Lions Park Beach now safe for swimming, bacteria levels no longer high

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- For the past few days, City of St. Joseph officials posted signs saying swimming was prohibited at Lions Park Beach because of elevated bacteria levels. After days of having E.coli in the water, the beach is now clear. 

"All of the children, they just want to run in the lake," says Jody Anders-Lowe.

She, like so many others, spent her Wednesday afternoon enjoying the Lake Michigan shoreline at Lion's Park Beach. 

Until ABC57 News explained what the little signs explaining the bacteria levels meant. 

"I didn't know until you told us," Anders-Lowe says. "I'm wondering if everyone has been notified that E. coli was in the water."

According to a report by the Berrien County Environmental Health Department, a sample taken on June 11 showed 400 E. coli per 100 ml.

The beach must be closed to swimmers if there is more than 300 E. coli per 100 ml.

"Nature maybe. There's no apparent reason as far as what we're aware of," says Nick Margaritas, the Environmental Health Manager for Berrien County.

But what about Silver Beach, which is just half a mile up the shore?

"Silver Beach has not been affected. Their results came back very well," explains Margaritas. "And we've re-sampled the beach."

Lions Park Beach is now clean and back open for swimming and fun, just in time for Father's Day weekend.

"I will run in the lake no matter how cold it is, once it's clean," says Anders-Lowe.