High levels of bacteria found
A day after high levels of bacteria forced two area beaches in Onondaga County to close, one is back open to swimmers.
Oneida Shores Park in Brewerton re-opened late this afternoon after the Onondaga County Health Department said it was safe to swim.
During a monthly water check Tuesday morning, health officials discovered high levels of coliform bacteria and closed the beach to swimmers. The same was done at the town of Cicero's William Park Beach. It remains closed and will be monitored daily until the water is safe to swim in again.
County officials say there have been no reports of illness caused by the bacteria. They blame the elevated levels on a combination of warmer than usual water temperatures, animal feces and the lack of storms or wind to recirculate the water.
Meanwhile, Taft Bay Beach in Constantia, on the lake's north shore in neighboring Oswego County, has been closed by blue-green algae, a health risk for people and pets.
(***Information from the Associated Press was used in this report***)
