Beach · Barnstable County · MA
Is Paines Creek safe to swim?
Recent heavy rain may have spiked bacteria since the last clear sample.
Updated July 19, 2026 · Massachusetts beach program (EPA BEACON)
SwimZone for iPhone · launching soon
Know before you get in at Paines Creek.
Get an alert the day a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.
What's in the water at Paines Creek right now
As of July 19, 2026, Paines Creek in Barnstable County, Massachusetts carries a swim caution. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.3 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Paines Creek
Paines Creek is a lake in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.
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.
Frequently asked: swimming in Paines Creek
- Is it safe to swim in Paines Creek right now?
- Paines Creek carries a swim caution today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does Paines Creek have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Paines Creek. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in Paines Creek?
- No bloom is detected at Paines Creek 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 many Massachusetts lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
- Today, 5 Massachusetts waters are under a swim advisory and 229 more warrant caution, out of 608 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Paines Creek'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 Paines Creek, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.