Officials expect more test results from Oneida Shores and William Park Beach later today.
View full sizeBeaches are closed at Oneida Shores county park (pictured) and William Park Beach in Cicero following a health advisory. The Onondaga County Health Department found high levels of bacteria in the water.Cicero, NY - High levels of bacteria that shut down two public beaches on Oneida Lake in Cicero Wednesday have prompted the Madison County Health Department to take a closer look the water quality at its two public beaches on the same lake.
The Onondaga County Health Department closed Oneida Shores, a county park and beach in the hamlet of Brewerton, and the town of Cicero's William Park and Beach to swimmers Wednesday after finding high levels of bacteria in the water from samples taken Monday and Tuesday. County health officials took more water samples Wednesday, and expect to know the results later today.
Oneida Shores and William Park Beach will remain closed to swimmers until daily tests show lower and safer bacteria levels, officials have said.
Life guards at Joseph F. William Memorial Park & Beach off Lakeshore Road in Cicero are continuing to inform people that they can’t swim in the lake, said Jody Rogers, director of Cicero Parks and Recreation.
“People are taking it in stride,” Rogers said. “People are very cordial and understanding. Some stayed to play in the sand or have a picnic or play on the playground; others went elsewhere.”
So far, the Cicero parks and recreation office has received no calls about the beach closure, Rogers said. “It’s not as big of a surprise to people,” she said, adding that William Park Beach closed 10 days early last year when county health officials found high levels of bacteria in the water. “The possibility (of high bacteria levels) exist.”
The high levels of bacteria are the result of several factors, including warmer than usual water temperatures, warm-blooded animal fecal matter (including geese droppings) and the lack of storms or wind to recirculate the water, said Martin Skahen, communications director for Onondaga County. Algea blooms also can add to the problem, he said.
As of Wednesday night, county health officials had not received any reports of anyone becoming ill because of the high bacteria counts, Skahen said. Some types of coliform bacteria can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, and anyone concerned about such symptoms should contact their health care provider, he said.
Madison County health officials are collecting water samples this afternoon from its two public beaches on Oneida Lake, said Geoffrey Snyder, director of the Environmental Health Division for the Madison County Health Department.
Water samples from Chapman Park in Sullivan and Lewis Point Campgrounds in Lewis Point, both on Oneida Lake in Madison County, showed acceptable levels in June and July, Snyder said. Health officials should know the results from the water samples collected today within 24 hours.
“We haven’t seen anything that would trigger us to think there are high levels of coliform bacteria that would close the beaches. We haven’t seen any algea blooms in the beach areas,” he said. “But the attention in Onondaga County got our attention so we’re out there doing our tests today.”
The Madison County Health Department regulates 13 other beaches throughout Madison County. Water samples from those beaches have come back “well below any levels of concern,” Snyder said.
Catie O’Toole can be reached at cotoole@syracuse.com or 470-2134.