Colorado Parks and Wildlife expanded its water contact advisory Wednesday to 10 state wildlife areas and the Las Animas Fish Hatchery along the Arkansas River following a 4.2-million-gallon untreated sewage spill in Pueblo.

The sewage entered the Arkansas River August 26 through 27. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported significantly elevated E. coli levels downstream of the spill site. An advisory issued August 30 for John Martin Reservoir State Park remains in effect.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife Water Resources staff is coordinating with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as sampling and monitoring continues. The advisory now covers the following properties, listed west to east:

Melon Valley State Wildlife Area Rocky Ford State Wildlife Area Oxbow State Wildlife Area Las Animas Fish Hatchery Purgatoire River State Wildlife Area Fort Lyon State Wildlife Area John Martin Reservoir State Park North Gateway Ponds State Wildlife Area Granada State Wildlife Area Deadman State Wildlife Area Midwestern Farms State Wildlife Area Holly State Wildlife Area

"Raw sewage can carry pathogens such as E. coli, viruses and protozoa," said Ashley Rust, PhD, CPW water quality specialist. "Out of an abundance of caution, we provide these advisories to the public."

All listed properties remain open. Until further notice, visitors should avoid swimming, wading, tubing, paddleboarding, fishing and all other activities involving direct water contact in the Arkansas River, John Martin Reservoir and fisheries on the listed properties. Visitors should also keep pets away from affected water.

For the latest water-quality data, visit cdphe.colorado.gov. For current Colorado Parks and Wildlife closures associated with summertime drought management, visit cpw.state.co.us.