ROGERS -- Four of eight swim beaches at Beaver Lake are closed until further notice because of high E. coli bacteria levels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday.
The Corps will clearly mark the closed beaches with signs, said spokeswoman Laurie Driver. The cause of the elevated bacteria levels is not known at this time and could range from runoff from recent heavy rains to too-dense congregation of geese in those areas.
Boating and other water sports outside the closed areas are not affected, she said, although the regular risks are always present. Visitors are advised to either bring enough life jackets or get a loaned one from the Corps, she said.
Closed swimming areas are: Hickory Creek and Prairie Creek parks, the swim beach at Horseshoe Bend Day Use Area and the campers-only beach at Rocky Branch camping area.
Driver noted the regular swim beach at Rocky Branch remains open.
Besides the Rocky Branch swimming area, other swimming sites remaining open are: The Dam Site Day Use area, the Indian Creek area, Lost Bridge North, Lost Bridge South and War Eagle.
The closed swimming areas probably will not make much of an impact on use of the lake over the Memorial Day weekend, she said. "If I came to swim and went to a closed beach, I'd go to another one," she said.
The state Department of Health tests water samples from each swimming area every day, according to Driver. Each of the areas will open again after the department gets two clear sample results in a row, but the next test takes place Tuesday, she said.
The swimming areas are shallow spots in the lake that have little current or circulation, Driver said. The deeper portions of the lake with more circulation of water will not have much concentration of bacteria and drinking water from Beaver Lake is not affected, she said.
NW News on 05/25/2019