"It [the lake]  brings a lot of people here every summer," said Celina resident Rich Standiford.

Randal Starlin and his family are visiting from Indiana. They're enjoying a lunch before going tubing.

The usually busy lake doesn't seem so crowded this summer.

"We noticed at the marina yesterday how slow it was. We were kind of surprised at that," said Starlin.

It's actually a sign of the times that's hurting business at Grand Lake St. Marys.

The Ohio EPA issued water quality advisories for the lake in May warning of toxic bacteria and since then there's been a difference.

"Our camping is down. Our weekday camping is where we are seeing it the most at," said Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Assistant Manager Brian Miller.

"It has impacted us negatively. We have had some people cancel reservations," added hotel owner Muhammed Kkokhar.

Kkokhar's hotel overlooks the lake, but the empty parking lot tells the story.

Local business owners say there's still plenty to do along the lake.

"You just want to come to the lake, look at the water, enjoy yourself, there's no reason not to come. If you're coming for fishing there's no reason not to come. If you are coming here to be on your boat, there is no reason for you to not come," urged Khokhar.

While some cancel vacations, others are changing even bigger plans.

"I even considered buying some property around the lake, but have held off on that because of the condition of the water," said a fisherman from Dayton.

Businesses lose out while boats stay docked, propellers are out of the water, and parking lots have plenty of open spaces.

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