Reservoir · Berkeley County · SC
Is Goose Creek Reservoir safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated August 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite
No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.
No blue-green algae bloom detected in the latest clear satellite image. This is a satellite estimate, not a safety guarantee, and does not replace an official advisory.
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What's in the water at Goose Creek Reservoir right now
As of August 20, 2026, Goose Creek Reservoir in Berkeley County, South Carolina has no advisory posted. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 7.2 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Goose Creek Reservoir
Goose Creek Reservoir is a reservoir in Berkeley County, South Carolina covering about 0.9 sq mi, the 14th-largest of the 16 lakes SwimZone monitors in South Carolina. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee.
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 Goose Creek Reservoir
From EPA CyAN's satellite archive
Each bar is that summer's peak EPA CyAN satellite estimate (log scale); the red cap is the part above the bloom-level threshold. Satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories.
Over 3 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2023, Goose Creek Reservoir has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 1 of them, most recently in September 2025. Those signals have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest satellite estimate was about 1,100,000 cells/mL in September 2025. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.
When to swim at Goose Creek Reservoir
It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in 1 of 3 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 Goose Creek Reservoir
- Is it safe to swim in Goose Creek Reservoir right now?
- Goose Creek Reservoir has no advisory posted today. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does Goose Creek Reservoir have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom at Goose Creek Reservoir in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026). This is a satellite estimate below the sensor's detection limit, not a guarantee: cyanobacteria can appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.
- Can dogs swim in Goose Creek Reservoir?
- No bloom is detected at Goose Creek Reservoir 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 Goose Creek Reservoir have blue-green algae blooms?
- Over 3 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2023, Goose Creek Reservoir has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 1 of them, most recently in September 2025. Those signals have been occasional rather than annual. Its highest satellite estimate was about 1,100,000 cells/mL in September 2025. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.
- How many South Carolina lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
- Today, 0 South Carolina waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 11 more warrant caution, out of 36 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Goose Creek 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 Goose Creek Reservoir, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.
Before you swim: the basics
Swim spots near Goose Creek Reservoir
All South Carolina →All 6 monitored waters nearest Goose Creek Reservoir are clear today.
| Water | Distance | Today | Algae read | Sampled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivans IslandBeach · Charleston County | 17 mi | No advisory | Not monitored | Aug 20 |
| Isle of PalmsBeach · Charleston County | 18 mi | No advisory | Not monitored | Aug 20 |
| Lake MoultrieLake · Berkeley County | 25 mi | No advisory | None detected | Aug 19 |
| Kiawah IslandBeach · Charleston County | 27 mi | No advisory | Not monitored | Aug 20 |
| Seabrook IslandBeach · Charleston County | 28 mi | No advisory | Not monitored | Aug 20 |
| Edisto IslandBeach · Charleston County | 37 mi | No advisory | Not monitored | Aug 20 |