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Boone Lake E. coli Levels Return to Safe Standards, Non-Profit Reports

After early August samples from Boone Lake revealed alarmingly high levels of E. coli near a popular swimming site, the Boone Lake Association has announced that the water quality has returned to normal as of Tuesday.

Key Takeaways

Boone Lake Association reports E. coli levels are back to normal.
Four locations were resampled: Winged Deer Park, Pickens Bridge, Point 17, and Boone Dam area.
All samples tested well within recreational criteria.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) was notified of the results.
Aug. 2 samples were the only exception to otherwise consistently safe results.

Resampling and Results

The Boone Lake Association announced on Thursday that crews had resampled four key locations: Winged Deer Park, Pickens Bridge, Point 17, and the Boone Dam area. These tests were conducted to check for the presence of E. coli in the water. According to the association, all samples tested well within recreational criteria.

Notification to Authorities

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) was promptly notified of the latest results. The Boone Lake Association stated in a social media post, "Our current samples show that those areas have returned to normal, low to no E. coli conditions and well within the TDEC standards for recreation."

Consistently Safe Results

The association also reiterated that the samples taken on Aug. 2 were the only exception to what had otherwise been consistently safe results. The Aug. 2 results had been above the threshold for safe swimming and recreation, causing initial concern among local residents and visitors.

Community Impact

The return to normal E. coli levels is a relief for the community, especially for those who frequent the popular swimming sites. The Boone Lake Association continues to monitor the water quality to ensure it remains safe for recreational activities.