Is Panama Reservoir Number 1 safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Panama Reservoir Number 1 in Boulder County, Colorado is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.0 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Panama Reservoir Number 1 is a reservoir in Boulder County, Colorado covering about 0.5 sq mi, the 88th-largest of the 107 lakes SwimZone monitors in Colorado. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Panama Reservoir Number 1 has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in August 2025. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 120,766 cells/mL in August 2020.

Is it safe to swim in Panama Reservoir Number 1 right now?

Panama Reservoir Number 1 is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Panama Reservoir Number 1 have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Panama Reservoir Number 1 as of July 19, 2026 (below the satellite's roughly 10,000 cells/mL detection limit). Cyanobacteria can still appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.

Can dogs swim in Panama Reservoir Number 1?

No bloom is detected at Panama Reservoir Number 1 today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.

How often does Panama Reservoir Number 1 have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Panama Reservoir Number 1 has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in August 2025. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 120,766 cells/mL in August 2020.

How many Colorado lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 26 Colorado waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 3 more warrant caution, out of 113 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Panama Reservoir Number 1's water quality measured?

SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Panama Reservoir Number 1, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.