Two Cordell Hull Swim Beaches Closed For Bacteria Levels

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed two swimming beaches at Cordell Hull Lake due to high traces of bacteria.

Park Ranger Spencer Taylor said that the two affected beaches are Defeated Creek Day Use in Carthage and Roaring River in Gainesboro.

“We presume that’s due to the low water levels at the lake and then we get a lot of rainfall like we’ve had in the last couple of weeks we get a lot of runoff,” Taylor said. “And as you know, the area around Cordell Hull is a lot of agriculture so we get a lot of runoff from the agriculture areas that sometimes increase the bacteria loads in the water.”

Taylor said this kind of occurrence is not abnormal. He said it happens at least once a year, every year. Taylor said that the other swim beach areas at the lake are safe.

Taylor said that they will continue testing the water every day until levels return to normal. He said it should be no later than May 1st when the water level returns to its summer height.

“We expect as the lake levels start to come up there will be more flow into the lake, there will be more water into the lake, and it will start to push everything out and start to dilute everything out,” Taylor said.