7/9/25: Keatons Lake Closure and Main Lake Updates

Main Lake and Keatons Lake Updates 7/9/2025:

A Beach Closure is in Effect at the following location until further notice:
Clubhouse Beach (1119.9 CFU/100ml)

All other beaches are OPEN. They were below Virginia Department of Health Beach Advisory Threshold (235CFU/100ml)

Keatons Lake is CLOSED for Recreational Use Due to Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) conditions.
KEATONS LAKE UPDATE 7/9/2025:

SOLitude treated Keatons Lake 07/02/25. Algae samples were collected 7/7/2025. (Timeline on receiving algae results have been more variable than E. coli results, taking about a week.)

Per LOWA HAB Response Plan, reopening Keatons Lake requires:

• Waiting at least 48 hours after treatment for product efficacy.
• Conducting post-treatment testing to confirm reduced PTOX levels.(SAMPLES TAKEN 7/7/25)
• Conducting a second round of testing approximately one week later.
• Ensuring all sample results fall below closure and advisory thresholds.

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The Lake of the Woods Environmental Resources Department is actively monitoring water quality conditions at our beaches and continuing an accelerated testing schedule in response to elevated E. coli levels following recent weather events. Below is a summary of what has occurred, the steps we’ve taken, and what members can expect next.
What Happened:
After the significant storm over the weekend of June 15, routine water testing was conducted by SOLitude on June 17 as part of our regular summer E. coli monitoring. When results were returned on June 24, some locations showed elevated E. coli levels, with the highest reading at Skyline Beach (365.4 CFU/100mL), exceeding the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) advisory threshold of 235 CFU/100mL.
Although these readings were elevated, they were not extreme. LOWA responded by issuing a “beach advisory” recommending limited water contact at the affected sites out of an abundance of caution.

Accelerated Testing:
To ensure faster results and real-time monitoring, LOWA staff began internal testing starting June 23, personally delivering water samples to the Environmental Solutions lab (ESS) in Culpeper.
June 23 Testing Results (Received June 27):
Results showed significantly elevated levels at Pleasant Grove Beach (1203.3 CFU/100mL), prompting a full closure of that beach. Other beaches were reopened, as their E. coli levels had dropped below the advisory threshold.
June 27 Testing Results (Received June 30):
These results showed a return of elevated E. coli levels at some locations. Advisories were issued for Ramsay and Clubhouse Beaches, while Mt. Pleasant Beach was closed due to a very high reading of 2,420 CFU/100mL, more than 10 times the advisory threshold.
June 30 Testing Results (Received July 1):
Advisories were issued for Edgemont, Clubhouse, Mt. Pleasant, and Skyline Beaches. Pleasant Grove Beach remained closed with a reading of 2419.6 CFU/100mL
July 2 Samples (Results received July 3): Mt. Pleasant Beach (687 CFU/100ml) and Edgemont Beach (980.4 CFU/100ml) were closed. A swim advisory was issued for Pleasant Grove Beach (387.3 CFU/100ml).
July 7 Samples (Results received July 9): See full results at Beach and Lake Statuses page
ADDITIONALLY:
Open Water Sample (7/7) Results (7/9):
Offshore Ramsay open water site (6.3 CFU/100ml)
Offshore Pleasant Grove site (12.1 CFU/100ml)
Offshore Clubhouse by the ski ramp (14.8 CFU/100ml) 

Possible Causes:
E. coli are a set of bacteria whose primary habitat is in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals including humans, pets, livestock, geese and other wildlife. E. coli reaches the water through fecal contamination from the above-mentioned animal sources. Usually, it is spread either through direct fecal input (e.g a goose defecating directly into the lake), or when stormwater runoff which has made contact with fecal material or is carrying contaminated sediments enters the lake (e.g stormwater running through a ditch containing animal waste). Once in the water, E. coli is no longer in its natural habitat and in most conditions begins to die quickly over a period of several days. While not its natural habitat, E. coli does have more ability to persist when trapped within sediments, though this depends on specific conditions. Additionally, the primary risk for E. coli in swimming areas is driven directly by nearshore conditions and fecal inputs in that immediate vicinity. E. coli levels at beaches are typically not linked to watershed wide E. coli loading or open lake conditions.
 
Sewer Infrastructure Check
In response to community concerns, LOWA has coordinated closely with the Rapidan Service Authority. RSA continues to monitor their systems in collaboration with LOWA.

What’s Next:
LOWA will continue testing at beach locations with elevated levels until E. coli levels remain safely below health-based thresholds along with standard testing at beaches within safe levels. All updates on beach advisories or closures will be communicated promptly as new data becomes available.
Member safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we manage these evolving conditions. Please continue to follow posted signs at each beach location and stay tuned for additional updates.

To follow our Beach and Lake Statuses which includes water testing results CLICK HERE

To Learn More About Swimming Advisories and other Safe Swimming Topics explore the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Swim Healthy, Virginia webpage. CLICK HERE