DAR’s public beach closed due to high bacteria levels

GOSHEN — Upper Highland Lake at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest is currently closed due to elevated bacterial levels in the water. The lake will be tested again on Monday.

Fishing and boating are not impacted by these results, and results pertain just to the day use area of the beach and not the campground waterfront.

According to a spokesperson from the state’s Department and Conservation and Recreation, which oversees the forest and confirmed the lake is closed, the beach will reopen to swimmers if Monday’s testing shows the water is safe for swimming.

DCR conducts weekly water quality testing, required by the Department of Public Health, at all agency-managed waterfronts starting the week before Memorial Day through Labor Day, the end of the agency’s waterfront season.

Following DPH regulations, when bacterial levels are high, “No Swimming” warnings are posted on site immediately after receiving test results.

A variety of factors can cause water quality to change rapidly within the waterbody, including rainfall, stormwater outflows, failed septic systems leaching the watershed, and animals near the water, including waste from geese and other animals.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.