MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – UPDATE 7/19/24: Tourist Park beach is now reopened after bacteria and E. coli prompted a brief closure Thursday.
The city said water samples taken Thursday, July 18 showed bacteria levels were back to a safe level to reopen for swimming.
The city will continue to monitor the water quality at all city beaches throughout the summer.
Original 7/18/24:
The City of Marquette has announced that the beach at Tourist Park will be closed due to elevated levels of bacteria, specifically E. coli. The closure will remain in place until further notice.
Due to the beach being considered a “wet beach,” the city says these elevated levels happen after heavy rain events like the one that happened on Tuesday. During those rain events, bacteria and other things left behind by animals get washed into the water that cause the elevated levels.
The city tests the water every Wednesday, but the results for those tests take about 18 hours to be returned.
The city will be collecting water sample daily and will reopen the beach to swimming when State mandated water quality standards are met. Signs have been posted at Tourist Park.
All other beaches remain open at this time.