Following a week of being closed to swimmers, the Lake Wappapello State Park beach has been reopened.
Environmental Specialist Patricia Stafford explained that the water is tested for certain contaminants and levels of bacteria at the beginning of each week; and after the major storms blew threw the area recently, the water found at the beach had unacceptably high levels of E. coli.
Stafford explained the elevated E. coli levels as being related to increased runoff from agricultural locations nearby as a result of the heavy rainfall.
“We check the water levels at the beginning of every week,” Stafford explained. “We do that so we can get the results early enough to post for the public to know what to expect and plan for their weekend activities.”
Though the levels were considerably elevated immediately after the storms, the most recent tests have shown a significant drop in E. coli levels - making it safe for swimming once again.
E. coli levels are often an indicator of the presence of other bacterias in the water; and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has published an informational brochure on the website: https://dnr.mo.gov/beaches. In the brochure, would-be swimmers are advised to take simple precautions such as: not drinking or swallowing water from lakes, streams, ponds, or other swimming areas; never swimming with open sores or cuts/abrasions; shower with soap and clean water as soon as possible after swimming/playing in lake water; and washing hands prior to eating or drinking after swimming in the lake.
Stafford had previously explained that, as the water is tested at the beginning of every week and the information is posted for the public to review, all of the afore-mentioned information can be found online at https://dnr.mo.gov/beaches, or by calling 573-751-3443.