This Land, Your Land

Wake County reopened the recreational swimming areas at Beaverdam and Sandling beaches at Falls Lake State Recreation Area on Friday. The beaches were closed Tuesday, July 7, after elevated levels of the enterococci bacteria were detected in the water. By Friday, bacteria levels had 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 1 and reopened them on July 3 after having closed them June 9 to 12. The county closed Sandling Beach swim area at Falls Lake May 22 to 24.

The Independent Weekly has a thorough look at water contamination problems at Falls Lake. "Since the late 1990s, portions of Falls Lake have been classified as impaired by the EPA due to runoff from development. In its draft 2008 Impaired Waters report, EPA listed the entire lake as being impaired, meaning it is in violation of the federal Clean Water Act," the Independent says. "A stakeholder process to develop a clean-up plan for Falls Lake – similar to that for Jordan Lake – has been underway for several years."

Falls Lake State Recreation Area offers swimming at Sandling Beach, Rolling View and Beaverdam. The swim area at Holly Point is for campers only.