Carbon officials are waiting for results to see if Mauch Chunk Lake will be open to swimming this Fourth of July weekend.

The swimming area was closed on Wednesday after higher levels of bacteria were found in one of the three swimming areas of the beach.

On Thursday, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that the west section of the swimming area hit a bacteria level of 276 parts per 100 milliliters, which exceeds the max level of 235 parts per 100 ml.

The other two swimming areas passed, with 6 parts per 100 ml and 14 parts per 100 ml; however, David Horvath, park director, said that no section of the swimming area is allowed to be open until all three areas are at acceptable levels.

Lukasevich said that the county isn’t 100 percent sure why only one of the three swimming areas was affected even though they are separated by maybe 100 feet. His best guess was maybe a swale drained into that portion of the lake was the reason.

Carbon County has experienced heavy rains over a several-day period recently, which is also believed to be the reason for the higher bacteria count.

On Friday morning, Horvath said the county was still waiting for the results from the latest water samples that were taken Thursday and he expected to hear from the company doing the testing later today.

“If the samples meet acceptable levels for swimming we will reopen the beach and swimming areas,” he said. “If the tests do not meet acceptable levels then the beach/swim area will remain closed. The beach is to remain closed and swimming is not permitted in any section until acceptable results are received per PA Dept of Health regulations.

“The beach/swimming area closure does not affect other areas of the park such as the picnic area and boat launch, that includes the boat rental, should anyone would wish to take the bus to the park for those activities should the beach/swim area remain closed Saturday,” Horvath added.

This weekend is big for Carbon County, with the commissioners, earlier this year, prioritizing the beach and swimming access to only Carbon County and Coaldale residents, as well as season pass holders and campers and those who rent pavilions only. It was a way to provide a more intimate recreational experience over the four-day Fourth of July holiday.

In addition, Saturday marks the inaugural run of the new Carbon Transit Bus 741, the Mauch Chunk Beach Bus, which will leave the Nesquehoning Depot and travel through Nesquehoning, into Lansford and Summit Hill and to the lake, before traveling to the east side of Jim Thorpe and back to the lake.

The schedule times and route stops can be found on the Carbon County website and the Carbon County Commissioners Facebook page. The bus runs on Saturdays only from July 1 through Labor Day. It cost $2 for a one-way trip.