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High bacteria level forces closure of Slide Rock
By the Associated Press
08/07/07
PHOENIX — For the 13th time this season, the state has closed Slide Rock State Park because of high bacteria levels found in water flowing through Oak Creek.
Although the number is high, state park officials say the number of closures doesn’t mean the creek near Sedona poses a health risk to swimmers.
Instead, the state says it’s part of an ambitious program aimed at monitoring water cleanliness.
Rangers collect samples from five locations in Oak Creek, looking for high levels of bacteria that can lead to E. coli and cause illness and even death in humans.
If the bacteria levels are high, the state will then shut the recreation area down until it’s safe to go back in the water.
“We usually close it about a dozen times a year,” park manager Steve Pace said. “We might be having a bad year for bacteria this year.”
The biggest contributors to high bacteria levels are people and animals, Pace said.
Scientists can examine water samples and determine where contaminants originated.
Scientists found that humans swimming in the creek or using facilities in the area were a major source of bacteria.
Animals also played a role in high levels of bacteria. “The biggest contributor was raccoon,” Pace said. “That stands to reason because raccoons spend a lot of time around water. They also found elk, horse, deer, skunk, dogs, cows, all them were contributors.”
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