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Just in time for the weekend as well as an arts festival, a local lake has been reopened to water activity.

The freshwater Trout Lake, located in John Hendry Park at Victoria Drive and East 19th Avenue in East Vancouver, was closed by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to wading and swimming on July 19 due to high E. coli levels in the water. Test samples from the lake had revealed 259 E. Coli per 100 millilitres, which exceeded the safety guidelines of less than 200 E. Coli per 100 millilitres.

VCH's water quality report updated today (August 17) states that bacteria levels are now at 150, and is deemed safe for wading and swimming again.

The reopening coincides with the Vines Art Festival, which starts today and continues until Sunday (August 17 to 19) at Trout Lake Park, also known as John Hendry Park.

Several Metro Vancouver beaches have been closed over the past few weeks due to high coliform counts but have since reopened, including Kitsilano Beach and Point, Jericho Beach (which reopened in time for a beach cleanup to be held tomorrow), Sunset Beach, and English Bay, and three West Vancouver beaches.

Warm temperatures and increased human and animal activity on or near the water are among the factors that can contribute to increases in bacteria levels.

One beach in the coastal region that remains closed is Snug Cove on Bowen Island, which has been closed since June 20.