This Land, Your Land

Wake County reopened the swimming area at Beaverdam beach at Falls Lake State Recreation Area on Thursday.

The beach was closed July 21 because of elevated levels of the enterococci bacteria, but was reopened today after bacteria levels tested within EPA standards for two consecutive days, the county said.

The County routinely tests recreational lakes for bacteria and when levels exceed EPA standards, the area is closed to "primary contact recreation," which includes swimming or any activity where a person’s head may go underwater. The county samples these lakes weekly each summer.

Wake County also closed the waters at Beaverdam July 7 to 10, July 1 to 3 and June 9 to 12. The county closed Sandling Beach swim area at Falls Lake May 22 to 24.

As The News & Observer pointed out Saturday, while Wake County routinely tests public lakes, there's no requirement, and other counties don't.