2 Swimming Areas to Reopen Saturday at Castaic Lake

Two swimming areas in Castaic Lake are scheduled to reopen Saturday, but two other areas will remain closed due to high levels of human waste bacteria found in the water of the popular Santa Clarita Valley recreation site.

The north and south beaches will reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday for swimming, but Hobie Beach and Paradise Cove will remain closed until further notice, said Mike Hargett, park superintendent for Castaic Lake. The beaches on the west side of the lake’s lower portion were closed Aug. 7 as a precautionary measure.

Tests performed the past two weekends determined that the water is safe for swimming at three of the four beaches, Hargett said.

Authorities chose to reopen the two beaches where a $40,000 disinfecting device was installed last month, Hargett said. The device pumps ozone into the water, which breaks down organic bacteria cells.

Two aerators were also installed in 1983 and 1991 to reduce bacteria counts, Hargett said. The devices pump cool water from the center of the lake to the shallow swimming areas.

The county-operated, state-owned beaches attract as many as 700,000 swimmers annually.