Presence of bacteria vexes Presque Isle officials

Officials are trying to determine the source.
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- High levels of E. coli bacteria have forced numerous beach closings on Presque Isle Bay, confounding officials who have been unable to determine the source.
Potentially unhealthy water conditions caused park officials to close one or more of 11 beaches for 17 days this year and 27 days last year.
"We're trying to find out what's causing it. We'd like to pinpoint where it's coming from but, right now, we just don't know," said David Rutkowski, assistant manager of Presque Isle State Park.
Still, he said, the closings show officials are doing their job to protect the public, "but we don't enjoy it."
The 27 closings last year surprised park officials because there had been only two in 2004 and none in 2003 or 2002. The only two years with more beach closings than 2005-06 was 1992-93, when there were 49.
"Last year, we were really bummed out," Rutkowski said. "We just thought it was one of those years, maybe a little more rainy ... But this year, it's more widespread. We're seeing closings along all seven miles of the park's beaches."
Officials remain stumped as they search for the source of the dangerous bacteria.
"We're still trying to determine if the E. coli we're finding is human or animal based," Rutkowski said. "The normal lake currents bring things from the west, but Mill Creek Township, which is to the west, is reporting no problems with its sewage plants. So that points to illegal sewer outflows. Or it could be caused by geese or gulls or just bad luck.
Agencies cooperating
County and state agencies and a consortium of 31 universities were brought together to work on the problem. Erie County hired two people this summer to do nothing but test water flowing into the lake.
"Everyone has a best guess, but what we don't have is all the answers," said John Olden, head of the state Department of Environmental Protection's regional watershed-management program.
Because pollution has never closed all the beaches at once, visitors to the popular park have been able to find a place to wade and swim.
"We would love to see no beach closings," said John Oliver, president of the Erie County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "But having several closed doesn't preclude most people from coming up, because they know there's seven miles of beaches on Presque Isle and we've never had them all closed at one time."
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