Coosa River Swim Guide Week 13 Finds Four Sites with High E. Coli Levels

Coosa Riverkeeper Swim Guide Week 13 water-quality results for Northeast Alabama

NORTHEAST ALABAMA– Coosa Riverkeeper reported high E. coli levels at four recreation sites during Week 13 of its 2026 Swim Guide monitoring program.

The results, dated Thursday, Aug. 13, include classifications for 45 locations across the Coosa River watershed. Thirty-nine sites had low bacteria levels, two had moderate levels, and four had high levels.

Overall, the latest results improved from Week 12 testing, when six locations received high classifications, five had moderate levels, and 33 had low levels among 44 locations with reported classifications. (WEIS News)

Stacked bars comparing Coosa Swim Guide results: low classifications rose from 33 to 39, moderate fell from five to two, and high fell from six to four.

Four Sites Receive High-Bacteria Classifications

Coosa Riverkeeper reported high E. coli levels at the following locations:

  • Little Canoe Creek
  • Big Wills Creek
  • Cheaha Creek
  • Highway 77 Boat Ramp

Little Canoe Creek and Cheaha Creek remained in the high category for a second consecutive week.

Big Wills Creek moved from moderate to high, while the Highway 77 Boat Ramp moved from a low classification last week to high in the latest testing.

Several locations that recorded high bacteria levels during Week 12 improved this week. Hokes Bluff Mill Pond, Jack L Ray Park, and Coldwater Creek Park all moved from high to low. Risers Park improved from high to moderate.

Coosa Riverkeeper recommends against swimming at locations with high E. coli levels at the time of testing. (Coosa Riverkeeper)

Two Locations Show Moderate Bacteria Levels

Nine sites changed classifications in Week 13. Seven improved, while Big Wills Creek and Highway 77 Boat Ramp worsened to high.
Seven locations improved from Week 12, while Big Wills Creek and the Highway 77 Boat Ramp moved into the high-bacteria category.

Only two of the 45 locations received moderate classifications this week:

  • Kelly Creek
  • Risers Park

Kelly Creek remained in the moderate category for another week, while Risers Park improved from a high classification.

Big Canoe Creek at Highway 231, Black Creek, and Yellow Leaf Creek all improved from moderate readings last week to low bacteria levels this week.

At locations with moderate E. coli levels, Coosa Riverkeeper advises swimmers to use additional caution, including covering cuts and insect bites and considering keeping their heads above water. (Coosa Riverkeeper)

 

Neely Henry Lake Results

Eight of the 10 Neely Henry Lake area locations returned low bacteria readings:

  • Big Canoe Creek at Highway 231
  • Beaver Creek Slough
  • Lower Big Canoe Creek
  • Black Creek
  • Hokes Bluff Mill Pond
  • Jack L Ray Park
  • Southside Landing
  • Ten Islands

Little Canoe Creek and Big Wills Creek received the area’s two high classifications. No Neely Henry location had a moderate result this week.

The results represent a significant improvement in the number of low classifications in the Neely Henry area. Last week, only four of the 10 locations were rated low, while three were moderate and three were high.

Logan Martin Lake Results

Ten of the 12 Logan Martin Lake locations recorded low E. coli levels:

  • Upper Choccolocco Creek
  • Coldwater Creek Park
  • Lincoln Landing
  • River Bend Boat Ramp
  • Dye Creek Slough
  • Pell City Lakeside Park
  • Collins Bend
  • Clear Creek Slough
  • Logan Martin Dam Park
  • Birmingham Sailing Club

Cheaha Creek and the Highway 77 Boat Ramp received high classifications. No Logan Martin site was classified as moderate.

Coldwater Creek Park showed improvement after receiving a high result last week. Meanwhile, Cheaha Creek remained high for another week.

Lay Lake Results

Nine Lay Lake locations showed low bacteria levels:

  • North Fork Yellowleaf Creek
  • Glovers Point Park
  • Pop’s Place Boat Launch
  • Bulley Creek Slough
  • Beeswax Creek Park
  • Shelby Shores
  • Middle Lay Lake
  • Waxahatchee Creek
  • Lay Dam Boat Ramp

Kelly Creek and Risers Park received moderate classifications. No Lay Lake location received a high-bacteria classification this week.

Risers Park improved from high last week to moderate, while Kelly Creek remained moderate.

Lake Mitchell, Lake Jordan, and Tailwaters Results

All 12 locations tested in the Lake Mitchell, Lake Jordan, and tailwaters group received low bacteria classifications:

  • Yellow Leaf Creek
  • Walnut Creek
  • Higgins Ferry
  • Lower Lake Mitchell
  • Pennymotley Creek
  • Hatchet Creek at County Road 29
  • Weoka Creek Slough
  • Jordan State Ramp
  • Rapids Road Ramp
  • Corn Creek Park
  • Bonners Point
  • Upper Lake Jordan

Yellow Leaf Creek improved from a moderate classification last week to low this week. No moderate or high bacteria levels were reported anywhere in the group.

Week 13 results by area: Neely Henry had eight low and two high; Logan Martin had 10 low and two high; Lay Lake had nine low and two moderate; the remaining 12 sites were low.
All 12 Lake Mitchell, Lake Jordan and tailwaters locations received low-bacteria classifications in Week 13.

Understanding the Swim Guide Results

Coosa Riverkeeper uses a traffic-light system to help residents interpret its weekly Swim Guide findings. Green represents low E. coli levels, yellow represents moderate levels, and red indicates a high concentration of E. coli.

The organization recommends avoiding swimming at locations with high readings. It also reminds swimmers that conditions can change after testing, particularly following rainfall or pollution events. (Coosa Riverkeeper)

Swim Guide results represent conditions only at the location, date, and time each sample was collected and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that natural water is risk-free.

Complete results and additional information are available through the Coosa Riverkeeper Swim Guide. Residents can also receive weekly water-quality alerts by texting SWIMGUIDE to 205-526-4819. (Coosa Riverkeeper)

RELATED ARTICLES:

Six Coosa River Swim Guide Sites Show High E. Coli Levels in Week 12 Testing

 

Five Coosa River Swim Guide Sites Show High E. Coli Levels in Week 11 Testing

 

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