The lake concept is one of the detector design options considered for the Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO), a next-generation high-altitude gamma-ray observatory in the southern hemisphere consisting of an array of water Cherenkov detectors. With its wide energy range, wide field of view, large duty cycle, and location it will complement the other existing and planned gamma-ray observatories. In the lake concept, instead of having tanks filled with water, bladders filled with clean water are deployed near the surface of a natural or artificial lake. Each bladder is a light-tight stand-alone unit containing one or more photosensors. The prototyping efforts for the lake concept are in an advanced stage with multiple options and factors, such as the impact of chosen materials on water quality, being considered. In this contribution, we will give an update on the planning and prototyping studies for this detector design option.