Low water closes four Ind. beaches

BIRDSEYE, Ind. (AP) -- The state Department of Natural Resources has closed the beach at Patoka Lake Reservoir in southern Indiana because of low water levels, the fourth beach closure by the agency caused by the drought.

The state earlier closed beaches at Salamonie Lake, 30 miles southwest of Fort Wayne, Mississinwea Lake near Peru, and Raccoon Lake near Rockville. Agency spokesman Phil Bloom says all four lakes are flood control reservoirs controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday at least 80 percent of Indiana is suffering at least a moderate drought and the state's southwestern corner has extreme drought conditions.

The dry conditions have led more than half of Indiana's 92 counties to implement open burning bans.