Swimming Temporarily Banned At 3 CT State Parks: CTDEEP

CONNECTICUT — Gardner Lake State Park in Salem, and Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford, were closed to swimming Tueesday due to elevated levels of bacteria in the water, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Samples from both bodies of water were scheduled to be retested, but the test results will not be available for one or two days.

As such, when the two will reopen to swimming had not been confirmed.

In addition to Gardner Lake and Wharton Brook, the swimming area at Mashamoquet Brook State Park in Pomfret remains closed due to ongoing maintenance at the facility.

Each week, state officials collect water samples from swimming areas to determine whether bacteria indicator levels are safe. Heavy rains can lead to elevated levels of bacteria in the water.

"Indicator bacteria are not disease-causing pathogens but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection authorities to evaluate the potential for contamination of waterbodies," CTDEEP officials said.

The following state parks were open to swimming on Tuesday:

SHORELINE
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic
Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
Silver Sands State Park, Milford

LAKES AND PONDS
Black Rock State Park, Watertown
Burr Pond State Park, Torrington
Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
Cockaponset State Forest (Pattaconk), Chester
Day Pond State Park, Colchester
Gay City State Park, Hebron
Hopeville Pond State Park Griswold OPEN
Indian Well State Park, Shelton
Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent
Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
Pachaug State Forest (Green Falls Pond), Voluntown
Quaddick State Park, Thompson
Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield
Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury
Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middlefield