Weekend warning: 4 St. Lucie River sites test positive for high levels of enteric bacteria

If you hope to dodge rain drops and head to the water this Memorial Day weekend, stay out of the St. Lucie River around Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart and the river's North Fork in Port St. Lucie.

The Florida Department of Health at Martin County issued a warning Friday stating river water near the bridge has high levels of enteric bacteria, an indication of fecal pollution.

A similar warning remains in effect for the second week at three sites along the North Fork: River Park Marina, Veterans Park boat ramp and the Westmoreland canoe launch site, all in Port St. Lucie.

More: Subtropical Storm Alberto to bring rain over Memorial Day weekend

Enteric bacteria inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The bacteria can come from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage.

Potential health risks for those who ingest or come in contact with the water include upset stomach, diarrhea, eye irritation and skin rashes.

More: See bacteria levels at coastal waters throughout Florida

The advisories in both counties will remain in effect until results show consistent readings in the good range.

River water at the Roosevelt Bridge and sites in St. Lucie County will be tested again Tuesday.

"With all this rain we're getting, I imagine the (bacteria) counts are going to stay high," said Arlease Hall, spokeswoman for the Health Department in St. Lucie County.

More: High bacteria levels in North Fork prompt advisories

Several sites along the St. Lucie, the Indian River Lagoon and Treasure Coast beaches have moderate levels of enteric bacteria:

Martin County:

Stuart Sandbar in the lagoon off Sailfish Point

Bathtub Beach

Stuart Public Beach

Stuart Causeway on the lagoon

Leighton Park on the river in Palm City

St. Lucie County:

Jaycee Park on the lagoon in Fort Pierce

Jetty Park on the ocean in Fort Pierce

All the beaches in Indian River County have low levels of bacteria. The county does not test water in the lagoon. Water at ocean and lagoon testing sites throughout Brevard County has low levels of bacteria.

The Florida Oceanographic Society gave water quality in the St. Lucie River a D-plus grade Thursday, mostly because of low salinity levels.

More: Lake Okeechobee discharges to St. Lucie River to be cut back, says Army Corps of Engineers

Runoff from almost two weeks of daily rainfall (nearly 12 inches in Stuart since May 13), including more than 11 billion gallons that's poured through the St. Lucie Lock and Dam since the Army Corps of Engineers opened gates May 15, has all but wiped out saltiness in the normally brackish estuary.

Water has not been released from Lake Okeechobee since the St. Lucie Lock and Dam gates opened.

Aside from the area around the St. Lucie Inlet, water in the lagoon is in fairly good shape, according to the oceanographic society.