The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed a Center Hill Lake day-use beach over high bacteria levels.
A Facebook post said E. coli was detected in the water at the Ragland Bottom Day Use Beach in Smithville on Friday. Officials blamed vultures for the elevated levels and said wildlife technicians would be providing support.
Posted signs and caution tape warn the public not to swim at the beach until further notice. Picnicking and boat launching will be allowed in the area.
The Army Corps closed the beach earlier this month due to E. coli. Officials said non-migrant geese droppings caused the elevated levels during that incident.
A statement said follow-up testing of the Ragland Bottom swimming area will continue until conditions return to acceptable levels.
