I live near a very small lake (~500 yard diameter) that looks decent to swim in. I’m new to the area so don’t know if it’s clean/safe or not. Are there databases to check this sort of thing out?
If it’s surrounded by development (yards), there’s a good chance the level of fertilizer in there is extremely bad for you. How about you pinpoint it on a map and post us the link?
Let the fish guide you. If there are trout, you are 100% clean. If there are bass you are probably okay… If there are only panfish or catfish you are getting sketchy… If there are NO FISH, then you are in a serious danger zone.
It’s called lake mallalieu. Not a ton of buildings around it. Feeds off the St. Croix River. I am taking about the small little sub lake by the blue dot, not the red.
http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/CLMN/Station.aspx?id=563121
Try contacting the Lake’s association and asking or ask the citizen lake monitoring network for further advice perhaps?
Wisconsin - you are fine. My personal concern is one and only one risk - Naegleria fowleri - who wants to die from meningitis? So if you are north of Virginia and Arkansas, you probably have very little risk. If you are in the South, it is a low statistically low risk, but a risk nonetheless and an avoidable one. Do not swim in shallow or small farm ponds from May through September, and avoid swimming in water where the pond sediment is kicked up into the water column where you are swimming.
I am located in NC and have had to avoid several summer triathlons by applying this formula. My dad was a physician. In the 1970s, he would tell my brother and I as kids not to swim in farm ponds in the summer in Virginia because of this risk. My bro became a physician and he gives me the same advice - no shallow, fresh water swimming in the South in the summer - period.
I’m in NC as well. What triathlons did you avoid? A nose plug makes that small risk even smaller
The ones I avoided were in in the east (one in particular no longer exists). You are right - the risk is water in the nose. You can google the numbers of cases per state. Deep south poses the highest risk.
If my memory is correct, someone died in recent years from using municipal water in a neti pot in Louisiana.
Most of the people that died had water forced up their nose from either jumping in the water or wakeboarding or water skiing. I’ve heard of a few who got it “swimming” but I’ve never had water forced up my nose in a Triathlon. However, since I switched to using a nose plug, I’ve noticed I don’t have any sinus problems anymore after a race
First off “the lieu” should be fine, but I’d personally not swim there regularly because you have 2 fantastic options close by. The further lake is Square Lake about 15 min drive north of Stillwater. This is an open water swim / tri lake. They have tris there. It’s a crystal clear with trout and no wake around the perimeter. I think it’s about a mile across the long way. Otherwise the beach is almost dead on 200 yds wide. So you can swim 200 yard lengths and stand up if you get tired.
Option #1 for us locals to Hudson is Perch Lake. Also loaded with open water swimmers and triathletes (especially Wed nights at 5:00). Perch is about a 10 minute drive NE for you. Crystal clear trout lake, no motors. 1 mile to swim the perimeter. Most of us swim from the beach ($25ish annual park fee). You can also swim from the south boat landing for free. Only drawback is there’s not much for shallows for beginners. It’s a 60 foot deep lake.
Come down to Florida, swim in some of our lakes and tell me the terror of our green, reptilian eating-machines doesn’t top your list of worry. 
Honestly, I’m way more afraid of water moccasins at the edge.
Wisconsin - you are fine. My personal concern is one and only one risk - Naegleria fowleri - who wants to die from meningitis? So if you are north of Virginia and Arkansas, you probably have very little risk. If you are in the South, it is a low statistically low risk, but a risk nonetheless and an avoidable one. Do not swim in shallow or small farm ponds from May through September, and avoid swimming in water where the pond sediment is kicked up into the water column where you are swimming.
I am located in NC and have had to avoid several summer triathlons by applying this formula. My dad was a physician. In the 1970s, he would tell my brother and I as kids not to swim in farm ponds in the summer in Virginia because of this risk. My bro became a physician and he gives me the same advice - no shallow, fresh water swimming in the South in the summer - period.
Is this something that I need to concerned about or HIM Augusta?
The further lake is Square Lake about 15 min drive north of Stillwater. This is an open water swim / tri lake. They have tris there. It’s a crystal clear with trout and no wake around the perimeter. I think it’s about a mile across the long way. Otherwise the beach is almost dead on 200 yds wide. So you can swim 200 yard lengths and stand up if you get tired.
That sounds amazing.
200yd “lengths” in OW, seems perfect to me for tri swim technique sessions
Yup, that’s where I did my wetsuit testing and became a believer in the free speed. Great beach for the family too!
That area also happens to be one of the favorites for local cyclists.
It sounds like the kind of thing that those new to OW swimming would really benefit from.
I wasn’t (still aren’t!) the strongest swimmer so would have liked the long pool type format in the beginning.
The ones I avoided were in in the east (one in particular no longer exists). You are right - the risk is water in the nose. You can google the numbers of cases per state. Deep south poses the highest risk.
If my memory is correct, someone died in recent years from using municipal water in a neti pot in Louisiana.
From WebMD, although I’ve read this info from other sources too.
Studies show that many people may have antibodies to N. fowleri. That suggests that they became infected with the amoeba but that their immune systems fought it off.
It’s not at all clear whether N. fowleri is a rare infection that always causes PAM and is almost always fatal, or a more common infection that only sometimes causes PAM.
So, it’s very possible that lots of people get infected with it and survive. I don’t know if that will make people less fearful or more.
I would contact your local municipality. They usually have someone who tests local waters for swimming. As far as Naegleria, it is a killer but let’s be realistic. Less than 3 cases a year throughout the country. That’s not a risk I would even consider. If odds like that control your life I doubt you would ever go out of the house.
Well each of us has his/her own pet concerns and ways of evaluating risk. I know that when I swim, water goes into my nose and often into my sinuses. I have no problem swimming in the brackish water where I live, keeping an eye out for water moccasins around and under the docks. But just not gonna take the risk of shallow, warm, freshwater pond swimming in the South. May get hit by a car someday on the road, but not going to have my brain eaten up by N. Fowleri.