Salton Sea: toxic algae advisories
Salton Sea, Riverside County. See all Riverside County waters.
What the state's records say
Caution advisory, last posted May 17, 2024. 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 May 17, 2024, 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 |
|---|---|
| Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution advisory, last posted May 17, 2024. No all-clear recorded. |
| North Shore Beach and Yacht Club | Caution advisory, last posted Feb 21, 2024. No all-clear recorded. |
| State Recreation Area | The state recorded an end date of Oct 30, 2022. |
| Salton Sea, Varner Harbor | Caution advisory, last posted Aug 1, 2017. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, North Shore Beach | Caution advisory, last posted Aug 1, 2017. No all-clear recorded. |
| Salton Sea, NE lagoon | Caution advisory, last posted Aug 1, 2017. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| May 17, 2024 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | None | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Feb 21, 2024 | North Shore Beach and Yacht Club | Caution | Floating/planktonic bloom observed |
| Aug 24, 2023 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 24, 2023 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Jun 26, 2023 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Caution | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| May 26, 2023 | Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Algal mat alert sign | Advisory based on visual and toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 31, 2022 | State Recreation Area | Caution | End date recorded: Oct 30, 2022. Alert-high concentration toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 31, 2022 | State Recreation Area | Caution | End date recorded: Sep 14, 2022. Alert-high concentration toxins; Bottom/benthic bloom observed |
| Aug 31, 2022 | State Recreation Area | Caution | End date recorded: Sep 14, 2022. Alert-high concentration toxins |
| Jun 30, 2022 | State Recreation Area | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Alert-scum observed |
| Jun 30, 2022 | State Recreation Area | Caution | End date recorded: Jul 10, 2022. Advisory based on visual and toxins |
| May 26, 2022 | State Recreation Area | None | No cyano, other algae present. |
| Aug 1, 2017 | Salton Sea, Varner Harbor | Caution | |
| Aug 1, 2017 | Salton Sea, North Shore Beach | Caution | |
| Aug 1, 2017 | Salton Sea, NE lagoon | 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.