Swimming

Barney Bear · 08-01-2017, 12:20 PM

The water out here at East Bear Island is crystal clear and seventy-seven degrees. Our guests are lovin' it! 🐻

KathyCT · 08-01-2017, 12:49 PM

We were at Weirs Beach last year, the first week of August and the lake was closed to swimming. Based on your replies it doesn't sound like it happens that often.

My name is not Bob, MeredithMan.

MeredithMan · 08-01-2017, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyCT

We were at Weirs Beach last year, the first week of August and the lake was closed to swimming. Based on your replies it doesn't sound like it happens that often.

My name is not Bob, MeredithMan.

KathyCT and Thinkxingu--

Bob & Skip...Now that is funny! I'm glad you folks have a sense of humor

Sometimes Weirs Beach can get a little gross and the authorities will shut it down to swimming, but that can be influenced by the weather, (e.g., really hot and humid, no winds, etc), and the numbers of people using the beach. I do not believe that there have been any closings this year.

Descant · 08-01-2017, 01:26 PM

Public swimming areas all over the state are routinely tested by DES for high bacteria/e.coli levels. These occur after heavy rains and runoff, and are usually very short term as follow up testing is done quickly.
Water conditions at Weirs Beach are not indicative of conditions at other locations, so "the beach area" may be closed, not "the lake".

fatlazyless · 08-01-2017, 01:34 PM

Click on the USGS buoy link up top the water temperature page, and there's five different line graphs that show water temperature, lake water height, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and ph. The USGS buoy is located just beyond the swim line at weirs beach.

The NH DES does the testing for e-coli bacteria, and will post bright orange warning signs along the beach shoreline. Some NH towns will close their public area, while others will leave the choice up to you, the beach goer/swimmer, without closing the beach/water, even though the state has posted e-coli warning signs.

Last summer, 7-acre Corcoran's Pond in Waterville Valley was posted in the sandy beach with two black and yellow e-coli warning signs from the NH DES, and the Town of Waterville Valley closed the pond to swimmers, and closed it to kayaks and paddle boards too. As far as I know, the City of Laconia will not close the water to swimmers when the NH DES posts warning signs for e-coli, and just leaves it up to the individual swimmer/water-goer while the warning signs are posted at the shoreline in the sand.

http://www.des.nh.gov/organization/d...teria_sign.gif .... the NH DES travels all across the state, testing the water at ponds, lakes, public swim pools, and hot tubs, and will post these signs in a conspicuous spot like attached to a 48" wood stake, posted into the sandy shoreline at a public beach, at the water's edge. It's up to the local town, not the state, to make a decision to actually close the area, or to leave the sign in place and let people decide for themselves to swim or not to swim .... that is the question! It always seems more than a little strange to me when these signs are posted, and people including children are choosing to go into the water what with the town lifeguard present ........ who will explain the situation ........yes, that sign is for real ........ but, it is your personal choice ..... to swim or not to swim?

That's New Hampshire for yuh .........ayuh!

08-01-2017, 12:20 PM	#1
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	*Come On In 🏊🏼♀️ 🏊🏽** The water out here at East Bear Island is crystal clear and seventy-seven degrees. Our guests are lovin' it! 🐻

08-01-2017, 12:49 PM	#2
KathyCT Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	great !! We were at Weirs Beach last year, the first week of August and the lake was closed to swimming. Based on your replies it doesn't sound like it happens that often. My name is not Bob, MeredithMan. Last edited by KathyCT; 08-01-2017 at 12:51 PM. Reason: adding text

08-01-2017, 01:34 PM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,768 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,018 Times in 740 Posts	Click on the USGS buoy link up top the water temperature page, and there's five different line graphs that show water temperature, lake water height, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and ph. The USGS buoy is located just beyond the swim line at weirs beach. The NH DES does the testing for e-coli bacteria, and will post bright orange warning signs along the beach shoreline. Some NH towns will close their public area, while others will leave the choice up to you, the beach goer/swimmer, without closing the beach/water, even though the state has posted e-coli warning signs. Last summer, 7-acre Corcoran's Pond in Waterville Valley was posted in the sandy beach with two black and yellow e-coli warning signs from the NH DES, and the Town of Waterville Valley closed the pond to swimmers, and closed it to kayaks and paddle boards too. As far as I know, the City of Laconia will not close the water to swimmers when the NH DES posts warning signs for e-coli, and just leaves it up to the individual swimmer/water-goer while the warning signs are posted at the shoreline in the sand. http://www.des.nh.gov/organization/d...teria_sign.gif .... the NH DES travels all across the state, testing the water at ponds, lakes, public swim pools, and hot tubs, and will post these signs in a conspicuous spot like attached to a 48" wood stake, posted into the sandy shoreline at a public beach, at the water's edge. It's up to the local town, not the state, to make a decision to actually close the area, or to leave the sign in place and let people decide for themselves to swim or not to swim .... that is the question! It always seems more than a little strange to me when these signs are posted, and people including children are choosing to go into the water what with the town lifeguard present ........ who will explain the situation ........yes, that sign is for real ........ but, it is your personal choice ..... to swim or not to swim? That's New Hampshire for yuh .........ayuh! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 08-01-2017 at 07:31 PM.

08-01-2017, 01:26 PM	#4
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,384 Thanks: 1,355 Thanked 1,629 Times in 1,061 Posts	Public swimming areas all over the state are routinely tested by DES for high bacteria/e.coli levels. These occur after heavy rains and runoff, and are usually very short term as follow up testing is done quickly. Water conditions at Weirs Beach are not indicative of conditions at other locations, so "the beach area" may be closed, not "the lake".