TIOGA, Pa. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has closed both Ives Run Beach on Hammond Lake and South Shore Beach on Cowanesque Lake after a routine water sample from each of the swimming areas revealed elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.
The beaches will remain closed to swimmers until follow-up water tests confirm that bacteria levels have returned to a safe range for public access. To ensure public awareness and prioritize safety, USACE has posted closure signs at the swimming beaches.
While both the Ives Run and South Shore Beach swimming areas are temporarily closed, the rest of the recreation areas remain open for day-use activities, including boat ramps and picnic shelters. Tioga, Hammond, and Cowanesque lakes also remain fully accessible for boating and fishing. Visitors are reminded that while other designated swimming areas across the lakes remain open on a swim-at-your-own-risk basis, everyone is urged to exercise caution and wear a life jacket when in or around the water.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a broad group of bacteria found naturally in the environment, foods, and the intestines of people and animals. While many strains are completely harmless, certain types can cause illness, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting if accidentally swallowed.
Bacteria levels in freshwater bodies like Cowanesque Lake fluctuate daily based on precipitation, water inflow, and the presence of humans or waterfowl. Contamination typically originates near the shoreline rather than in deeper water. USACE conducts water quality tests weekly to closely monitor these changing conditions.
Updates on the closure status of both beaches will be posted on the official Tioga-Hammond Lakes website and the project’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thclakes.
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About Tioga-Hammond Lakes
The Tioga-Hammond Lakes project, located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, is a unique water resources management system consisting of two separate dams: one on the Tioga River and the other along Crooked Creek. Operationally complete in 1978, the project features the 685 surface-acre Hammond Lake and the 498 surface-acre Tioga Lake, which are linked by a gated connecting channel. Both projects are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, to provide flood risk management, ecological stewardship, and diverse public recreation opportunities.
For additional information, visit the Tioga-Hammond Lakes website.
About Cowanesque Lake
Cowanesque Lake is located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania and lies on the Cowanesque River near Lawrenceville, PA. Construction of Cowanesque Dam was completed in 1980. The dam embankment is rolled rock and earthfill, 3100 feet in length and 151 feet above the lake bottom. Project purposes include flood risk management, water supply, low flow augmentation, and recreation. The Cowanesque Lake has 1,085 surface acres of water. The project offers recreation for the entire family. Boating, fishing, hunting, water-skiing, camping, picnicking, hiking, and amphitheater programs are just some of the recreational opportunities available.
For additional information, visit the Cowanesque Lake website.