GREERS FERRY -- The Army Corps of Engineers closed four swim beaches on Greers Ferry Lake after higher-than-acceptable E. coli levels were found during routine testing by the Arkansas Department of Health, a Wednesday news release said.
The corps' Greers Ferry Project Office has closed Choctaw, Dam Site, Devils Fork and Hill Creek swim beaches until further notice. The release cited Health Department officials as saying runoff from heavy rain can trigger high levels of the bacteria.
Once bacteria levels are within the acceptable range the swim beaches wil open, the corps release said.
The Health Department has also listed several other closings of swim beaches, although specifics for the reason at each site are not given on its website.
Those include: Oakland in Marion County, Waveland Beach in Logan County, Albert Pike in Montgomery County, Lake Weddington in Washington County, Beaver Swim Beach and Lake Leatherwood in Carroll County, and Blanchard Springs in Stone County.