Point Lookout State Park Swimming Area Closed until Further Notice

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SCOTLAND, MD — The Maryland Park Service today announced that the public swimming area at Point Lookout State Park has been closed until further notice after elevated levels of bacteria were found in the water. The public swimming area of the park encompasses 400 feet of a three-quarter mile long beach.

St. Mary’s County Health Department officials test every swimming facility in the county each week. A test done on June 7 showed that bacterial indicator limits had been exceeded. State Park officials did not receive the results of the test from the Health Department until late Tuesday.

The beach will remain closed pending a water quality resampling done on June 14, the results of which are anticipated Friday, June 17. Any questions should be directed to the St. Mary’s County Health Department at 301-475-4399.

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June 15, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov