Lake Jackson is a very clean lake. Like any water body bacteria levels increase during and immediately following rainfall that produces runoff. Sometimes following a dry period this increase can be a large increase. Over the past five years of so sampling has captured several such events. Followup sampling has shown that bacteria levels fall rapidly after such an event. The City of Florala has taken a number of steps to reduce polluted runoff at the beaches. Waterfowl numbers have been reduced, education has been done and will continue to reduce sources such as pet wastes.

These beaches at Lake Jackson in Florala are the only designated beach swimming areas in the watershed. The beaches have moderate to very heavy use. Historical data for the site is available at the Alabama Water Watch website http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org/ using the Site Code 04007032. Recently two additional site codes, 04007110 and 04007111 have been added for beaches/beach areas immediately adjacent to the east of the sampling site code 04007032 (04007010) and down the road further to the east (04007111).

The very clear water and the absence of significant tributary streams creates a lake that should have very low bacteria contamination levels unless there is a nearby nonpoint source of pollution. Control of waterfowl at the lake appears to be much improved and there is little chance of high bacteria levels except immediately following a large rain event.

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Lake Jackson (Florala) Swimming Area and 8,000 other beaches.