Mo. closes beaches for E. coli

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is closing three swimming beaches because of high E. coli bacteria.

The Department of Natural Resources reported Thursday that beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks, Pomme de Terre and Wakonda state parks had high bacteria levels. The beaches will remain closed until the bacteria level reaches acceptable levels.

The Mark Twain park beach also will remain closed because of high water.

DNR also reported bacteria test results Thursday from a separate study of the Lake of the Ozarks. That study did not find any areas with high E. coli. It did not include samples from the state park.

That testing program is part of an environmental study at the central Missouri lake and is designed to develop a five-year baseline of the lake's health.