LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (June 27, 2025) — As summer heats up, several public swim beaches across Arkansas remain closed after routine testing revealed elevated levels of Escherichia coli, prompting public health advisories and renewed attention to lake safety.
The Arkansas Department of Health’s Division of Environmental Health monitors water quality at more than 200 designated public swim beaches each year. Testing is typically conducted four times monthly during the summer season, and any location with two consecutive samples exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold is immediately closed until the water tests clean twice in a row.
E. coli, a bacteria often found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, can enter lake waters through a variety of sources. These include feces from resident Canada geese, widespread feral hog populations, leaking septic systems, or poor waste disposal practices by humans or pets. Closures are often reported shortly after heavy rainfall events, which wash contaminants from the surrounding land into lakes and rivers.
According to health officials, swim beaches are most frequently closed around holiday weekends, when both recreational use and water testing frequency peak. In 2025, an increasing number of closures have been reported at sites in Benton, Cleburne, Faulkner, and Sebastian counties. Several closures remain in effect this week, as local agencies await improved testing results.
The symptoms of E. coli exposure may include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, typically developing within three to ten days. In rare cases, exposure can lead to serious complications, especially among young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Many of Arkansas’s public beaches are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with state and local agencies. When contamination is confirmed, signs are posted at the affected sites, and closures are reported to both the Arkansas Department of Health and relevant land managers.
Beaches can typically reopen one to two weeks after an initial closure, once two subsequent water samples show E. coli levels below the federal safety threshold.
Where to Find Updates
Beach closure information is updated weekly by the Arkansas Department of Health, which lists all public swim beaches currently open, closed, or under advisory. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Little Rock District & Vicksburg District) also provides updates for federal recreation areas. Local parks departments and city governments may post alerts for municipally managed beaches.
Public Health Reminders
- Before visiting an Arkansas lake this summer, residents are encouraged to:
- Check current beach status with state or local officials.
- Avoid swimming at beaches that are posted as closed.
- Keep pets out of the water in affected areas.
- Refrain from feeding waterfowl.
- Report signs of illness after swimming to a healthcare provider.
As summer recreation increases, officials stress the importance of staying informed to keep lake outings both safe and enjoyable.
Photos for this article are courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT).
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
