For one, the summer is flying by quickly, and it's a shame more McCook-area people felt they couldn't enjoy their nearest lake because of health risks.

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For another, the camping areas are looking great, thanks to Park superintendent Nik Johanson and the four seasonal employees he has been putting to work this summer making improvements.

And, for a third point, the lake is 74.5 percent full -- a luxurious level over the recent drought years which makes at least one additional dock able to be used -- and the water temperature was a comfortable 77 degrees Friday, a great way to cool off.

We've had a three days of 100 degrees or hotter so far this summer, but that's not bad for Southwest Nebraska at the end of July. Cooler weather makes the Willow View Campground, the main campground at the lake, more inviting. The campground already had a new shower building, and new barbecue rings are being installed, along with hundreds of trees for shadier camping in the future.

Where there isn't running water, two new vault toilets have been installed at the lake, and three more will be installed next week, Johansen said. The fish cleaning station by the main dock has been repaired, and many other improvements are apparent if one takes the time to look around.

And that's just the public facilities. The marina has seen many improvements, and a check of page two of the Gazette often turns up weekly dining and entertainment specials.

Regardless of the state's verdict on the safety of any lake or reservoir, there are things we should do to avoid toxic blue-green algae -- which is actually a strain of cyanobacteria.

If you decide to swim in the lake, avoid water that has a neon green, pea green, blue-green or reddish-brown color; water with a bad odor; water surfaces that have foam, scum or a thick paint-like appearance; and green streaks on the surface, or accumulations in bays and along shorelines.

Algae tends to be pushed by the wind, and therefore can accumulate along a lake's windward shoreline. At lakes that have a toxic algae advisory, avoid water contact along the shoreline toward which the wind is blowing.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is conducting weekly and twice-monthly sampling at select public lakes that are either popular recreational lakes, or historically had toxic algae problems.

Sampling information is updated weekly on the agency's Web site, http://www.deq.state.ne.us.

So get and enjoy your favorite water sport, while the gettin' is good. If you live near McCook, Hugh Butler Lake behind Red Willow Dam is a good choice.