PORTER | Although rain and clouds kept many away from Lake Michigan on Thursday, officials are advising against swimming at four Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore beaches after water testing showed high levels of E. coli bacteria.
Samples were taken Wednesday at seven beaches between West Beach and Mount Baldy. The results showed levels of E. coli bacteria at Kemil, Central, Dunbar and Lake View above the 235 colonies per 100 milliliters that is considered unhealthy.
Kemil registered 687 colonies per 100 milliliters, Central registered 313 colonies per 100 milliliters, Dunbar registered 345 colonies per 100 milliliters and Lake View registered 1,733 colonies per 100 milliliters, according to the National Park Service's weekly beach monitoring report released Thursday.
Results from samples collected Wednesday indicate bacteria levels at all other National Lakeshore swimming waters were within water quality standards.
High levels of E. coli can indicate the presence pathogens that can cause illness.
The water temperature was reported at 73 degrees.
For information about Indiana Dunes State Park, call (219) 926-1952.
