Salton Sea: toxic algae advisories
Salton Sea, Imperial County. See all Imperial County waters.
What the state's records say
Caution advisory, last posted Sep 8, 2026. No all-clear recorded.
5 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: Algae that can make toxins may be present. Keep people, children and pets away from algae and scum, and do not let pets drink the water.
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 (Caution advisory), last posted Sep 8, 2026, 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 |
|---|---|
| Species Conservation Habitat Ponds | Caution advisory, last posted Sep 8, 2026. No all-clear recorded. |
| Bombay Beach | Algal mat alert sign, last posted Aug 21, 2026. No all-clear recorded. |
| species conservation habitat ponds | The state's latest record, from Aug 7, 2026, recommends no advisory. |
| Southern lake | Caution advisory, last posted Mar 23, 2026. No all-clear recorded. |
| Causeway east of New River outlet | Caution advisory, last posted Aug 26, 2024. No all-clear recorded. |
| Causeway | Algal mat alert sign, last posted Aug 6, 2024. No all-clear recorded. |
| USGS3 | The state's latest record, from Apr 30, 2024, recommends no advisory. |
| USGS2 | The state's latest record, from Apr 30, 2024, recommends no advisory. |
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 8, 2026 | Species Conservation Habitat Ponds | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Aug 21, 2026 | Bombay Beach | Algal mat alert sign | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Species Conservation Habitat Ponds | None | Testing results below posting triggers |
| Aug 7, 2026 | species conservation habitat ponds | None | Testing results below posting triggers |
| May 12, 2026 | Bombay Beach | General awareness | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Mar 23, 2026 | Southern lake | Caution | Suspected illness reported |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| May 15, 2025 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| May 15, 2025 | Bombay Beach | Algal mat alert sign | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 26, 2024 | Causeway east of New River outlet | Caution | |
| Aug 21, 2024 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 21, 2024 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Causeway | Algal mat alert sign | Updates from routine monitoring program-organization |
| May 17, 2024 | Bombay Beach | None | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Apr 30, 2024 | USGS3 | None | Testing results below posting triggers; Updates from routine monitoring program-organization |
| Apr 30, 2024 | USGS2 | None | Testing results below posting triggers; Updates from routine monitoring program-organization |
| Aug 24, 2023 | Bombay Beach | None | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Jun 26, 2023 | Bombay Beach | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| May 26, 2023 | Bombay Beach | Algal mat alert sign | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
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.