Lake Erie is under the microscope again, quite literally.
"Whenever we have a rain event, we usually are going to get positive samples," said Ottawa County Health Department's environmental health director Tracy Brown.
Brown is speaking about the recently tested bacteria levels in the water at the Inland and Erie beaches in Maumee Bay State Park.
"Usually a beach is automatically put into an advisory if it is over 235," said Brown.
That number. measured in colony forming units, or CFUs, per 100 milliliters of water.
According to data tracked by the Ohio Department of Health, measured by the Ottawa County Health Department, the Inland beach, on July 9 and reported on July 10 measured at 2,496.6 CFUs/100mL.
In Erie beach, the samples, measured on the same days, came back with 686.7 CFUs/100mL.
These numbers concern local water advocates.
"The key to it is to reduce the sources so this doesn't happen," said Sandy Bihn, an advocate with Lake Erie Waterkeeper.
Bihn has had a lifelong passion for water, and says problems with Lake Erie go beyond bacteria results. For her, it's about others doing their part to fix the issues- starting with goose poop.
"The inland lake at Maumee Bay, I believe it's from the geese on the shores, especially after this heavy rainfall," said Bihn. "It's not surprising- If (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) ODNR would have dogs to chase the geese away, we;ve generally found that they don't have the advisories."
Bihn also said farms play a role, and that farmers need to take better precautions of their land.
"Don't put any more phosphorus down than you need, for the purpose you are using it for- it's as simple as that," said Bihn.
On Friday however, people at the beach were not as alarmed. One of those being Julie Stacey, who was with other families, visiting from Cleveland, on a baseball trip.
Stacey said the water looked fine, and kids dove right in.
"The boys were playing after a hard-earned win on the baseball field, they were playing over on the sand, they got hot, they all jumped in for a dip," said Stacey. "Everyone is having an enjoyable time, no problems whatsoever."
When WTOL 11 visited the Erie beach, there was a sign designating an algae advisory, in which ODNR had collected water samples.
WTOL 11 reached out to ODNR for updates on results, and were told they are not available yet.