Samples above 20 ppb microcystin are placed on alert.

For more information about health alerts and what to look for, go to
Precautions and Facts Regarding Toxic Algae at Nebraska Lakes.

For more information about the history of toxic algae sampling in Nebraska, go to
Cyanobacteria: The Nebraska Experience

The next category,High E. Coli Bacteria Readings , lists lakes that showed unusually high readings of bacteria in the most recent sampling, which can also be a health concern. Samples above 235 counts/ 100 ml water are considered high.

Click here for more information about bacteria and its potential health effects.

The last category,Other Lakes Sampled , lists the results for lakes which are not under Health Alert for toxic algae, and their most recent sample results for bacteria are considered low.

Click on any lake name on the table below to view a chart of that lake’s sample results for toxic algae (Microcystins) and E.coli bacteria for the 2014 recreational season


The map below shows the locations of the lakes referred to in the table above

Beach Watch Listserv Subscribe Instructions

To subscribe to the listserv, send an email to listserv@listserv.nebraska.gov with SUBSCRIBE DEQ-BeachWatch (your name) - in the body of the message (leave the Subject line blank).

Example: Subscribe DEQ-BeachWatch John Smith.

You will receive an email requesting you to confirm your request. When you confirm by clicking the link, you will be added to the listserv .

To unsubscribe, send an email to listserv@listserv.nebraska.gov In the body of the message, type SIGNOFF deq-BeachWatch.
The links below will take you to the sampling results taken during the recreational seasons ( May through September) for 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and2011.

2018 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2017 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2016 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2015 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2014 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2013 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2012 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results
2011 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results