Lake Pueblo swim beach closed due to high bacteria levels
A swimming beach at Lake Pueblo State Park is being temporarily closed due to “high bacteria levels,” according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The department says it’s a rare move, but a routine water quality test recorded “unusually high bacteria levels” and now the Rock Canyon Swim Beach below the dam at Lake Pueblo is being temporarily closed.
CPW says the closure will last throughout the holiday weekend, and another test will be conducted next week.
“We realize that right before the 4th of July holiday is a terrible time for this to happen and for the beach to be closed,” Park Manager Monique Mullis said. “But we will not take chances on the health and safety of our visitors.”
Mullis says the reason for the bacteria spike isn’t known, but it could be due to a boost in river flows due to increased snowmelt runoff and recent rain events.
The beach is normally open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays.
CPW says follow-up test results are expected back early next week, and that’s when they’ll decide whether to reopen the swim beach or extend the closure.
