Is Salt Pond safe to swim?

As of July 19, 2026, Salt Pond in Barnstable County, Massachusetts is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 19, 2026. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.3 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Salt Pond is a lake in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. 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, Salt Pond has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.

Is it safe to swim in Salt Pond right now?

Salt Pond 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 Salt Pond have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Salt Pond 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 Salt Pond?

No bloom is detected at Salt 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 Salt Pond have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Salt Pond has not reached a blue-green algae advisory level. Conditions can still change quickly, so check the current read before you swim.

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 Salt 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 Salt Pond, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.