Beaverdam Beach at Falls Lake closed to swimmers

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County has banned swimming at Beaverdam Beach on Falls Lake off N.C. Highway 50 due to elevated levels of bacteria.

The Beaverdam access point is a popular spot for kayaking and boating.

The state Division of Parks and Recreation closed the beach after a weekly test showed bacteria levels higher than allowed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

"We are trying to prevent people from getting sick, so we'll keep sampling and reopen the lake for swimming as soon as the levels return to normal," said Tommy Esqueda, director of Wake County Environmental Services.

The beach must pass two consecutive tests before it is reopened. Esqueda said the beach could be re-opened for the holiday weekend.

Other swimming areas around the lake are open, and boating, fishing and other activities are unaffected, the county said.

Beaverdam and Holly Point beaches were closed in June of 2008 after tests detected enterococcus, a bacteria normally found in the feces of humans and many animals, in the water.

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admin4, no one is doing number 2 in the water. how can u assume that? I bet due to not having toilet paper in the bathrooms, and lack of hand cleaners people are washing diapers in the lake.

baileysmom3
July 6, 2009 12:29 p.m.

We went to falls lake over the weekend. there was no toilet paper, no paper towells or hand wash in the bathrooms. I bet some women wash their kids diapers in the water under these conditions, i did not. But i see how or why some people would. They need to keep their bathrooms stocked better. Have cleaning supplies in each and keep them sanitized better.

baileysmom3
July 6, 2009 12:27 p.m.

kellyaustin96 Not everyone who goes to the lake belong to the certian "socio-economic" class you are refering too. It is not free to get into any of these recreation areas. My family is well above the class you seem to hold in such distast and we frequent the falss lake system because we enjoy it. You sit on your high and mighty pedistal and choose to look down on people all you want but one day that boy flipping burgers at the local drive thru might just save your life. You might want to consider that before you go degrading them.

dnlsofdurham
July 1, 2009 5:22 p.m.

1) They check the water all the time. They check the water at many varied locations.

2) It is always a "swimming" area that has bacteria issues.

3) If the entire lake had the same issues as Sandling and Beaverdam, they would shut down the entire lake. No camping, boating or swimming.

4) They test the water at the intake valve every day.

5)Sandling and Beaverdam are used by people who want access to free recreation. They do not have the economic means to pay for recreation. These socio-economic levels do not understand or wish to follow good personal hygiene standards. Hey if it is good enough for my job at Burger King then it is good enough for when I swim.

Think about that the next time you get ready to buy your precious snowflake a happy meal. The guy who swims in his own filfth is making Ashley's burger.

kellyaustin96
July 1, 2009 4:34 p.m.

Cocker_Mom is correct. Kerr Lake and Hyco Lake have the same wildlife and swimmers. Falls Lake was built as water source for North Raleigh development. It was not wanted by landowners of Durham and Granville county who were displaced from farms and homes that had been in their families for generations. They would get no water from it, only more mosquitoes than you can imagine and Canada geese in our small ponds rendering them green and smelly. Their homes and land were conemned and taken for a fraction of their worth. The homes left on the critical water basin are older and have failing septic systems. Durham County has no interest in extending sewer service to anyone out here except developers. Now, shouldn't North Raleigh fork up some money to provide sewer service to these homes in an effort to clean up their own water source, that their developers and politicians forced down poor peoples throats? It's hard to ride through North Raleigh and say they don't have the money.

jmaynardgus
July 1, 2009 2:06 p.m.