NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Once again, boaters and anglers are being warned to avoid the water in North Shore Park due to high bacteria levels.
This is the stretch of shoreline often referred to as Yankee Beach, which is right below the U.S. 41 bridge in North Fort Myers. The park is posted year-round as a non-swimming beach, but people are often seen wading in the waters.
Health officials say a routine water test completed Thursday turned up an unsafe amount of Enterococcus bacteria, and any contact may pose a high risk of disease or sickness.
Enterococcus bacteria normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of an elevated concentration of these bacteria is an indicator of pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets, wildlife or sewage.
This is the third time this year the beach has faced a closure for the same reason, with closures in January and March, not to mention numerous closing in previous years.
Water at the beach will be retested in coming days and results are expected next Tuesday.
Count on Four In Your Corner to let you know when this advisory is lifted.
