Goose poop closes Table Rock Lake swim beach. Here's why it's a problem

Update: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Table Rock Project Office reopened the swim beach at Cape Fair Campground on Tuesday, June 4, after testing showed bacteria levels within the acceptable range.

Not feeding the geese may help keep Table Rock Lake swim beaches open this spring and summer.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Table Rock Project Office, recently closed the swim beach at the Cape Fair Campground, the first such closure of the spring boating, camping and swimming season.

Jay Woods, public affairs specialist with the Little Rock office, said the temporary closure is the result of higher than acceptable E. coli levels found during routine testing.

"Every year, especially around holidays, we go out and do samples at swim beaches, because we want the public to be safe," he told the News-Leader.

The swim beach at the Cape Fair Campground, which has 46 campsites, is closed until further notice. It is the first closure on Table Rock Lake this season but there have been six closures so far on Beaver Lake.

"Most of the time, it is goose poop," he said, adding this is "not unusual."

Woods said the geese tend to congregate along the shoreline, especially in spots where they are fed, and the waste they expend can seep into the designated swimming areas.

"Feeding the geese is a big issue," he said.

"We recommend you not feed the geese. That draws the geese back to that area."

The USACE has posted signs indicating high bacteria levels at the swim beach. Park rangers will reopen the beaches when test results indicate bacteria levels are within an acceptable range.

For more information on the status of other recreation areas, contact the Table Rock Project Office at 417-334-4101.Recreation information can be found online at www.swl.usace.army.mil.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: E. coli closes Table Rock Lake swim beach. Likely culprit? Goose poop