Your beach plans may have to change after a popular Sturgeon Bay spot is closed due to elevated bacteria levels.
Recent test results posted by the Wisconsin Department of Resources show that elevated bacteria levels are to blame for the closure of Otumba Park Beach until further notice. Two other areas, Sister Bay Beach and Fish Creek Beach also have elevated bacteria counts, but they are low enough to be placed at just the advisory status. Specific numbers from each of the three beaches were not available on the Wisconsin DNR website. Advisory signs are posted whenever the water quality criterion of 235 colony-forming units (CFU) of E. coli/100 ml of water is exceeded. Beaches are closed when E. coli levels exceed 1,000 CFU/100 ml, indicating a more serious risk of illness.
Beaches at Frank Murphy County Park near Egg Harbor and Newport State Park in Ellison Bay were closed earlier this month, but have since reopened with no advisories.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, research has linked swimming in polluted waters with adverse human health effects such as sore throats, diarrhea, and various infections. You can stay up-to-date on other beach closures throughout the state of Wisconsin by clicking this link.
