UPDATE (WKOW) -- There is some good news this Friday for those looking to take a cooling dip at one of the Madison area beaches.
Water inspectors for Public Health Madison Dane County today have lifted the blue-green algae alert at more lake beaches though others remain closed, at least for now.
Lake Mendota County Park, Warner, James Madison and Spring Harbor beach was cleared for swimming as were Olin, Schluter, B.B.Clark and Frost Woods beaches on Lake Monona.
Vilas beach on Lake Wingra and Stewart County Park lake near Mt. Horeb are also open.
Toxic blue-green algae blooms can pop up anytime so the list of open or closed beaches can change quickly.
Hot weather, high water and calm winds are all ingredients for the algae to thrive.
Inspectors warn that E.coli contamination due to recent storm water overflows can also threaten beach water quality.
They also warn that blue-green algae can bloom almost anywhere, even in the middle of a lake, not just along a shoreline.
Swimmers off of boats and water skiers need to be aware of this hazard, according to the inspectors.
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UPDATE (WKOW) -- You will have very few Madison area beach choices Friday if you had intended to cool off in lake water.
All Madison area beaches on lakes Mendota and Monona remain closed to swimming due to blue-green algae infestation.
As of Friday morning, only Vilas Park beach on Lake Wingra and Stewart Lake County park near Mt. Horeb are open for swimming.
Though the beaches themselves are open for on-shore activities, there will be no lifeguards on duty as long as the no swimming alert is in effect.
Health Inspectors are out again this morning testing the water at the various beaches to see if any can be re-opened for swimming.
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For more on this story: http://www.wkow.com/story/38513300/2018/06/26/some-madison-area-beaches-reopen