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Posted: August 18, 2009

Lake Wheeler beach closed for third time in August

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Waterfowl Might Run Afoul at Lake Wheeler

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Waterfowl Might Run Afoul at Lake Wheeler

Raleigh, N.C. — Lake Wheeler in Raleigh is closed to recreational activities due to elevated levels of bacteria in the water. Wake County Environmental Services have closed the beach each Tuesday this month.

Routine tests showed levels of enterococci and E. coli, bacteria which can cause infections and lead to diarrhea, exceeded standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Acceptable levels of enterococci should not exceed 60 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters. A recent test found 218.7 cfu. Acceptable levels of E. coli are 235 cfu; a test found 1,553.1.

Authorities closed the beach after a negative test on Aug. 6, only to reopen it Aug. 8. It was closed again Aug. 11, and reopened on Monday.

The city always prohibits swimming at Lake Wheeler, but does normally allow fishing, boating and tubing.

The closure of the beach area prohibits "primary contact activities," defined as those where your head may go underwater, such as kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.

 

RELATED TOPICS: Lake Wheeler, Wake County, Raleigh

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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14 Comments


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Latest Comments
apparently all that matters is that the beach is poo'd up! I could care less about the rest of it! Maybe it's time to throw a net over the "dad gum" birds and send them down the overflow creek!
Click to view my profile time4real
August 19, 2009 3:14 p.m.
Wrong again! The majority of the lake is just as clean as any other, possibly cleaner! The only questionable, "on again, off again" area is the beach ONLY. Which leads some to believe the water fowl are to blame.
Click to view my profile tylerchapman
August 19, 2009 2:58 p.m.
then it should be permanently closed if they want to do what's best because that hole is a cess pool that no one should be in until they drain it and bleach it out!
Click to view my profile time4real
August 19, 2009 1:28 p.m.
But it's not old news. Yes the lake itself had been closed since mid 2006, however its closure was for unrelated issues. The "on again, off again" beach only closure these past few weeks has been stressful and possibly redundant, however its for the best, the city is doing what it can to ensure a safe fun park for us to enjoy.
Click to view my profile tylerchapman
August 19, 2009 10:23 a.m.
what's so funny is this story is on again, off again, on again, off again, IT'S OLD NEWS and SOoooooooooooo predictable!
Click to view my profile time4real
August 19, 2009 8:59 a.m.
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