http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/nbeach2_20010802.htm In Oakland, not all of the water is fine

High E. coli counts close nine beaches August 2, 2001 BY EMILIA ASKARI FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Leah Honka blames the swans.

They may look clean and snowy white as they lounge about the beach on Wixom's Sun Lake, but they don't have the best bathroom manners.

Their feces were a major factor forcing Oakland County health officials to close nine beaches on Wednesday.

The problem: high counts of E. coli, a bacteria found in the feces of many animals including birds. High E. coli counts in lake water indicate the presence of other harmful bacteria.

Health officials say they are concerned that people swimming in contaminated lake water may develop diarrhea or other digestive disorders and fatigue.

Finnish Club beach on Sun Lake was one of those closed Wednesday. Honka, the beach manager, canceled swim classes and spent a lot of time answering questions about when the beach will reopen. She hopes soon, but she cannot be sure.

The county health department took another sample of lake water for analysis Wednesday -- "by the slide, right near where the swans like to lie around," Honka said.

Other Oakland beaches closed Wednesday were on Crooked Lake in Independence Oaks County Park; Avon Lake in Rochester Hills' Thelma Spencer Park; Sears Lake in Milford (both north and south beaches); Phillips Lake in Milford (Camp Dearborn lakes 1 and 5); Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark (Maple beach only); and Mill Pond in Springfield (Davisburg village beach at Hart Community Center).

Martindale Beach in Kensington Metropark was closed Tuesday and reopened later Wednesday.

In Macomb County, only the beach at New Baltimore Park was closed Wednesday.

Oakland officials say they believe the spate of beach closings was related to Sunday's storms. The rains hammered parts of Oakland County, easing up as they headed east into Macomb County.

Heavy rain can wash geese and swan droppings into lakes. A sudden downpour also can cause storm sewers to overflow into lakes and streams.

For details on beach closings in Oakland County, go to the county's Web site, www7.co.oakland.mi.us/beach/. For Macomb County, go to www.libcoop.net/mchd/sum--beach.htm.

Contact EMILIA ASKARI at 248-586-2606 or askari@freepress.com. Staff writer Kim North Shine contributed to this report.

-- Tess (webwoman@iamit.com), August 03, 2001