High E. coli levels close 3 swim spots

Causes: High temperature, little rain

— Three swimming locations in Arkansas will be closed for Memorial Day weekend because of high E. coli bacteria levels.

Those closed are: Piney Bay Park swimming beach at Lake Dardanelle, Blanchard main swimming beach in the Sylamore Ranger District in Stone County and Barkshed swimming beach, also in the Sylamore Ranger District.

The E. coli bacterium in lake water comes from animal waste and causes disease in humans.

The acceptable level of E. coli is 127 coliform counts or fewer per 100 mililiters, said Terry Paul, the branch chief of environmental health at the Arkansas Department of Health.

The Army Corps of Engineers closed Piney Bay indefinitely Thursday after receiving water tests as high as 980 counts per 100 mililiters.

Paul said the water also had acceptable samples but that many things, including high temperatures or too much or too little rainfall, can contribute to high levelsof E. coli in certain parts of lakes.

“This can change in a hurry,” Paul said. “That’s why this is an advisory program.”

According to its news release, the Health Department believes that in this case, unseasonably high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have contributed to the high E. coli levels.

Piney Bay will need two consecutive days of acceptable samples to reopen, and lab testing of the samples takes about 48 hours. The Health Department will test the water daily.

Blanchard main swimming beach will need two more days of acceptable samples, and Barkshed will need one more to reopen, according to the U.S. Forestry Service.

The U.S. Forestry Service samples the locations in Sylamore Ranger District each Monday but will not do so on Memorial Day.

Gunner Pool and the upper loop swimming beach at Blanchard will both be open for swimming. Signs will indicate where the main swimming beach is closed.

Arkansas, Pages 20 on 05/26/2012

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