By Celeste Katz Marston — Celeste@theconcordbridge.org
Bacteria, yes. Breaststroke, no.
Last Sunday, so many nature lovers tried for a beach day at Walden Pond that the state had to cut off access for “public safety” after it hit capacity.
But days later, it was bacteria that forced a closure.
“Walden Pond main beach is posted until further notice,” the state reservation posted on X Wednesday. “Weekly water quality test failed, high bacteria count, swimming may cause illness.”
The post remained pinned to Walden’s X feed early Saturday morning.
Thoreau’s beloved body of water wasn’t the only one with the red flag raised.
Also under state Department of Conservation and Recreation no-swim warnings late Friday: Beaman’s Pond Beach at Otter River State Forest, Houghton’s Pond at Blue Hills Reservation, Cold River Pool Beach at Mohawk Trail State Forest, and Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation.
The DCR website explains that the agency “regularly tests the water at public swimming beaches. We post warning signs and a red flag whenever bacteria levels exceed limits safe for water activities.”
DCR’s site further warns, “Contact with some bacteria can make you feel ill. Do not swim or enter the water at posted locations to avoid risk of illness. We keep testing until our tests show that the water is clean for swimming.”
Bacteria levels haven’t been the only thing creeping up at the famed pond.
Walden has also been under state restriction recently for high water levels, with limited parking and beach access.
“Due to elevated water levels, Red Cross Beach is not currently accessible and Main Beach is submerged to the retaining wall in most areas,” DCR reported late Friday night.
“Lifeguards will be present weekends only starting [Saturday], May 25. Restrictions will continue until water levels recede.”
