You may have to wait to enjoy some of the area’s beaches after they recently closed due to elevated bacteria.

Haines Park Beach in Nasewaupee is closed due to elevated bacteria levels. Otumba Beach in Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek Beach, and Crescent Beach in Algoma carry beach advisories for the same reason. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, elevated bacteria levels are reported when the E.Coli levels are higher than the recreational water quality levels. These levels can fluctuate because of delays in conventional lab analyses, which can take 18-24 hours.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends people don’t swim at beaches with elevated bacteria levels, especially small children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Symptoms of exposure to bacteria in the water include nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, chills, fever, and rashes.

You can find the up-to-date beach advisories from the Wisconsin DNR here.