The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mountain Home Project Office has closed three swim beaches at Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes because of high E. coli levels.
The beaches affected are the Lead Hill and Oakland beaches on Bull Shoals Lake and the Panther Bay Beach on Lake Norfork, according to a news release. The unsafeE. coli levels, termed “higher than acceptable,” were discovered during a routine test conducted by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Corps officials said the high bacteria level was caused by recent flooding and possible fecal matter from local geese.
The beach closures are temporary, but swimming will not be permitted until the water at each beach is deemed safe by the health department. Alternate swim areas are available at Cranfield Park on Lake Norfork and at Tucker Hollow and Theodosia on Bull Shoals Lake.
Corps officials do not believe the main water bodies in each reservoir are affected by the bacteria, but the reservoirs have not been tested, according to the news release.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 06/22/2013