Eight Michigan beaches reopen after E. coli levels drop, six others closed

Health officials recently closed nine Michigan beaches due to high E. coli levels
Eight of the beaches have reopened, but six beaches in southeast Michigan are closed as of Friday
Swimmers should stay out of water infested with high levels of E. coli or risk getting sick

Eight Michigan beaches that the state recently closed because of high levels of bacterial contamination have reopened. A beach in Macomb County reopened briefly, only to close again, joined Friday by five others, all in Oakland County.

High E. coli levels from heavy rainfall runoff closed nine beaches in the last week.

After new water samples came back normal, health officials gave the go-ahead to beachgoers at five beaches on Saginaw Bay, Henes Park in the U.P., Beaverton City Park and Coldwater Park.

St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach lifted its closure Wednesday when bacteria levels fell, but the beach closed again Thursday after bacteria counts rose above the acceptable limit.

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Authorities closed other five beaches, all in Oakland County, on Friday, citing high bacteria levels from stormwater runoff.

Beaches are safe for swimming if E. coli levels are below a daily mean of 300 per 100 milliliters, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

The presence of E. coli indicates possible contamination with human or animal waste, according to the Macomb County Health Department.

E. coli levels spiked at several beaches across Michigan after heavy rains last week washed muck — along with animal feces, farm manure and sewage — into the lakes. Elevated E. coli levels led health officials to close nine beaches for swimmers’ safety.