A vacant Fuller Lake Park beach on a hot day is a strange sight.
But that’s the reality, with Fuller Lake and Kin Park in Chemainus among the beaches in the Cowichan Valley under advisories by Island Health due to high bacteria counts in the water.
This closure usually happens at Fuller Lake regularly in late August, but the high temperatures early in the summer have accelerated the process and diminished the water quality.
Signs from the Island Health medical health officer went up Friday indicating beach advisory warnings have been posted at Fuller Lake, Kin Park, Maple Bay beach and the Estuary Nature Centre beach in Cowichan Bay reading: “Unsafe for swimming and other water contact activities. Water tests indicate high levels of bacteria which may pose a risk to your health.”
Island Health, with support from local government, will increase the frequency of testing at the locations. More information is available at Island Health’s website or by calling 250-737-2010.
– with a file from Kevin Rothbauer, Cowichan Valley Citizen.
