Bacterial Test Results for Lake Elsinore?

The Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer fun. A fair number of families will head to Lake Elsinore this summer to boat, wakeboard, fish, wade and perhaps, even swim in Lake Elsinore. On Tuesday night (5/26) the City Council is anticipated to approve an ordinance to allow swimming in designated areas from City beaches in the hope of bolstering tourism.

When contemplating water recreation it might be good to know that the waterbody is being properly monitored for potential pathogenic (disease causing) organisms. Bacterial monitoring of Lake Elsinore and posting of laboratory test results on the City’s website for public inspection has been an ongoing practice for years. However, my confidence has been shaken when I see the City has NOT posted bacterial test results during the last year. See weblink below.

http://www.lake-elsinore.org/index.aspx?page=703

I think we can safely assume that the City still has a contract with the Riverside County Health Department to perform routine bacterial sampling of the Lake. However, without seeing the laboratory test results posted on the City’s website, it’s impossible to know if the sampling is being performed and that the test results are actually within standard health guidelines.

This careless lack of oversight for such a long period of time should make citizens wonder whether the City has any qualified staff person managing Lake Elsinore (?).

Pat Kilroy (retired resident)

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