Salton Sea: toxic algae advisories
Salton Sea, Imperial and Riverside County. See all Imperial County waters. See all Riverside County waters.
What the state's records say
Warning advisory, last posted Jul 16, 2021. No all-clear recorded.
15 reported spots here have an advisory with no all-clear recorded.
Reporting is voluntary, so the state may not have recorded an end even if conditions changed. Check posted signs and the official map.
What this level asks: Toxins may be at levels that can harm people and animals. Do not swim or let children or pets in the water, and stay away from scum.
Before you go, check the state's official algae page and any signs posted at the water.
Dogs at Salton Sea
The state has an advisory on file for Salton Sea (Warning advisory), last posted Jul 16, 2021, and no all-clear recorded. Keep your dog out of the water and away from scum on the shore until the state records an end.
Satellite estimate (not an advisory)
Week ending Aug 8, 2026: about 29,000 cells/mL of cyanobacteria near the center of Salton Sea.
A satellite estimate from EPA CyAN for a 943.3 km² lake. It does not measure toxins and does not change the advisory status.
| Week ending | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2026 | about 29,000 cells/mL |
| Apr 11, 2026 | about 11,000 cells/mL |
| Aug 10, 2024 | about 8,100 cells/mL |
| Aug 12, 2023 | about 21,000 cells/mL |
| Aug 5, 2023 | about 210,000 cells/mL |
| Aug 14, 2021 | about 28,000 cells/mL |
| Aug 7, 2021 | about 240,000 cells/mL |
| Jul 31, 2021 | about 420,000 cells/mL |
This is a satellite estimate from the U.S. EPA's Cyanobacteria Assessment Network, not an advisory. It estimates how much cyanobacteria is in the water near the lake's center, not whether toxins are present: a high number does not mean toxins, and a low one does not mean there are none. It covers lakes of about 1 square kilometer and larger, so small ponds, dog parks and most rivers are not covered, and clouds can hide a lake for weeks. It never changes the advisory status above.
Satellite estimates: U.S. EPA Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN), from Copernicus Sentinel-3 data. Provisional, research-level estimates; EPA does not endorse this site. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
Reported spots
The state records each report at a spot, such as a beach or a boat ramp. Each spot's latest deciding record:
| Spot | Status |
|---|---|
| Desert Shores | The state recorded an end date of Oct 10, 2022. |
| Salton Sea, West Shores | Warning advisory, last posted Jul 16, 2021. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Warning advisory, last posted Jul 16, 2021. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, Obsidian Butte | Warning advisory, last posted Jul 14, 2021. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, Desert Shores | Warning advisory, last posted Jul 14, 2021. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, Bombay Beach | Warning advisory, last posted Jul 14, 2021. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, West Shores | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 22, 2020. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 22, 2020. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, Obsidian Butte | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 22, 2020. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, Desert Shores | The state's latest record, from Dec 22, 2020, recommends no advisory. |
| Salton Sea, Bombay Beach | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 22, 2020. No all-clear recorded. |
| Bombay Beach at Salton Sea | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 5, 2019. No all-clear recorded. |
| Desert Shores Harbor at Capri Lane | Caution advisory, last posted Dec 5, 2019. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea at Desert Shores near Alcapulco Ln | The state's latest record, from Dec 5, 2019, recommends no advisory. |
| Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution advisory, last posted Nov 6, 2019. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea Obsidian Butte | Caution advisory, last posted Nov 6, 2019. No all-clear recorded. |
| West Shores at Salton Sea | Caution advisory, last posted Nov 6, 2019. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea south of Niland, near Alamo River outlet | The state's latest record, from Sep 12, 2019, recommends no advisory. |
| Salton Sea, near Desert Shores | Caution advisory, last posted Oct 9, 2018. No all-clear recorded. |
Advisory history
Every advisory record the state has published for Salton Sea, newest first. "None" is the state's record that no advisory was recommended on that date. "NA" records do not change a status.
| Date | Spot | State's level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2022 | Desert Shores | Caution | End date recorded: Oct 10, 2022. Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Sep 1, 2022 | Desert Shores | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Sep 1, 2022 | Desert Shores | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jun 30, 2022 | Desert Shores | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Alert-scum observed |
| Jun 30, 2022 | Desert Shores | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| May 18, 2022 | Desert Shores | None | Alert-detached mats observed |
| Apr 15, 2022 | Desert Shores | None | Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Apr 5, 2022 | Desert Shores | None | Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Salton Sea, West Shores | Warning | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Warning | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jul 14, 2021 | Salton Sea, Obsidian Butte | Warning | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jul 14, 2021 | Salton Sea, Desert Shores | Warning | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jul 14, 2021 | Salton Sea, Bombay Beach | Warning | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Dec 22, 2020 | Salton Sea, West Shores | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Dec 22, 2020 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Dec 22, 2020 | Salton Sea, Obsidian Butte | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Dec 22, 2020 | Salton Sea, Desert Shores | None | Testing results below posting triggers |
| Dec 22, 2020 | Salton Sea, Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Dec 5, 2019 | Bombay Beach at Salton Sea | Caution | |
| Dec 5, 2019 | Desert Shores Harbor at Capri Lane | Caution | |
| Dec 5, 2019 | Salton Sea at Desert Shores near Alcapulco Ln | None | |
| Nov 6, 2019 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | |
| Nov 6, 2019 | Salton Sea Obsidian Butte | Caution | |
| Nov 6, 2019 | West Shores at Salton Sea | Caution | |
| Sep 12, 2019 | Salton Sea south of Niland, near Alamo River outlet | None | |
| Oct 9, 2018 | Salton Sea, near Desert Shores | Caution |
Source
Advisory data: California State Water Resources Control Board, Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Program, via data.ca.gov (public domain). Advisories are recommendations; reporting is voluntary and incomplete. The state's data. An advisory ends only when the state records a later "None" (no advisory recommended) at the same spot, or an end date. A blank end date is unknown.