17-083 Corps removes public health advisory at Chestnut Recreation Area

Published July 19, 2017

CLARKSTON, Wash.  – The Walla Walla District of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is removing public advisories to not swim in or drink shoreline river water near the Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington. Laboratory results received today from water samples taken Monday, showed no indication of high levels of fecal bacteria in shoreline river water.

Initial water-testing results received July 7, revealed fecal bacteria counts of 220 per each 100 milliliters of sample. That figure exceeds the 126 per 100 ml. that is deemed safe for swimming areas by Washington state health officials. Corps staff posted signs advising visitors of the potential health risk. Additional water samples taken July 10 showed continued unsafe levels of bacteria in the shoreline river water.

Test results from water samples taken July 17 at four shoreline locations all indicated safe levels of bacteria -- 7.8, 13, 14 and 23 per each 100 milliliters of sampled water. District natural resource management officials routinely sample shoreline river water at the Chestnut Recreation Area, even though there is no requirement to do so in recreation areas that don’t feature a designated swim beach. Corps park rangers noted the increased temperatures and waterfowl feces were the likely causes of the elevated bacteria levels.

For additional information, call the Corps' Lower Granite Natural Resources Management Office in Clarkston, Wash., at 509-751-0240.

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Contact
CENWW-PA
509-527-7020
CENWW-PA@USACE.ARMY.MIL

Release no. 17-083