TRAVERSE CITY -- The first E. coli beach advisories of the summer didn't last long.
Grand Traverse County health officials reported high levels of E. coli at West End Beach, Bryant Park and East Bay Park after a Wednesday sampling. Swimmers were told to avoid water contact above the waist at Bryant and West End and avoid the water completely at East Bay Park.
But authorities lifted the advisories Friday after sampling on Thursday showed back-to-normal levels at all three beaches. Beaches at Clinch Park and Traverse City State Park showed normal readings Wednesday and weren't sampled Thursday.
"It's very typical that they do that," said Thomas A. Buss, director of environmental health at the Grand Traverse County Health Department. "Historically, when we have high levels, the next day they return to normal."
E. coli is a natural bacteria present in the intestinal tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Officials test the waters at West End, Clinch Park, Bryant Park, East Bay Park and Traverse City State Park each week.
A combination of north winds, recent rains and waterfowl activity could have been responsible for the recent spike, Buss said, but it's hard to say.
"All we can do is kind of speculate," he said.
The recent advisories were the first of the summer.
"All summer long, the beaches had been excellent, really," Buss said.
Further rain could bring more spikes in the bacteria.
"Next week, I'm hopeful it stays sunny ... typically, it's after a rain event that we see (this happen)," Buss said.
