The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announces the immediate closure of Ragland Bottom Day Use Beach at Center Hill Lake in Smithville, Tenn., due to E.coli detected in the water. Buzzards are suspected and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service technicians have been contacted for support.

The area is still open for picnicking and boat launching. No other beaches at Center Hill Lake are affected. Signs have been posted and caution tape installed warning the public not to swim at this location.

 The day use volunteer will direct visitors to the Floating Mill Day Use Beach, an alternative swim area.

Follow-up testing of Ragland Bottom swimming area will continue until conditions return to acceptable levels. For any questions pertaining to the beach closure, please call the Center Hill Lake Resource Manager’s Office at 931-858-3125.

(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at  www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. The public can also follow Center Hill Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/centerhilllake.)