The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has announced that Ragland Bottom Day Use Beach at Center Hill Lake in Smithville has reopened as water conditions have returned to acceptable levels.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers at Center Hill Lake closed the beach abruptly Aug. 16, 2019 due to elevated levels of Escherichia coli (E. Coli.). The two other designated swimming areas at Floating Mill Recreation Area tested in the normal range and remained open. It was the second time in two weeks the beach had been closed due to high content of the bacteria in the water.

Droppings from vultures are suspected to be the culprit of the high bacteria levels at Ragland Bottom and measures are being taken to prevent future occurrences. Visitors are encouraged not to feed geese around designated swimming beaches and are asked to report any health related illness to local county health departments.

The Nashville District routinely tests water quality throughout the recreation season at its designated beaches and swimming areas at all 10 lakes in the Cumberland River Basin. For more information about water quality in Tennessee, please visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality.html. For more information about water quality in Kentucky, please visit https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water/Pages/default.aspx