The council's acting environment and city compliance manager Sharomi Dayanand said it is advised that people and animals avoid contact with the water in the lake from Thursday onwards.

"High numbers of toxic blue-green algae has been detected in Lake Albert, in sufficient numbers to pose a hazard to public health," she said.

Ms Dayanand said the water from Lake Albert is unsuitable for all uses including drinking and recreational use.

"Particular care should be taken where algae can be seen, or where the water has a strong odour," she said.

"Blue-green algae can appear as specking, suspended clumps or as algal scums which take the form of green or yellow discoloured slicks on the water surface."

Wagga Boat Club commodore Mick Henderson said another blue-green algae alert was inevitable given the state of the water in Lake Albert.

"It was bound to happen due to the low water level and the way it's evaporating," he said.

"One of the machines [used by the council to suppress algae growth with ultrasound] is out of the water at the moment and sitting in the mud.

"It doesn't matter how good those sonar machines are, the algae is going to be there this year."

Mr Henderson said the lake had been left "unusable" for the past few months and the city either needed more rain or source for additional water.

"The lake is no benefit to the city financially or for tourism due to the state it's in," he said.

"Next summer we've got eight events that are due to be listed there but only if we have the water.

"At this stage we can't hold any of them, which is just money going out of the city."

Pets are at risk from the algae, with dogs especially susceptible to toxins.

The council will continue to monitor the situation and will notify the community as soon as readings are at an acceptable level.

Algal blooms generally occur in waters rich in nutrients, particularly after periods of high temperature.

The council said it will follow the Murrumbidgee Regional Algal Coordinating Committee's contingency plan to manage the bloom.