Esther Simplot Park Ponds Reopen After E. coli Contamination
Before the Boise River dropped low enough to open for an abbreviated float season, hundreds of people flocked to the beaches at Esther Simplot Park and Quinn's Pond for some relief from the first triple digit temps of the year. That was until the ponds closed due to E.coli contamination.
The ponds closed on June 21st after city employees detected abnormally high levels of E. coli bacteria during a weekly test. A little over a week later, the bacteria levels in Quinn's Pond were low enough to reopen it to swimmers. However, the levels on the other side of the paved path in Esther Simplot Park remained unsafe.
The City of Boise determined that dog and goose feces in the water was the main source of the bacteria but also found out that there was a problem with the stormwater retention basin next to the Esther Simplot Park ponds. According to KTVB, the city is working with ACHD to fix that filtration system. They also used clean water from Quinn's Pond to flush the Esther Simplot ponds in hopes that it would lower the levels of E. coli.
Well, as of Thursday those levels of E. coli are finally low enough to allow swimmers to enjoy the water again. All of the ponds in the park are reopened.
Dogs are still not allowed in either park or pond.