SwimZone

Pond · Kennebec County · ME

Is Lovejoy Pond safe to swim?

Advisory

Blue-green algae is above the safe-contact threshold.

Updated July 22, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain
1.5 in
Water type
Pond
Last updated
Jul 22
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored

No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.

Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
Advisory
Tested
831,195
cells/mL
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL

Cyanobacteria 831,195 cells/mL (satellite, 7-day max), imaged 2026-07-21.

Sampled Jul 21 · EPA CyAN satellite

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There's an advisory on Lovejoy Pond right now.

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What's in the water at Lovejoy Pond right now

As of July 22, 2026, Lovejoy Pond in Kennebec County, Maine is not recommended for swimming. Satellite imagery measured 831,195 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.5 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Lovejoy Pond

Lovejoy Pond is a pond in Kennebec County, Maine covering about 0.6 sq mi, the 276th-largest of the 319 lakes SwimZone monitors in Maine. Satellite imagery measured 831,195 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above 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.

Bloom history at Lovejoy Pond

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

2020: peak 2,585,253 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level202021: peak 1,072,959 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level212022: peak 1,508,075 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level222023: peak 1,508,075 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level232024: peak 3,064,947 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level242025: peak 2,307,932 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level252026: peak 1,385,042 cells/mL — above the 100,000 advisory level26Advisory100k cells/mL

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, Lovejoy Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 3,064,947 cells/mL in June 2024.

When to swim at Lovejoy Pond

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in most monitored summers (7 of 7), historically peaking around June. 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 Lovejoy Pond

Is it safe to swim in Lovejoy Pond right now?
Lovejoy Pond is not recommended for swimming today. Satellite imagery measured 831,195 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 21, 2026, above 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 Lovejoy Pond have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Yes. Satellite monitoring measured 831,195 cells/mL of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Lovejoy Pond on July 21, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory level. Avoid swimming and keep children and pets out of the water.
Can dogs swim in Lovejoy Pond?
No. Blue-green algae at Lovejoy Pond is above the safe-contact threshold (831,195 cells/mL on July 21, 2026). Cyanobacteria toxins can be rapidly fatal to dogs, which swallow it while swimming and lick it from their fur. Keep dogs out of the water and away from any scum along the shore.
How often does Lovejoy Pond have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Lovejoy Pond has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 3,064,947 cells/mL in June 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 Lovejoy 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 Lovejoy Pond, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 22, 2026.

Before you swim: the basics

Swim spots near Lovejoy Pond

All Maine →

All 6 monitored waters nearest Lovejoy Pond are clear today.

WaterDistanceTodayAlgae readSampled
Pattee PondPond · Kennebec County4.6 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 18
China LakeLake · Kennebec County7.1 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Sheepscot PondPond · Waldo County11 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Unity PondPond · Waldo County11 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Saint George LakeLake · Waldo County11 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21
Webber PondPond · Kennebec County12 miClear to swimNone detectedJul 21