Is Taylor Park Reservoir safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Taylor Park Reservoir in Gunnison County, Colorado is clear to swim. Satellite imagery measured 8,157 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, well below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Taylor Park Reservoir is a reservoir in Gunnison County, Colorado covering about 3.2 sq mi, the 19th-largest of the 107 lakes SwimZone monitors in Colorado. Satellite imagery measured 8,157 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, well below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold.

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, Taylor Park Reservoir has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in September 2021. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 225,415 cells/mL in August 2020.

Is it safe to swim in Taylor Park Reservoir right now?

Taylor Park Reservoir is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery measured 8,157 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, well below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Taylor Park Reservoir have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

Low levels. Satellite monitoring measured 8,157 cells/mL at Taylor Park Reservoir on July 19, 2026, below the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Keep an eye out for surface scum, which can concentrate quickly.

Can dogs swim in Taylor Park Reservoir?

No bloom is detected at Taylor Park Reservoir 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 Taylor Park Reservoir have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Taylor Park Reservoir has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 2 of them, most recently in September 2021. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 225,415 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 Taylor Park Reservoir'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 Taylor Park Reservoir, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.