Lake Ronkonkoma Beach Closed By SC Health Department

The Suffolk County Department of Health's Office of Ecology has decided to close to bathers after water samples contained higher than normal colonies of the E-coli bacteria.

According to Mike Jensen at the Office of Ecology, the popular Lake Shore Drive destination failed three important indicators that prompt a beach closure. The lake's 30-day log average showed more than 126 colony forming units of the bacteria, and two consecutive individual samples tested higher than 235 colony forming units.  

Jensen said the office will continue to test the lake every day from here on in until those numbers drop and they can officially re-open the beach. He added that a number of factors could be contributing to the bacterial bloom, such as geese activity and the recent heavy rainfall in the area.

"The inspector who took the samples there noted that there was quite a bit of goose feces on the beach and that doesn’t help," he said. "Plus we've had at least two inches of rain recently, and, being a lake and not having residual flush can cause a build-up. There are probably quite a few factors in this case."

The beach is only closed off to swimming, so the public can still visit the lake and sun-bathe. Jensen said as soon as the beach is cleared to re-open, the office will issue a statement.