SURRY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The swimming advisory at Surry Mountain Lake Beach will remain in place through at least this week, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers postponing additional water quality testing because of expected heavy rainfall.

In an email Tuesday, Christie Baker, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Otter Brook and Surry Mountain lakes, said officials will not conduct additional testing this week.

“We will not be re-testing this week,” Baker said. “With the heavy rains predicted, we don’t expect to receive any better results. We will resume our regularly scheduled testing the first of next week.”

The update comes after the Corps confirmed that its most recent water samples continued to show bacteria levels above New Hampshire’s standards for safe swimming.

Officials have attributed the elevated bacteria levels to large numbers of Canada geese and their offspring using the lake. Baker previously told My Keene Now that as many as 40 geese and their young have been frequenting the area, making it a “constant battle” to manage the problem.

The swimming advisory has been in effect since July 9, when routine testing first detected bacteria levels exceeding state safety standards. Follow-up testing has continued to produce results above the state’s threshold for swimming.

The advisory applies only to the designated swimming beach. The Army Corps said all other recreation areas and park facilities at Surry Mountain Lake remain open to visitors.

According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, goose droppings can contain bacteria and parasites that may cause illnesses including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes. Canada geese are protected under federal law, making it illegal to harm, capture or kill them without authorization.

The Army Corps plans to resume its regular water quality testing schedule early next week and will provide another update once new results are available.