Is Tom Steed Reservoir safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Tom Steed Reservoir in Kiowa County, Oklahoma is not recommended for swimming. Satellite imagery measured 420,749 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, above 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

Tom Steed Reservoir is a reservoir in Kiowa County, Oklahoma covering about 10.1 sq mi, the 14th-largest of the 57 lakes SwimZone monitors in Oklahoma. Satellite imagery measured 420,749 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory threshold. Larger, warmer waters like this can hold a bloom for weeks once nutrients and calm weather line up.

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, Tom Steed Reservoir has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in July 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,839,344 cells/mL in May 2024.

Is it safe to swim in Tom Steed Reservoir right now?

Tom Steed Reservoir is not recommended for swimming today. Satellite imagery measured 420,749 cells/mL of blue-green algae on July 19, 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 Tom Steed Reservoir have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

Yes. Satellite monitoring measured 420,749 cells/mL of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Tom Steed Reservoir on July 19, 2026, above the 100,000 cells/mL advisory level. Avoid swimming and keep children and pets out of the water.

Can dogs swim in Tom Steed Reservoir?

No. Blue-green algae at Tom Steed Reservoir is above the safe-contact threshold (420,749 cells/mL on July 19, 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 Tom Steed Reservoir have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Tom Steed Reservoir has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 7 of them, most recently in July 2026. This is a lake that blooms most summers. Its highest recorded reading was 1,839,344 cells/mL in May 2024.

How many Oklahoma lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 22 Oklahoma waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 2 more warrant caution, out of 64 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Tom Steed 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 Tom Steed Reservoir, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.