Council Grove Lake algae bloom history
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has tested Council Grove Lake 4 times since 2023, usually after someone reported a possible bloom. 0 samples (0%) reached at least Watch level, and 0 reached Warning level or higher.
- 2023 4 samples
Recent Council Grove Lake algae reports
Recent reports came from 2 different locations around Council Grove Lake, including Council Grove Ritchie Cove Dock and Council Grove Marina/Ramp Area. A bloom in one cove or beach doesn't mean the whole lake is affected, and conditions can differ a short distance away.
| Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 29 August 2023 | Council Grove Ritchie Cove Dock | Below advisory levels · microcystin not detected, 9,855 cyanobacteria cells/mL |
| 29 August 2023 | Council Grove Marina/Ramp Area | Below advisory levels · microcystin not detected |
| 26 June 2023 | Council Grove Marina/Ramp Area | Below advisory levels · microcystin not detected |
| 26 June 2023 | Council Grove Ritchie Cove Dock | Below advisory levels · microcystin not detected, 525 cyanobacteria cells/mL |
What the Kansas results mean
KDHE sets each advisory from lab results or what staff see at the lake. Samples on this page are labelled with the level their results reached.
- Watch
- A bloom is visible, microcystin is above 4 µg/L, or there are more than 80,000 cyanobacteria cells per mL. Avoid algae and keep people and pets from swimming near it or drinking the water.
- Warning
- Microcystin above 8 µg/L, more than 250,000 cells per mL, or heavy surface scum. Avoid all contact with the water, including fishing and boating.
- Hazard
- Microcystin above 2,000 µg/L or more than 10 million cells per mL. KDHE recommends closing all or part of the lake and sometimes the shore nearby.
Is Council Grove Lake 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.
- 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.
Read the full guide to toxic algae and dogs: symptoms, what to do in the first minutes and how vets treat it.
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
- Council Grove City Lake4 km away, 10 reports, last in 2026
- Wabaunsee County Lake33 km away, 22 reports, last in 2018
- Herington City Lake42 km away, 32 reports, last in 2026
- King Lake42 km away, 26 reports, last in 2026
- Wooster Lake42 km away, 6 reports, last in 2025
Questions about Council Grove Lake
Is there algae in Council Grove Lake right now?
Kansas has no current advisory for Council Grove Lake. The most recent sample, on 29 August 2023 at Council Grove Ritchie Cove Dock, was below advisory levels (microcystin not detected, 9,855 cyanobacteria cells/mL). This site checks KDHE's advisory list every day, but lakes are only sampled after a bloom is reported, so for today's conditions check the KDHE algae bloom map and the signs at the shore.
When was the last algae bloom at Council Grove Lake?
The most recent entry in Kansas's data is from 29 August 2023 at Council Grove Ritchie Cove Dock: a sample below advisory levels (microcystin not detected, 9,855 cyanobacteria cells/mL).
Has Council Grove Lake had toxic algae before?
Reports for Council Grove Lake come from 2023 only.
Can dogs swim in Council Grove Lake?
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 Council Grove Lake 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.
About this data
This page uses official records from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), which updated as samples come in, with advisories reviewed through the April to October season. Reports are grouped by waterbody. The site was last rebuilt on 24 October 2026.
States only test some lakes, some of the time, so a lake without a recent report hasn't necessarily been checked. This page is independent, isn't affiliated with the State of Kansas, and isn't health advice. View the source data.