Pond · Piscataquis County · ME
Is Black Pond safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated July 22, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite
No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.
Cyanobacteria No cyanobacteria bloom detected by satellite (below detection limit), imaged 2026-07-21.
SwimZone for iPhone · launching soon
Black Pond is clear today. Be the first to know when it's not.
SwimZone checks this water every day and pings you the moment a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.
What's in the water at Black Pond right now
As of July 22, 2026, Black Pond in Piscataquis County, Maine is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 21, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Black Pond
Black Pond is a pond in Piscataquis County, Maine covering about 3.5 sq mi, the 70th-largest of the 319 lakes SwimZone monitors in Maine. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 21, 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.
Bloom history at Black Pond
From EPA CyAN's satellite archive
Each bar is that summer's peak satellite reading (log scale). The red cap is the part above the advisory level.
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Black Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 1 of them, most recently in September 2024. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 174,624 cells/mL in September 2024.
When to swim at Black Pond
It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in 1 of 7 monitored summers, historically peaking around September. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.
Frequently asked: swimming in Black Pond
- Is it safe to swim in Black Pond right now?
- Black Pond is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 21, 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 Black Pond have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Black Pond as of July 21, 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 Black Pond?
- No bloom is detected at Black Pond 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 Black Pond have blue-green algae blooms?
- Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Black Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 1 of them, most recently in September 2024. Blooms here have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest recorded reading was 174,624 cells/mL in September 2024.
- How many Maine lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
- Today, 15 Maine waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 33 more warrant caution, out of 457 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Black Pond'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 Black Pond, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.
Before you swim: the basics
Swim spots near Black Pond
All Maine →Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Black Pond, 2 are flagged today.
| Water | Distance | Today | Algae read | Sampled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longley PondPond · Piscataquis County | 2.7 mi | Use caution | 41,094 cells/mL | Jul 21 |
| Brandy PondPond · Piscataquis County | 3.6 mi | Clear to swim | None detected | Jul 21 |
| Umbazooksus LakeLake · Piscataquis County | 5.3 mi | Clear to swim | None detected | Jul 21 |
| Shallow LakeLake · Piscataquis County | 6.7 mi | Advisory | 307,966 cells/mL | Jul 21 |
| Daggett PondPond · Piscataquis County | 7.6 mi | Clear to swim | None detected | Jul 19 |
| Cuxabexis LakeLake · Piscataquis County | 7.8 mi | Clear to swim | None detected | Jul 21 |