Lake Lure Science Teacher Says Elevated E.Coli Water Sampling ‘Isn't News

A Lake Lure science teacher is facing scrutiny after criticizing recent reporting on E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria levels in western North Carolina waterways, including the Broad River, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure, calling the coverage is "trying to make people look bad” despite the data coming from a state environmental monitoring program.

E. coli is a group of bacteria that normally live harmlessly in the intestines of humans and animals. While essential for healthy digestion, certain pathogenic strains can cause severe food poisoning, stomach cramps, and diarrhea if ingested through contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“This isn’t news. It’s trying to create a story where there is none,” Calhoun wrote.

Clint Calhoun, a science teacher at Lake Lure Classical Academy, a public charter school, made the comments on social media following WCAB News reporting based on water quality results published by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). 

An E. coli level of 126 CFU/MPN per 100 mL is the primary recreational safety threshold established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for freshwater swimming and primary contact. Exceeding this geometric mean threshold indicates an elevated risk of waterborne illness from fecal contamination.

Calhoun said water quality data should be interpreted through long-term trends rather than individual sample results. 

“If this reporter’s story made you suddenly pay attention to water quality data, then you shouldn’t ever go swimming…anywhere,” Calhoun wrote. “Water quality data is never about snapshots, but rather cumulative data. If you want the true story, take a deep dive into month’s (sic) and years worth of data. Look for trends and talk to the analysts that (sic) test the samples.”

He also questioned the purpose of the reporting.

“The story that generated all of this excitement isn’t about accountability. It’s about trying to make people look bad and doing it under the protection of the 1st Amendment. Sensationalism isn’t journalism,” Calhoun wrote.

Following those remarks, a parent of LLCA students told WCAB News they were concerned about a public school science teacher dismissing reporting on government environmental data as “not news.” The parent requested anonymity, citing concerns about potential backlash within the school community.

The parent said the comments raised questions about how environmental science and public data are discussed in the classroom, particularly when the information is drawn from state monitoring systems.

The First Amendment protects five fundamental freedoms: freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Teachers must understand how to balance their own rights as public employees with the free expression and learning rights, according to the National Education Association.

A publicly available Flickr profile associated with Calhoun describes him as a naturalist, field biologist, resource manager and environmental educator. The profile states he has worked in the Hickory Nut Gorge region throughout his career and also identifies him as working for the Town of Lake Lure in the Lake Operations Department, which tasked him with gathering watershed data, according to past meeting minutes of the Lake Advisory Board.

The comments came after a report examined E. coli monitoring results collected through NCDEQ’s Recreational Water Quality Program. The state regularly samples rivers, lakes and streams across North Carolina and publishes the results through a publicly accessible online map.

The reporting cited those state-published results and included context on how E. coli is used as an indicator of potential contamination. Environmental agencies note that bacteria levels can fluctuate based on rainfall, stormwater runoff, wildlife activity, septic system issues and other factors, and that individual samples represent conditions at the time of collection.

On June 10, the water samples at the Broad River at the mouth of the lake were reported at a higher level, at 133, which is over the EPA standard of 126. The beach area tested under 30 on June 10, within "acceptable" limits, according to the state and federal guidelines. 

The town of Lake Lure uses a separate contractor for its tests and monitoring, which has led to historic discrepancies in data reports.

NCDEQ said on its website and in previous press releases that it does not determine when a river, lake or stream is “safe” to enter. Instead, the agency provides data intended to help recreational users evaluate their own level of risk.

The state’s monitoring program continues to publish water quality data as part of its ongoing environmental tracking system. 

The debate highlights a broader tension between scientific interpretation of public records and the desire to control the public perception in an area heavily reliant on tourism.

WCAB News has consistently used state and local public records — including environmental reports, inspection data, budget documents and agency databases — as part of ongoing coverage of public health, infrastructure, and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in Rutherford County and western North Carolina.