Tahoe Keys Lagoon algae bloom status

Tahoe Keys Lagoon algae bloom history

California's Water Boards hold 28 bloom reports for Tahoe Keys Lagoon going back to 2017. Reports came in every year since then, with the busiest year being 2022 (10 reports).

State staff recommended an advisory 12 times: 1 Warning and 11 Caution. Warning is the middle level and means toxins were high enough to advise against swimming.

Blooms have been recorded every year for the last 9 years in the data.

That puts Tahoe Keys Lagoon 6th of the 318 California lakes on this site for the number of years with blooms.

When do algae blooms happen at Tahoe Keys Lagoon?

At Tahoe Keys Lagoon, reports are most often logged in June, July and August.

About 93% of reports fall between May and September, when warm, calm, sunny weather lets blue-green algae multiply.

Blooms can appear, move with the wind and fade within hours or days, so the time of year is only a guide.

Recent Tahoe Keys Lagoon algae reports

Recent reports came from 12 different locations around Tahoe Keys Lagoon, including Marina by beginning of rubicon dock, Site 18 and Site 25. A bloom in one cove or beach doesn't mean the whole lake is affected, and conditions can differ a short distance away.

What the California results mean

California recommends one of three advisory levels when a bloom is checked, matched to the signs posted at the shore.

Caution

Toxins may be present. Stay away from scum and keep pets and livestock from drinking the water.

Warning

Toxins are at higher levels. No swimming, and keep children and pets away from the water.

Danger

High toxin levels. Stay out of the water and off the shore until further notice.

Bloom reported

A bloom was reported, often by a member of the public, without a formal advisory level.

Is Tahoe Keys Lagoon safe for dogs?

Dogs are at the greatest risk from toxic algae. They swallow water while swimming, eat scum on the shore and lick algae off their fur afterwards, and a small amount can kill a dog within hours. With blooms recorded in 9 different years here, take particular care at Tahoe Keys Lagoon in June, July and August.

• Keep your dog on a lead near water that looks green, scummy, foamy or discoloured, and away from algae washed up on the shore.
• If your dog gets in, rinse it straight away with clean water and don't let it lick its coat.
• Call a vet immediately if your dog vomits, drools, has diarrhoea, staggers, shakes or seems weak after being near the water.

Health effects of toxic algae

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce toxins that affect the liver, nervous system and skin. Swallowing water during a bloom can cause stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Skin contact can cause rashes, and breathing spray from the water can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Children are at higher risk because they are smaller and more likely to swallow water.

How to spot a bloom

Toxic blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint or green streaks on the surface, and they can also be blue, brown, white or red. Scum often collects along the shore downwind. If you can't see your feet in knee-deep water, or you aren't sure, stay out.

Don't drink untreated lake water, and don't boil it to make it safe: boiling doesn't destroy algal toxins. If you feel unwell after contact with the water, contact a doctor or Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222.

Nearby lakes with algae reports

• Lake Tahoe2 km away, 63 reports, last in 2026
• Trout Creek3 km away, 5 reports, last in 2026
• Taylor Creek4 km away, 2 reports, last in 2025
• Upper Truckee River6 km away, 8 reports, last in 2026
• Lake Baron9 km away, 8 reports, last in 2024

All El Dorado County lakes with algae reports

Questions about Tahoe Keys Lagoon

Is there algae in Tahoe Keys Lagoon right now?

There are no bloom reports for Tahoe Keys Lagoon in the last 30 days of California's data. The most recent was a bloom report on 20 July 2025 at Marina by beginning of rubicon dock. California's data is checked every day, so for today's conditions check the California HABs Portal map and the signs at the shore.

When was the last algae bloom at Tahoe Keys Lagoon?

The most recent entry in California's data is from 20 July 2025 at Marina by beginning of rubicon dock: a bloom report.

Has Tahoe Keys Lagoon had toxic algae before?

Yes. Blooms are recorded every year from 2017 to 2025, most often in June, July and August.

Can dogs swim in Tahoe Keys Lagoon?

Keep dogs out of the water whenever a bloom is reported or the water looks green, scummy or discoloured. Dogs are the animals most often killed by algal toxins because they swallow water and lick their fur. If your dog swims in water that might have algae, rinse it with clean water and call a vet if it vomits, drools, staggers or seems weak.

Can you eat fish caught in Tahoe Keys Lagoon during a bloom?

If you keep fish caught during a bloom, health agencies advise removing the guts and liver and rinsing the fillets in clean water before cooking, because toxins collect most in the organs. Some agencies advise not eating fish from an active bloom at all, so follow local guidance.