If you’ve been planning a summer dip at Folsom Lake, California State Parks has a heads-up: three popular swimming areas are now dealing with elevated E. coli levels, and officials want you to be smart about it.
Scientists conducting water-quality tests in late June found the bacteria at Willow Creek Day Use Area, Nimbus Flats, and Black Miners Bar Day Use Beach. Caution signs have been posted at each location, warning visitors about the increased risk of illness from the water. The good news? Most strains of E. coli are harmless. The practical news? You still need to take basic precautions if you’re heading out.
The advice from State Parks officials is straightforward: don’t drink the water (obviously), avoid swimming with open wounds, and shower after you’ve been in the lake. If you’re bringing pets, keep them out of the affected areas, rinse them with clean water afterward, and make sure they have fresh drinking water available. Paddle boarder Grace Farnesi, spotted near Nimbus Flats on a recent Wednesday, has been doing her part by reminding parents with young kids not to let them gulp lake water.“It’s great for paddle boarding, kayaking, whatever. It’s just I guess these levels rise and fall. And right now, I’ve just been seeing that they’re up,”she told reporters.
The question now is how long this will last. California State Parks will keep those caution signs in place until testing shows two consecutive weeks of E. coli levels below advisory thresholds. In the meantime, the agency is monitoring water quality in collaboration with public health officials and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. So Folsom Lake isn’t closed—just one where you’ll want to be a little more careful for a while.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
