Popular Maine Beach Temporarily Closed to Swimming After E. Coli

A popular Maine beach is temporarily closed to swimming after routine water testing found elevated levels of E. coli.

According to WGME, officials at Tassel Top Park in Raymond announced Wednesday afternoon that swimming was temporarily suspended at the beach after test results showed E. coli levels above Maine’s water quality standards.

The park itself remains open, but visitors are not allowed to swim until follow-up testing shows the water is safe again.

For some beachgoers, the timing was a major disappointment. One visitor told WGME she had driven about 40 minutes from Portland to spend time at the lake, only to find out she could not get in the water, WGME reported.

Raymond Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said the Portland Water District provides weekly water testing results for 18 locations around Sebago Lake. He said Tassel Top Beach was closed to swimming after the latest results exceeded state safety standards.

Michalowski also said testing suggested waterfowl may have been in the area, which can contribute to higher bacteria levels. Elevated E. coli counts can also happen after rain, especially in places where runoff carries bacteria and other contaminants into lakes and ponds, CBS 13 said.

Ben Peierls, research director at the Lakes Environmental Association, told WGME that warmer water can also encourage bacteria growth. He explained that E. coli can come from birds, dogs, wildlife, or human waste, and that rain runoff can wash those contaminants into recreational water areas.

Tassel Top is not the only Maine beach dealing with water quality concerns. Ferry Beach in Scarborough and East End Beach in Portland also recently reported elevated bacteria levels above Maine’s safety threshold for marine waters.

Town officials say Tassel Top Beach will reopen for swimming once retesting confirms the water has returned to safe levels. Residents and visitors will be notified when the swimming closure is lifted.