Beach Report 2010

July 2010 Testing the Waters

A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

twentieth AnnuAl RepoRt

Authors

Mark Dorfman

Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot

Project Design and Development

David BeckmanNatural Resources Defense Council

Jon DevineNatural Resources Defense Council

Michelle MehtaNatural Resources Defense Council

About NRDCThe Natural Resources Defense Council is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org.

AcknowledgmentsNRDC wishes to acknowledge the support of The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Campbell Foundation, Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Inc., Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pisces Foundation, The Prospect Hill Foundation, Sandler Foundation, Mary Jean Smeal Clean Water Fund, and The Summit Foundation of Washington.

NRDC would like to thank Henry Henderson, Josh Mogerman, and Mariya Stepanenko for researching and reviewing various aspects of the report this year and Carol James for distributing the report nation wide. Thank you to Alexandra Kennaugh for managing the production of the report, to Bonnie Greenfield for designing it, and to Kathryn McGrath, Will Tam, and Auden Shim for creating a dynamic presentation of the report on the NRDC website. We would also like to thank Ynes Cabral and Linda Escalante for their skillful Spanish translations and Grace Murray and Elise Marton for their proofreading assistance. Many thanks to members of our media team Sherry Goldberg, Courtney Hamilton, Elizabeth Heyd, Serena Ingre, Valerie Jaffee, Jessica Lass, Josh Mogerman, Jenny Powers, and Kate Slusark for orchestrating the release of the report to the press. Thanks to Sarah Chasis, Noah Garrison, Allen Hershkowitz, Larry Levine, Leila Monroe, Adrianna Quintero, Suzanne Struglinski, and Andrew Wetzler for releasing and blogging about the report for NRDC this year and Christy Leavitt and Piper Crowell for arranging releases by chapters of Environment America.

We wish also to thank the U.S. Environmentl Protection Agency for sharing data with us again this year, and to the state program coordinators, who provided information for the state chapters along with review of the monitoring and notification data. Thanks, especially, to all those federal, state, and local officials who work hard every day to keep our beaches clean and to clean up the sources of beachwater pollution.

NRDC President: Frances BeineckeNRDC Executive Director: Peter LehnerNRDC Director of Communications: Phil GutisNRDC Deputy Director of Communications: Lisa GoffrediNRDC Publications Director: Anthony ClarkNRDC Publications Editor: Carlita Salazar

Project Manager: Alexandra KennaughDesign and Production: Bonnie Greenfield

Copyright 2010 by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

iii Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

TesTing The WaTers: a guide To WaTer QualiTy aT VacaTion Beaches

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... v

National Overview ...........................................................................................................................................................1

Chapter 1Sources of Beachwater Pollution .....................................................................................................................................14

Chapter 2The Impacts of Beach Pollution .....................................................................................................................................20

Chapter 3Plan of Action ................................................................................................................................................................32

Chapter 4Beachwater Quality Monitoring Programs and State-by-State Results.............................................................................44

LouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichigan

AlabamaAlaskaCaliforniaConnecticutDelaware

FloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIllinoisIndiana

MinnesotaMississippiNew HampshireNew JerseyNew York

North CarolinaOhioOregonPennsylvaniaRhode Island

South CarolinaTexasVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin

FiguresFigure N-1. Regional Differences in Closing/Advisory Days, 2006–2009 .........................................................................1

Figure N-2. Regional Differences in Percent Exceedance of National Standards, 2006–2009 ...........................................2

Figure N-3. Total Closing/Advisory Days, 2000–2009 (excluding extended and permanent) ...........................................4

Figure N-4. Reported Reasons for Closings/Advisories in 2009 ........................................................................................5

Figure N-5. Report Reasons for Closings/Advisories, 2000–2009 .....................................................................................5

Figure N-6. Sources of Pollution That Caused Closings/Advisories in 2009 .....................................................................6

Figure N-7. Sources of Pollution That Caused Closings/Advisories, 2000–2009 ..............................................................6

Figure N-8. Percent Exceedance for All Coastal and Great Lakes States Combined, 2006–2009.......................................7(based on 2,655 beaches reported in each of the four years)

Figure 1-1. A Rough Illustration of the Prevalence of Combined Sewer Systems in the United States .............................15

Figure 2-1. Influence of Heavy Rainfall on Occurrence of E. coli Infections ...................................................................22

Figure 2-2. Expansion of HAB Problems in the United States ........................................................................................25

Figure 2-3. The Value of the Coastal Economy (2007) ...................................................................................................27

Figure 3-1. A Re-Engineered Stormwater Outfall in Racine, Wisconsin .........................................................................33

Figure 3-2. Lag Time Associated With Current Water Quality Monitoring and Public Notification Methods ................39

Figure 4-1. Why Don’t 2009 Percent Exceedances Match? .............................................................................................49

iv Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

TablesTable N-1. Rank of States by Percentage of Beachwater Samples Exceeding the National Standard in 2009 .....................8

Table N-2. Beaches With More than 25% of Samples Exceeding the EPA’s Single-Sample Maximum Standards ..............9for Designated Beach Areas in 2009 (limited to beaches with at least 10 total samples reported for the year

Table N-3. Repeat Offenders: 15 Beaches With More Than 25% of Samples Exceeding the EPA’s Single-Sample ..........13Maximum Standards for Designated Beach Areas, Each Year, 2006–2009 (Alphabetical by State, County, and Beach)

Table 2-1. Pathogens and Swimming-Associated Illnesses ...............................................................................................20

Table 2-2. Possible Influence of Climate Change on Climate-Susceptible Pathogens ......................................................23

Table 2-3. Algae and Their Threats to Human Health ....................................................................................................25

Table 2-4. Cost Estimates for Illnesses Associated With Polluted Water Due to Lost Wages and Medical Care ...............28

Table 3-1. Beachwater Quality Standards Required by the BEACH Act .........................................................................37

Table 4-1. State Distribution of BEACH Act Funding for Beachwater Quality Monitoring and Notification .................44for 2009 and 2010

Table 4-2. State Coastal Beachwater Quality Standards ..................................................................................................46

v Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010


Executive SummaryTwentieth Annual Report

In 2009, beach closings and advisories hit their sixth-highest level in the 20 years the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been tracking them. The continuing high number of closing and advisory days, combined with a relatively constant level of bacterial contamination at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches, suggests that our nation’s beaches require a more concerted effort to identify and control the sources of water pollution that put swimmers at risk.

For the fifth consecutive year, we were able to determine not only the number of closings and advisories, but also the number of times that each beach violated current public health standards. The percent of beach monitoring samples exceeding national health standards remained steady at 7% in 2009, equal to the level in 2008 and 2007 and down from 9% in 2006. More frequent monitoring plus 17% fewer preemptive rainfall closing and advisory days due to drier weather in some parts of the country translated into a better beach season last year for swimmers in many coastal communities. But relying on dry weather to keep contaminated runoff from polluting beachwater is not a long-term public health protection strategy. When the rains return, so do the beach closings and advisories. For example, in the Delmarva Peninsula near Washington, D.C., wetter-than-average conditions contributed to nearly three times as many closing/advisory days in 2009 as in 2008. During 2009, stormwater runoff was identified as a source of more than 80% of the closing/advisory days for which a source was identified. This indicates that there are sources of human or animal wastes that are not being adequately addressed and that are getting washed into the ocean when it rains.

PolluTed WaTer Makes Beachgoers sick

In its most recent report on waterborne disease and outbreaks associated with recreational water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that the incidence of infections associated with recreational water use has steadily increased over the past several decades.1 Data on the incidence of waterborne illness in the United States are notoriously bad because many people who get sick have no idea that ingesting contaminated water was the cause, but epidemiological studies like those that the EPA has conducted in the Great Lakes show that as many as 10% of beachgoers report getting sick after swimming at beaches that are open for swimming. With population growing in U.S. coastal areas, we can expect to see more Americans getting sick from beachwater until the sources of contamination are addressed.

PolluTed WaTer hurTs coasTal econoMies

Dirty coastal waters not only threaten our health but also hurt our economy. A stark illustration of the devastation that polluted ocean water can wreak on coastal economies is playing out this summer as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Coastal “tourism and recreation is one of the fastest-growing business sectors, enriching economies and supporting jobs in communities virtually everywhere along the shores of the United States and its

even in the relatively dry 2009 beach season, stormwater runoff contributed to more than 80% of the closing and advisory days with a reported contamination source.

vi Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

territories,” the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy states.2 That translates into new employment opportunities. In 2000, U.S. coastal tourism and recreation created 1.6 million jobs.3

iMProVed BeachWaTer MoniToring sTandards can BeTTer ProTecT PuBlic healTh

The federal public health standard is more than 20 years old, does not provide information on the full range of water borne pathogens that make beachgoers sick, and requires test methods that take 24 hours to complete. Closing and advisory decisions are based on yesterday’s samples. So even if a beach is deemed “safe” under the federal public health standard, it may still contain human or animal waste that can make swimmers sick. Under the BEACH Act, which passed in 2000, Congress required the EPA to modernize this outdated standard, but the agency has not yet done so. Four summers ago, NRDC sued the EPA to force it to comply with the BEACH Act by accelerating its timetable for proposing new stan dards, setting standards that fully protect the public, and establishing testing methods that will enable public health officials to make prompt decisions about closing beaches and issuing advisories. As a result of NRDC’s lawsuit, the EPA is moving forward in developing an improved public health standard and approving faster test methods. For the first time, a rapid test method is being used to make beach closing and advisory decisions as part of a pilot study this summer at several beaches in Orange County, California. Americans need to know that the waters in which we swim, surf, and dive are safe. At a minimum, that means that recreational waters must be tested regularly, and the results must be measured against effective health standards. When waters do not meet these standards, authorities must promptly and clearly notify the public.

PreVenTion is The BesT Way To curB Beach PolluTion

While authorities are doing a better job monitoring beaches than in the past, this monitoring reveals the extent to which our beachwaters continue to be polluted. Unfortunately, the monitoring does not reveal the cause of beachwater pollu-tion. In 2009, more than half of beach closing/advisory days were reported as due to unknown sources of contamination. Beach officials cannot clean up sources of pollution if they cannot identify them. One problem is that BEACH Act grants are currently not available for source identification and correction. NRDC is supporting federal legislation, the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act, that would increase the funding authorized for BEACH Act grants and allow them to be used for sanitary surveys, source tracking, and other means of identifying and addressing the direct sources of contamination. In the meantime, steps are being taken to support source identification and correction activities with federal funding: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants provide significant funding for bacterial source identification, and many entities have won Recovery Act funding to correct sources of beachwater contamination. The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act would provide funding to pursue these activities throughout the United States. Expanded funding should allow monitoring to cover all designated coastal beaches. Finally, it is time for the EPA and state and local authorities to seriously address the sources of beachwater pollution, which most often are stormwater and sewage pollution. Prevention is the best way to make sure that a day at the beach will not turn into a night in the bathroom or, worse, in a hospital emergency room. We have a myriad of solutions – collectively called “green infrastructure” – available today that can stop stormwater runoff and sewage overflows before they happen. Utilizing methods like green roofs, permeable pavement, roadside plantings and rain barrels – these methods are often the cheapest and most effective way to address these problem pollution sources. By stopping rain where it falls – allowing it to filter into the ground or storing it – green infrastructure prevents runoff and overflows from the start.

cuTTing gloBal WarMing PolluTion can helP aVoid BeachWaTer PolluTion

The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed, and the Senate is now considering, legislation that would cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to gradually cut global warming pollution, invest in clean energy technologies, and create millions of jobs in the new energy economy. Passing such legislation is critical to addressing a wide range of impacts of

vii Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

global warming on coastal communities, including increased storms, floods and runoff, which threaten public health. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that “[w]ater-borne diseases and degraded water quality are very likely to increase with more heavy precipitation.”4 This legislation can help avoid beachwater pollution in the future by minimizing these negative impacts of climate change.

recoMMendaTions for iMProVing BeachWaTer QualiTy and ProTecTing sWiMMers’ healTh

• The EPA and states should tighten and enforce controls on all sources of beachwater pollution. . The most economical and effective way to do this in many cases is to boost green infrastructure in coastal communities that control sewage overflowsand stormwater runoff which are consistently the largest known sources of beachwater pollution. The best way to prevent swimmers from getting sick is to clean up the water.

• The EPA should propose new health standards for beachwater quality that fully protect the public and establish testing methods that will enable public health officials to make prompt decisions about closing their beaches and issuing advisories.

• Congress should pass the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act (H.R. 2093/S. 878), which would reauthorize the federal BEACH Act of 2000, increase the authorized funding and allow that funding to be used for identifying and correcting sources of beachwater contamination, require the EPA to approve and states to use rapid test methods for monitoring beachwater pollution, and improve coordination between the public health officials who monitor beachwater and the environmental agencies who regulate the sources of beachwater pollution.

• Because climate change will exacerbate some communities’ beachwater pollution problems, Congress should also enact com prehensive climate and energy legislation to reduce emissions of global warming pollution and help communities prepare for flooding, sea level rise, increased stormwater pollution, sewer overflows, and other adverse impacts of climate change.

• Congress should substantially increase the federal appropriations available to meet clean water and beach protection needs through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, federal BEACH Act grants, and a Clean Water Trust Fund or other dedicated source of clean water funding.

• Congress should pass the Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 753/S. 937), which would require quick reporting of sewage overflows to public health authorities and to the general public, allowing prompt response to overflows in order to minimize human exposure and environmental harm.

• State and local governments should issue preemptive advisories where a correlation between rainfall and elevated bacteria levels exists or when sewer overflows or other catastrophic events jeopardize beachwater safety.

• A portion of the revenues generated by tourism should be allocated to monitoring and prevention programs to ensure that swimming in coastal waters does not jeopardize the health of beachgoers.

• Voters should support increased federal, state, and local funding for urban stormwater programs and for repairing, rehabilitating, and upgrading our aging sewer systems. The public also should support funding for maintaining and expanding natural areas—such as wetlands, shoreline buffers, and coastal vegetation—that trap and filter pollution before it reaches the beach.

* Individuals can help clean up beach pollution. Simple measures, including conserving water, redirecting runoff, using such natural fertilizers as compost for gardens, maintaining septic systems, and properly disposing of animal waste, litter, toxic household products, and used motor oil can reduce the amount of pollution in coastal waters.

viii Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

notes1 Yoder, J.S., et al., “Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks Associated With Recreational Water Use and Other Aquatic Facility-Associated Health Events—United States, 2005–2006,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 12, 2008/57(SS09) pp. 1–29, available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5709a1.htm.

2 U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century: Final Report, Washington, D.C., September 2004, p. 2, available at: http://www.oceancommission.gov.

3 Ibid., p. 31.

4 IPCC, Technical Paper IV, Climate Change and Water, June 2008, p. 103. Available at: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/climate-change-water-en.pdf.

1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010


National Overview

In 2009, the number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches reached 18,682 days nationwide, their sixthhighest level since NRDC began tracking these events 20 years ago.1 The record high of 25,643 days was reached in 2006, when a dramatic increase in the amount of rain in some parts of the country contributed to the large increase in closing/advisory days.

The overall 8% decrease in closing/advisory days from 2008 levels was dominated by decreases in the number of closing and advisory days in the West and in the Territories; many parts of the country experienced a sharp increase in the number of closing and advisory days. In the West, relatively dry conditions in Hawaii and reduced monitoring in Southern California due to budget cuts likely contributed to a 24% decrease in the number of closing and advisory days compared with 2008 (–1,695 days). In the Great Lakes region there was a modest 4% decrease (–137 days) in 2009. Four U.S. territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) reported drier conditions and a 33% decrease (–1,187 days) in 2009. Wetterthanusual conditions may have contributed to the Delmarva peninsula’s having nearly three times as many closing and advisory days as in 2008 (+177 days) and a 31% increase in New England (+482 days). Increases in the number of closing and advisory days were also seen in the southeastern United States, which had a 43% increase (+185 days), and the Gulf Coast beaches, which had an 18% increase (+491 days). The New York/New Jersey coastal area remained virtually unchanged, with an increase of 2% (+25 days).

Nationally, there was a 17% decrease in the number of preemptive closing/advisory days 4,517 in 2009 from 5,452 in 2008. More than 80% of preemptive closing/advisory days were issued because of heavy rainfall in both years.

during 2009, there were 18,682 days of closings and advisories at u.s. ocean, bay, and great lakes beaches.

0

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WestSoutheastNY-NJNew EnglandGulfGreat LakesDelmarva

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Figure n-1. regional differences in closing/advisory days, 2006–2009

regionclosing/advisory days

2006 2007 2008 2009 2009 vs. 2008Delmarva 360 303 101 278 +175%Great Lakes 3,003 3,043 3,437 3,300 –4%Gulf 3,134 4,336 2,657 3,148 +18%New England 1,746 939 1,544 2,026 +31%NY-NJ 1,093 1,455 1,481 1,506 +2%Southeast 1,307 485 426 611 +43%West 11,510 8,990 7,105 5,410 –24%


The portion of all samples exceeding national health standards remained essentially unchanged at 7% in 2009, 2008, and 2007, from 9% in 2006 (these multiyear graphs include only those beaches with monitoring data reported in each of the four years). Regionally, the Great Lakes had the highest exceedance rate (13%) in 2009, followed by New England (9%), the Gulf Coast (7%), the NYNJ coast (6%), western states (6%), the southeast (3%), and the Delmarva peninsula (3%).

Although it is tempting to expect a correlation between yeartoyear changes in water quality and yeartoyear changes in closing/advisory days, there are confounding factors that make such correlations unlikely. While yeartoyear changes in the percent of monitoring samples that exceed health standards is an objective assessment of water quality, yeartoyear changes in the total number of closing/advisory days is subject to differences in programs and practices. For example:

• Some states or localities take multiple samples at each monitoring station. When making closing/advisory decisions, beach officials might use the average value of all samples taken that day. Using this method, the average value may not exceed the standard even though one (or more) of the multiple samples does. In such a case, the beach would not be closed or put under advisory. While this is an acceptable procedure for making closing/advisory determinations, NRDC includes the results of every reported sample when calculating the percent of all samples that exceed the standard in a given year.

• Some states or localities will resample a beach after an exceedance before issuing a closing or advisory. If the resample does not exceed the standard, the beach is not put under closing or advisory.

• Many states or localities preemptively close a beach or issue an advisory without waiting for the results of beachwater monitoring if they suspect that pollution has affected beachwater quality. The reasons for these preemptive actions are highly variable, including heavy rainfall events, known sewage leaks, chemical spills, and high winds and waves.

• Some states or localities continue monitoring at beaches that are closed for more than six consecutive weeks during the reporting year; NRDC does not include extended or permanent beach closings or advisories when comparing closing/advisory days from year to year, but the monitoring data that are collected at these beaches are included in the percent exceedance analysis.

0%

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WestSoutheastNY-NJNew EnglandGulfGreat LakesDelmarva

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Figure n-2. regional differences in Percent exceedance of national standards, 2006–2009

regionnational exceedances

2006 2007 2008 2009Delmarva 4% 3% 2% 3%Great Lakes 14% 15% 13% 13%Gulf 6% 8% 7% 6%New England 5% 4% 6% 8%NY-NJ 7% 8% 5% 6%Southeast 3% 2% 3% 3%West 8% 5% 7% 7%


• Some states or localities continue monitoring at beaches that have been closed for reasons other than pollution, such as budget cuts or low attendance. While routine monitoring samples continue to be collected and their results reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the beach closing days may not be reported.

• Year-to-year changes in beach monitoring frequency could impact the total number of closing/advisory days, but not the percentage of samples that exceed health standards. For example, increasing routine monitoring from once every two weeks to once a week could decrease the number of closing/advisory days for the same number of events because the duration of many events could go from two weeks to one week.

Beach officials in all states continue to use traditional methods approved by the EPA that require about 24 hours to quantify bacterial indicator levels in beachwater samples. In July 2010, a pilot project was launched at several beaches in Orange County, California, to demonstrate the use of qPCR, a rapid method of determining bacterial levels that allows beachwater quality warning decisions to be made on the same day a sample is taken. Traditional methods will be used to analyze the samples alongside qPCR analysis, but the qPCR results will be used to determine whether warnings about beachwater quality will be issued and signs posted at the pilot study beaches. This is the first use of a rapid test method for issuing beachwater quality notifications at coastal beaches in the United States. In Pennsylvania, qPCR is used in the event of a preemptive advisory issued by the Presque Isle Beach manager to confirm within four hours that E. coli concentrations warrant issuing an advisory.2 Advisories or restrictions based on monitoring data in Pennsylvania, how ever, are deter mined solely by using the standard culturebased method, not by qPCR analysis.

Puerto Rico and a number of states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, and Rhode Island, have participated in the EPA’s National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water Studies. These studies, which were urged on by an agreement that resulted from an NRDC lawsuit against the EPA for failing to fulfill the terms of the BEACH Act, are being conducted to help gain a better under standing of bacterial indicators, swimming at the beach, and people’s health. Beachgoers are interviewed and water samples are collected and analyzed for bacteria using several analysis methods, including rapid testing. In addition to the NEEAR project, several states have conducted their own studies of rapid test methods. California has invested an estimated $3 million in rapid test method investigations, and other states that have conducted or participated in rapid test method research outside of the NEEAR studies include Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.

Beachwater quality generally depends on many complex factors, but for some beaches, predictions of beachwater quality based on a few physical measurements of daily conditions can be fairly accurately calculated. Some states have taken advantage of this and have created computer models that rely on data from physical measurements such as rainfall levels, wind speed and direction, tides, wave heights, and currents. These models rapidly prepare predictions of beach water quality and allow beaches to be closed or placed under advisory the day that bacterial levels are expected to be high, rather than 24 hours after high levels of bacteria are present. States using computer models to inform closing and advisory decisions for at least some of their beaches in 2009 were California, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Other states, including Rhode Island, Michigan, and New Hampshire, are gathering data and investigating the use of beachwater quality computer models for at least some of their beaches.

Because the water quality at many beaches is adversely impacted by contaminated stormwater runoff, another, less sophisti cated means of protecting public health is to preemptively close beaches or issue advisories when indicator bacteria levels are expected to be high after rainfall events. Twelve states reported preemptive rainfall closures or advisories at specific beaches in 2009: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Many states report that they have developed standards for issuing pre emptive rainfall advisories based on rainfall intensity or some other rainrelated factor for at least some of their eaches. States with quantitative rainfall standards include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massa chu setts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Rainfall standards are under development in New Hampshire. Some states, including California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Washing ton, issue standing advisories warning the public to avoid beachwater contact after heavy rainfall or when storm drains are running. These standing advisories are not reported in the closing and advisory data that the states send the EPA. In North Carolina, standing rainfall advisories take the form of permanent signs posted on either side of


storm drain outfalls stating that swimming between the signs is not recommended when there is water flowing through the drain.

Major Findings

This section provides a national perspective on the major findings of NRDC’s Testing the Waters report regarding 2009 beachwater quality, closings and advisories, and the sources of pollution that caused them. For more information on state programs and specific beaches, consult the individual state summaries.

Beach closings/advisories and Pollution sourcesDuring 2009, U.S. ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches had 18,682 days of closings and advisories, 45 extended closings and advisories (more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks), and 50 permanent closings and advisories (more than 13 consecutive weeks). Including extended days, the total comes to 22,757 beach closing and advisory days.

The number of beach closing and advisory days decreased 8% (–1,659 days) in 2009 from the previous year (see Figure N3).The major factors contributing to the decrease in 2009 appear to be decreased rainfall in Hawaii and a reduction in state fund ing that led to decreased monitoring (and therefore decreased monitoringrelated beach advisories) in Southern California.

Nationwide, the number of beaches monitored at least once a week increased 4% to 2,876 in 2009 from 2,753 in 2008.

The continued high level of closing advisories is an indication that serious water pollution persists at our nation’s coastal, bay, and Great Lakes beaches. Major reasons why officials closed beaches or issued advisories in 2009 were as follows (see Figures N4 and N5):

• 74% (13,801 days) were based on monitoring that detected bacteria levels exceeding beachwater quality standards (an increase from 73% in 2008, 71% in 2007, and 68% in 2006).

0

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Beaches monitoredat least weekly 18.68

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Figure n-3. Total closing/advisory days, 2000–2009 (excluding extended and Permanent)

Because of inconsistencies in monitoring and closing/advisory practices among states and the different levels of data submission over time, it is difficult to make comparisons between states or to assess trends based on the closing/advisory data.


• 21% (3,831 days) were precautionary, issued because of rainfall; at many beaches, stormwater is known to carry pollution to swimming waters. This represents a decrease from 22% in 2008, 25% in 2007, and 33% in 2006 (the latter two being relatively wet years).

• 2% (412) were due to other causes, such as dredging and algal blooms (unchanged from 2008 and 2007 levels).

• 1% (265 days) were in response to known pollution events, such as sewage treatment plant failures or breaks in sewage pipes. In other words, in these cases localities did not wait for monitoring results to decide whether to close beaches or issue advisories (no change from 1% in 2008, and down from 3% in 2007 and 2006).

0%

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event without relying on monitoring

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exceeding standard

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Figure n-4. reported reasons for closings/advisories in 2009

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s � A-Monitoring� B-Response� C-Preemptive Rainfall� D-Other� E-Modeling

Figure n-5. reported reasons for closings/advisories, 2000–2009

Key: (A) Based on monitoring that detected bacteria levels exceeding standards. (B) In response to known pollution event without relying on monitoring. (C) Preemptive due to rain known to carry pollution to swimming waters. (D) Other reason. (E) Real-time, predictive computer modeling.


• Less than 1% (9) were preemptive due to real-time computer modeling using readily measurable physical parameters such as wind speed and wave height to predict indicator bacterial levels (down from 1% in 2008, the first time NRDC was able to report this reason for beach closings and advisories).

Major pollution sources listed as responsible for 2009 beach closings and advisories include the following. The total is greater than 18,682 days and 100% because more than one source contributed to some beach closings and advisories (see Figure N6).

0%

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Unknown Polluted runoff, stormwater,

or preemptivedue to rain

Sewage spillsand overflows

Other(excluding wildlife)

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9% 10% 9%

Figure n-6. sources of Pollution That caused closings/advisories in 2009

Total exceeds 100 percent because more than one source of contamination was reported for some events.

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Figure n-7. sources of Pollution That caused closings/advisories, 2000–2009

Total days shown are greater than annual totals because more than one pollution source may have contributed to each closing/advisory. Key: (A) Sewage spills and overflows. (B) Polluted runoff, stormwater, or preemptive due to rain. (C) Unknown. (D) Other reasons (including those with no source information provided).


• Unknown sources of pollution caused 9,859 closing/advisory days (53%) in 2009, a decrease from 12,631 days (62%) in 2008 and 8,524 days (33%) in 2007.

• Polluted runoff and stormwater caused or contributed to 7,282 closing/advisory days (39%) in 2009, a decrease from 7,324 days (36%) in 2008 and 10,394 days (40%) in 2007.

• Sewage spills and overflows caused or contributed to 1,667 closing/advisory days (9%) in 2009, a decrease from 1,710 days (8%) in 2008, and 4,097 days (16%) in 2007 (includes combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, breaks or blockages in sewer lines, and faulty septic systems);

• Elevated bacteria levels from miscellaneous sources, such as boat discharges or wildlife, accounted for 3,184 closing/advisory days (17%) in 2009, an increase from 2,137 days (11%) in 2008 and 3,087 days (12%) in 2007. More than half were wildlife sources (an increase to 1,704 days in 2009 from 1,588 days in 2008).

• There was no contamination source information for 388 closing/advisory days.

Beachwater QualityFor the fifth consecutive year, NRDC used the percentage of all beachwater samples collected in 2009 that exceeded the BEACH Act’s singlesample maximum standards for designated beach areas to compare water quality at beaches ringing our nation from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California, from New England to the Florida Keys, and all along the U.S. Great Lakes shoreline. For marine waters, the standard for enterococcus density is 104 per 100 milliliters (ml); for fresh water, the standard is 235 E. coli per 100 ml.

For the 2009 beach season, the NRDC data set includes monitoring results for 126,551 samples at 3,333 beaches and beach segments (most state and local officials divide longer beaches into manage able monitoring segments), down from 132,465 samples at 3,601 beaches and beach segments in 2008, 131,977 samples at 3,516 beaches and beach segments in 2007, and 106,417 samples at 3,500 beaches and beach segments in 2006. The percent of all samples exceeding national health standards remained generally unchanged at 7% from 2007 through 2009, down from 9% in 2006. (Note: to make this fouryear comparison, NRDC includes only the 2,655 beaches reported in each of these four years.)

In 2009, beaches in Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Illinois had the highest percent of samples exceeding the EPA’S singlesample maximum standard for designated beach areas. It is important to note that while a high percent exceedance rate is a clear indication of dirty coastal recrea tional waters, it is not necessarily an indication that the state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is deficient or fails to protect public health when beachwater quality is poor. For example, four of the five states with the dirtiest beachwater always or almost always close a beach or issue an advisory when a sample exceeds the standard; that is, they do not wait for the results of a resample or check other conditions first, as some other states do. (Only a few states generally resample before issuing an advisory: Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington.) Three of the four states with the highest exceedance rates have among the highest percent of Tier 1 beaches, which are monitored more frequently than once a week (Tier 1 beaches are popu lar and/or have known pollution sources in the vicinity of the beach), a practice that is more protective of human health.

For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC high lighted beaches exceeding the national daily stan dard more than 25% of the time. In 2009, this list included 162 beaches in 20 states: AL, CA, CT, FL, HI, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OH, RI, TX, and WI (see Table N2). Chronic ally high bacteria counts indicate that the beachwater is probably contaminated with human or animal waste. Fifteen beach areas in 7 states (CA, FL, IL, NJ, OH, TX, and WI) made this list in each of the last four years, 2006 through 2009 (see Table N3).

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

2009200820072006

Exc

eed

ance

9%7% 7% 7%

Figure n-8. Percent exceedance for all coastal and great lakes states combined, 2006–2009 (Based on 2,655 Beaches reported in each of the 4 years)


Table n-1. rank of states by Percentage of Beachwater samples exceeding the national standard in 2009

rank state Percent exceedance

Total samples

all reported Beaches

Tier 1 Beaches

Percent of Tier 1 Beaches

Monitored More Than once a Week

resample or other info needed

Before action?

30 LA 25% 841 29 17 0% almost never

29 RI 20% 3,012 234 19 79% yes

28 IL 16% 4,564 60 48 98% no

27 OH 15% 2,760 62 45 100% no

26 MI 13% 5,857 635 219 6% almost never

25 IN 13% 2,334 28 7 71% no

24 ME 11% 1,465 60 56 5% yes

23 NY 11% 8,574 350 85 32% sometimes

22 MS 10% 1,363 22 16 0% yes

21 PA 8% 1,245 13 13 92% no

20 CA 8% 20,450 672 488 4% no

19 AL 8% 1,014 97 9 89% no

18 WI 8% 4,122 193 27 100% no

17 MA 7% 8,944 604 12 100% no

16 TX 5% 13,392 169 60 0% no

15 AK 5% 62 18 2 0% yes

14 NJ 5% 4,675 245 225 0% yes

13 CT 5% 2,267 66 49 0% yes

12 MN 5% 1,148 89 17 41% no

11 GA 4% 998 41 17 0% no

10 FL 4% 7,974 633 553 0% sometimes

9 WA 4% 3,794 1,345 42 0% yes

8 SC 4% 1,995 63 7 0% sometimes

7 MD 4% 2,791 72 28 0% almost never

6 NC 3% 7,137 241 113 0%no (at Tier 1 and Tier 2 beaches)

5 HI 3% 8,933 463 42 90% sometimes

4 VA 3% 1,036 47 47 0% no

3 OR 2% 838 91 91 0% almost never

2 DE 2% 1,380 25 17 0% almost never

1 NH 1% 1,712 17 10 100% no


Table n-2. Beaches With More Than 25% of samples exceeding the ePa’s single-sample Maximum standards for designated Beach areas in 2009 (limited to Beaches With at least 10 Total samples reported for the year)

state county Beach Tier Monitoring Frequency

Total samples

Percent exceedance

IN Lake Jeorse Park Beach I 2 5/wk 78 76%

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-north of GP Pier 1 1/wk 50 72%

MI Macomb St. Clair Shores Blossom Heath Beach 1 2/wk 141 71%

MA Essex Kings (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 24 71%

MA Barnstable Cockle Cove Creek 2 1/wk 10 70%

MI Macomb St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach 1 2/wk 124 66%

IL Cook Jackson Park Beach (63rd Street Beach) 1 5/wk 76 66%

MI Arenac Singing Bridge Beach 1 1/wk 14 64%

IN Lake Jeorse Park Beach II 2 5/wk 78 63%

CA Orange Poche County Beach 1 2/wk 48 63%

HI Oahu Kuli’ou’ou 2 1/wk 12 58%

NY Niagara Krull Park 2 1/wk 30 57%

IL Lake North Point Marina North Beach 1 4/wk 115 55%

RI Washington Saunderstown Yacht Club 2 2/mo 13 54%

NY Erie St. Vincent Depaul Beach 2 2/wk 25 52%

NJ Ocean Beachwood Beach West (Beachwood) 1 1/wk 47 51%

IL Cook Winnetka Elder Park Beach 1 daily 78 50%

MI Iosco Tawas City Park 1 1/wk 24 50%

CT New London Kiddie’s Beach 1 1/wk 22 50%

MA Norfolk Smith Beach 2 1/wk 22 50%

IL Cook 57th Street Beach 1 5/wk 73 49%

CA Mendocino Pudding Creek Beach-Pudding Lagoon 1 1/wk 23 48%

FL Taylor Keaton Beach 1 1/wk 17 47%

WI Kenosha Eichelman Beach 2 2/wk 48 46%

LA St. Mary Cypremort Point State Park 1 1/wk 35 46%

CA San Francisco Candlestick Point-Windsurfer Circle 1 1/wk 92 45%

MN St. Louis Clyde Avenue Boat Landing Beach 2 1/wk 43 44%

MI Macomb HCMA-Metropolitan Beach Metropark 1 2/wk 312 44%

CA Los Angeles Cabrillo Beach 1 daily 73 44%

CA Orange Newport Bay-Newport Blvd Bridge 1 1/wk 30 43%

LA Calcasieu South Beach & Rabbit Island 1 1/wk 30 43%

LA Cameron Holly Beach 5 1 1/wk 33 42%

FL Escambia Bayou Chico 1 1/wk 26 42%


OH Cuyahoga Villa Angela State Park 1 daily 114 40%

HI Maui Puamana Beach Co. Park 2 2/yr 10 40%

RI Newport Easton’s Beach 1 2/wk 355 40%

CA Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Santa Monica Canyon

1 1/wk 84 39%



Total samples

Percent exceedance

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-near Busy B Cafe 1 1/wk 44 39%

MA Essex Willow Avenue 2 1/wk 13 38%

OH Cuyahoga Edgecliff Beach 2 1/wk 13 38%

IL Cook Calumet South Beach 1 5/wk 73 38%

CA Orange Doheny State Beach-Surf Zone at Outfall 1 3/wk 50 38%

FL Manatee Palma Sola South 1 1/wk 29 38%

NY Chautauqua Lake Erie State Park Beach 1 4/wk 53 38%

OH Cuyahoga Euclid State Park 1 daily 114 38%

RI Washington Scarborough State Beach North 1 2/wk 202 38%

NY Monroe Ontario Beach 1 daily 264 38%

NY Chautauqua Blue Water Beach 3 1/wk 32 38%

NY Chautauqua Wright Park East 1 1/wk 32 38%

CA OrangeDoheny State Beach-North of San Juan Creek

1 3/wk 51 37%

ME Knox Goodies Beach 1 1/wk 19 37%

TX Nueces Ropes Park 1 1/wk 227 37%

LA Cameron Rutherford Beach 2 1/wk 33 36%

NY Suffolk Tanner Park 1 3/wk 58 36%

LA Calcasieu North Beach-Lake Charles 1 1/wk 36 36%

NY Erie Lake Erie Beach 1 2/wk 25 36%

MD Kent Tolchester Estates Beach 2 2/mo 39 36%

NY Chautauqua Sunset Bay Beach Club 3 1/wk 28 36%

OH Cuyahoga Arcadia Beach 2 1/wk 14 36%

OH Cuyahoga Noble Beach 2 1/wk 14 36%

OH Cuyahoga Shoreby Club Beach 2 1/wk 14 36%

OH Cuyahoga Sims Beach 2 1/wk 14 36%

IL Cook Winnetka Centennial Dog Beach 2 daily 79 35%

NJ Ocean Maxson Avenue (Pt Pleasant) 1 1/wk 46 35%


OH Ashtabula Lakeshore Park 1 4/wk 50 34%

IL Cook Rainbow Beach 1 5/wk 74 34%

RI Newport Third Beach 1 3/wk 155 34%

RI Washington Scarborough State Beachsouth 1 2/wk 120 33%

NY Erie Woodlawn Beach State Park Beach 1 daily 93 33%

RI Newport Atlantic Beach Club 1 4/wk 75 33%

NJ Ocean River Avenue (Pt Pleasant) 1 1/wk 42 33%

NJ Ocean West Beach (Pine Beach) 1 1/wk 42 33%


NY Chautauqua Point Gratiot Beach 2 1/wk 30 33%

MA Essex Gas House 2 1/wk 18 33%

NJ Ocean Central (Island Heights) 3 1/wk 18 33%

FL Taylor Hagen’s Cove 1 1/wk 15 33%



Total samples

Percent exceedance

MA Essex Independence Park 2 1/wk 15 33%

MA Plymouth A Street Ocean 2 1/wk 15 33%

CA Los Angeles Surfrider Beach 1 1/wk 83 33%

MI Muskegon Pere Marquette Park 1 1/wk 31 32%

NY Chautauqua Town of Hanover Beach 3 1/wk 25 32%

OH Erie Crystal Rock 1 3/wk 44 32%

OH Erie Edison Creek 1 3/wk 44 32%

CA San FranciscoBaker Beach, Lobos Creek at Lower Parking Lot

1 1/wk 85 32%

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-south of GP Pier 1 1/wk 41 32%

NY Wayne Pultneyville Mariners Beach 3 1/wk 19 32%

MI Muskegon Meinert County Park 1 1/wk 51 31%

RI Newport Peabodys Beach 2 2/mo 51 31%


FL Gulf Monument Beach 1 1/wk 29 31%

IL Cook Montrose Beach 1 5/wk 71 31%

MI St. Clair Chrysler Park Beach 1 1/wk 81 31%

IN Lake Buffington Harbor Beach 2 5/wk 78 31%

NY Erie Bennett Beach 2 2/wk 39 31%

FL Escambia Bayview Park 1 1/wk 26 31%

MA Plymouth XYZ 2 1/wk 13 31%

NY Chautauqua Main Street Beach 1 1/wk 23 30%

LA Cameron Gulf Breeze 2 1/wk 33 30%

CA San Francisco Candlestick Point-Sunnydale Cove 1 1/wk 76 30%

MA Barnstable Crocker’s Neck 2 1/wk 20 30%

MA Essex Grace Oliver 2 1/wk 20 30%

NJ Monmouth Wreck Pond Outfall (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 30%

NJ Ocean Anglesea Avenue (Ocean Gate) 1 1/wk 37 30%

AL Baldwin Mary Ann Nelson Beach 3 2/mo 27 30%

FL Pasco Oelsner Park Beach 1 1/wk 27 30%

LA Jefferson Grand Isle State Park 4 1 1/wk 27 30%

FL Miami-Dade Sunny Isles Beach-Pier Park 1 1/wk 34 29%

LA Cameron Long Beach 2 1/wk 34 29%

NY Westchester Surf Club 1 1/wk 17 29%

NY Nassau Crescent Beach 2 1/wk 130 29%

MA Essex Kings (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 24 29%

MI Alcona Greenbush Township 1 1/wk 24 29%

NY Erie Hamburg Bathing Beach 1 2/wk 24 29%

WI Door Anclam Park Beach 2 2/wk 38 29%

MA Suffolk Yerrill 2 1/wk 56 29%

WI Milwaukee South Shore Beach 1 daily 56 29%

CA Los Angeles Alamitos Bay Beach-B-69 1 1/wk 21 29%



Total samples

Percent exceedance

MI Alcona Black River Public Access 1 1/wk 21 29%

HI Oahu Ke’ehi Lagoon 2 1/wk 14 29%

OH Cuyahoga Moss Point Beach 2 1/wk 14 29%

CA San Mateo Pillar Point 1 1/wk 50 28%

TX Nueces Poenisch Park 1 1/wk 104 28%

MA Barnstable Atlantic Avenue 2 1/wk 18 28%

ME Waldo Ducktrap River 1 2/wk 18 28%

NY Monroe Hamlin Beach State Park-Area 3 1 1/wk 40 28%

OH Erie Sherod Creek 1 3/wk 44 27%

FL Sarasota Ringling Causeway 1 1/wk 33 27%

LA Cameron Constance Beach 2 1/wk 33 27%

LA Cameron Little Florida 2 1/wk 33 27%

ME York Riverside (Ogunquit) 1 1/wk 22 27%

NY Suffolk South Jamesport Beach 3 2/mo 11 27%

RI Newport Marine Avenue Beach 3 1/wk 48 27%

FL Monroe Coco Plum Beach 1 1/wk 26 27%

FL Okaloosa Garniers 1 1/wk 26 27%

MA Essex Dane Street 2 1/wk 15 27%

MA Essex Sandy Point 2 1/wk 15 27%

MA Norfolk Chikatawbot 2 1/wk 15 27%

MA Norfolk Delano Ave. 2 1/wk 15 27%

MD Cecil Red Point Beach 3 1/mo 15 27%

MI Muskegon P.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Campground 1 1/wk 15 27%

MI Muskegon P.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Public Beach Area 1 1/wk 15 27%

OH Lorain Century Beach 1 4/wk 49 27%

MA Norfolk Wollaston (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 83 27%


OH Cuyahoga Edgewater State Park 1 daily 110 26%

ME York Cape Neddick Beach 1 1/wk 19 26%

ME York York Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 19 26%

NC Currituck Dock at the end of SR 1245 3 2/mo 19 26%

NC Currituck Park on Woodhouse Dr. Grandy, NC 3 2/mo 19 26%

NC Onslow New River, Wilson Park 3 2/mo 19 26%

NY Suffolk East Islip Beach 2 3/wk 65 26%

CA Los Angeles Colorado Lagoon-Center 1 1/wk 23 26%

CA Ventura Port Hueneme Beach Park 1 1/wk 23 26%

NC Hyde Swanquarter Bay-end of docks on SR 1136 3 2/mo 23 26%

NY Chautauqua Sheridan Bay Park 3 1/wk 23 26%

IL Cook South Shore 1 5/wk 73 26%

CA San Mateo Aquatic Park 1 1/wk 39 26%

NJ Ocean Money Island (Dover) 1 1/wk 39 26%

OH Erie Vermilion River West 1 3/wk 43 26%


Table n-3. repeat offenders: 15 Beaches With More Than 25 Percent of samples exceeding the ePa’s single-sample Maximum standards for designated Beach areas, each year, 2006–2009 (alphabetical by state, county, and Beach)


Potential pollution sources (reported by ePa)

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-near Busy B Cafe 1 1/wk Unknown

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-north of GP Pier 1 1/wk Unknown

CA Los Angeles Avalon Beach-south of GP Pier 1 1/wk Unknown

CA Los Angeles Cabrillo Beach 1 Daily Unknown

CA Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Santa Monica Canyon

1 1/wk Unknown

CA OrangeDoheny State Beach-North of San Juan Creek

1 3/wk Unknown

CA Orange Doheny State Beach-Surf Zone at Outfall 1 3/wk Unknown

CA Orange Newport Bay-Newport Blvd Bridge 1 1/wk Unknown

FL Taylor Keaton Beach 1 1/wkBoats, Runoff, Wildlife,

Stormwater, Other, Unknown

IL Lake North Point Marina North Beach 1 4/wk Unknown

NJ Ocean Beachwood Beach West 1 1/wk None Listed

OH Cuyahoga Villa Angela St. Pk. 1 Daily None Listed

TX Nueces Ropes Park 1 1/wkCombined Sewer Overflow,

Stormwater, Other, Unknown

WI Kenosha Eichelman 2 2/wk Stormwater, Wildlife

WI Milwaukee South Shore 1 Daily Unknown

noTes1 NRDC reports closing/advisory days for events lasting six consecutive weeks or less. Extended events (lasting between 7 and 13 consecutive weeks) and permanent events (lasting more than 13 consecutive weeks) are reported separately and are not included in this total.

2 Doug Range, Erie County Department of Health, personal communication, June 2009.


Chapter 1

Sources of Beachwater Pollution

Most beach closings and advisories are issued because beachwater monitoring has detected unsafe levels of bacteria. These unsafe levels indicate the presence of pathogens—microscopic organisms from human and animal wastes that pose a threat to human health. The key known contributors of these contaminants are stormwater runoff that carries agricultural and human waste, untreated or partially treated discharges from sewage treatment plants, sanitary sewers, septic systems, and wildlife. Advisories may also be issued as a precautionary measure when a pollution event is expected to occur—for instance, during rainstorms. Beach closings and advisories also occur in response to specific pollution events, such as a known sewage spill, an overflow from an animal-waste lagoon, red tides (harmful algal blooms), or an oil spill.

Stormwater runoff was the most frequently identified source of beach closing and advisory days in 2009. Human sewage (from septic tanks, sewer lines, or sewage treatment plants) was the second-largest reported source of beachwater closing and advisory days, with wildlife following close behind. A state-by-state breakdown of pollution sources can be found in the state summaries after Chapter 4.

The ways in which beachwater becomes contaminated are described in more detail in the following sections.

URBAN RUNOFF

The EPA estimates that more than 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater make their way into our surface waters each year.1 Contaminated urban stormwater contributes to the degradation of many of our nation’s polluted rivers, estuaries and lakes and is a significant source of bathing-beach pollution in many regions.2

Stormwater runoff starts as rain or snowmelt. As it washes over roads, rooftops, parking lots, construction sites, and lawns, it becomes contaminated with oil and grease, pesticides, litter, and pollutants from vehicles. On its way to storm drains, it also can pick up fecal matter from dogs, cats, pigeons, other urban animals, and even humans. In Los Angeles County, for instance, the sewer system is separate from the storm drain system, yet storm drains leading to Santa Monica Bay have been found to contain human enteric viruses, indicating the presence of human waste.3 Human waste may also find its way into storm drain systems from adjacent sewage pipes that leak, or from businesses or residences that have illegally connected their sewage discharge to the storm drains. Illicit discharges also occur when people empty holding tanks from recreational vehicles and trailers into storm drains.

Stormwater runoff is not the only type of urban runoff that can carry bacterial pollution to the coast. In dry weather, runoff occurs as a result of landscape irrigation, the draining of swimming pools, car washing, and various commercial activities. Even though it is much smaller in volume than stormwater runoff, dry weather runoff can be a significant source of beachwater contamination, especially along the coast of California, which is usually dry during the summer when the beaches are most heavily used.

Elevated levels of bacterial pollution correlate to increased illness rates among swimmers. For example, one Southern California study showed the direct effect on coastal water quality of urban runoff draining from the Santa Ana River: where the river meets the ocean, fecal indicator bacteria concentrations were found to be as much as 500% above California’s ocean bathing water standards.4 (For a full discussion of the health and economic effects of beachwater pollution, see Chapter 2).

The amount of pollution present in urban runoff tends to correlate with the amount of impervious cover. Impervious cover is anything that stops water from soaking into the ground, like roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and buildings. A

Stormwater runoff is the most frequently identified source of beach closing and advisory days.


study conducted in North Carolina found that a watershed that was 22% covered by impervious surfaces had an average fecal coliform count seven times higher than a watershed that was 7% covered by impervious surfaces.5 However, even in less densely populated areas, uncontrolled runoff can foul beaches. More than half of the people in the United States live in coastal counties, occupying only 17% of the nation’s land mass (excluding Alaska).6 Between 1980 and 2003, the coastal population grew by 33 million, and it is projected to increase by another 19 million by 2015.7 As the population along the U.S. coast grows, more land is converted to impervious surfaces that shed rather than absorb falling rain. Today, stormwater runoff from urban and suburban areas is posing a significant problem that is growing rapidly with rising populations and sprawling development. At the current rate, by 2025 more than a quarter of all of our coastal acreage will be developed.8

HUMAN SEWAGE

Sewage overflows from aging sanitary and combined sewer systems, leaking sewage pipes, and malfunctioning sewage treatment plants and pump stations have always been a major cause of pollution at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches. As demonstrated at Rancho Santa Margarita, California in March of 2010, a single ruptured sewer line can quickly spill hundreds of thousands of gallons of untreated sewage into coastal waters and result in contaminated beachwater along miles of beaches.9

Sewage Treatment PlantsCombined Sewer Overflows: Combined sewer systems carry both raw sewage from residences and industrial sites and stormwater runoff from streets to sewage treatment plants. As shown in Figure 1-1, combined sewer systems are con-centrated in the Great Lakes states and in the Northeast. While treating stormwater before releasing it to surface waters is desirable, during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the volume of the combined wastewater can become too great

The EPA estimates that more than 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater make their way into our surface waters each year.

Figure 1-1. A Rough Illustration of the Prevalence of Combined Sewer Systems in the United States10


for the treatment plant to handle. In such circumstances, the excess flow is diverted to outfall points that discharge pol-utants—including raw sewage; floatables such as trash, syringes, and tampon applicators; toxic industrial waste; and con-taminated stormwater—into the nearest stream or coastal waterway. This is known as a combined sewer overflow, or CSO.

CSOs are a major cause of pathogen contamination in marine and Great Lakes waters near urban areas. As of 2002, CSOs discharged 850 billion gallons of raw sewage and stormwater annually,11and 43,000 CSO events occurred per year nationwide.12 Although they are most prevalent in urban areas, CSOs affect 46 million people in 746 communities throughout 32 Northeast and Great Lakes states.13 CSOs contaminate shellfish waters as well as recreational beaches. Shellfish harvesting has been restricted in the majority of the 659 shellfish beds located close to a CSO outfall.14 Although an EPA policy that aims to reduce these overflows has been in effect since 1994, virtually all combined sewer systems continue to overflow when it rains. A significant number of communities with CSOs still have not submitted plans for controlling them.15

Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Discharges from Sewer-Line Breaks: Sanitary sewer systems carry human and industrial waste from buildings to sewage treatment plants where it is treated. These sewer systems can discharge untreated sewage when the treatment plants are overwhelmed or malfunction or when sewer lines break, posing a threat to bathing beach safety.

Separate sanitary sewers serve approximately 164 million people nationwide.16 Although most of these systems were built more recently than the combined sewer systems, they are aging and deteriorating rapidly.17 A nationwide survey of 42 treatment plants found some that have been in use for as long as 117 years; the average is 33 years.18 As population and sewer load increases and rehabilitation and maintenance schedules lag, pipes can deteriorate and break, spilling sewage directly onto streets or into waterways. The EPA has estimated that 23,000 to 75,000 sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) occur annually, discharging a total of 3 billion to 10 billion gallons per year.19

Nearly 70% of sewage overflows from human-waste sewage lines are due to obstructions such as tree roots or grease clogs, line breaks, and mechanical failures.20 Wet weather places demands on sanitary sewer systems even though these systems do not treat stormwater runoff. This is because even when there are no improper connections between storm-water and sanitary sewers, water seeps through manholes and into the sewer lines and also falls onto the surface of the treatment units during rain events. This can lead to the discharge of raw sewage from manholes, overflowing pipes, and treatment-plant bypasses. Although only 26% of sanitary sewer overflows nationwide were caused by wet weather events and related inflow and infiltration, these events accounted for nearly 75% of the total SSO volume discharged.21 In January 2001, the EPA proposed SSO regulations that would have required improved capacity, operation, and main-tenance as well as public notification when overflows occur. The Bush administration shelved this initiative, but the Obama administration’s EPA recently announced that it is considering a suite of actions to address SSOs.22

Inadequately Treated Sewage: Sewage plants near coastal waters tend to serve densely populated, rapidly growing urban areas. When too many homes and businesses are hooked up to a sewage treatment plant, the plant is prone to more frequent bypasses and inadequate treatment. Moreover, sewage treatment plants can, and often do, malfunction as the result of human error, breakage of old equipment, or unusual conditions in the raw sewage. When that happens, raw or partially treated sewage may be discharged into coastal waterways and their tributaries. Some sewage systems also bypass all or a portion of their treatment plants when flows exceed capacity during rain events. This practice can also put pathogens in waterways and should be phased out.

Under section 301(h) of the federal Clean Water Act, sewage treatment plants may obtain a waiver allowing them to forgo basic federal secondary treatment requirements, discharging into marine waters wastes that have undergone only primary treatment. Releasing primary-treated sewage into water bodies degrades receiving waters and poses serious risks to public health and the marine ecosystem. The vast majority of pathogens are not removed by primary treatment of wastewater.23 For example, 85% of Shigella bacteria, 85–100% of Salmonella, 50–100% of Entamoeba histolytica, and more than 90% of fecal coliform may remain in wastewater even after primary treatment.24 In contrast, secondary treatment removes suspended solids in the waste stream and is significantly more effective than primary treatment in

Sanitary sewer overflows discharge between 3 billion to 10 billion gallons of untreated sewage per year.


removing biologic pathogens.25 For example, secondary treatment removes 80–90% of Shigella bacteria, 70–99% of Salmonella, and 75–99% of enteric viruses prior to discharge of the effluent.26

While sewage treatment plants with a waiver under section 301(h) have become increasingly rare in the United States, there are still approximately 30 waivers being used.

Septic SystemsAbout one-third of new construction and 25% of existing U.S. dwellings use some kind of septic tank or on-site waste disposal system.27 If not sited, built, and maintained properly, septic systems near the coast can leach wastewater into coastal recreational waters, contaminating bathing beaches with fecal matter. Malfunctioning septic systems at just a few near-shore properties can result in beachwater contamination that is significant enough to trigger a beach closure. Runoff can also carry bacteria from failing inland septic systems into streams that empty into recreational waters. Unfortunately, homeowners often do not adequately maintain their septic systems. “Studies reviewed by [the EPA] cite failure rates ranging from 10–20%.”28 Despite this, there is no federal regulatory program to control waste from septic systems, and local governments and states rarely inspect these systems sufficiently to prevent septic system failures.

Boating WasteMarinas are generally located in areas that are naturally sheltered or where a breakwater has been constructed. This shelter results in reduced circulation of clean water around the docks, which allows boating waste to accumulate and pose a serious health threat. Also, waste may also be discharged improperly from boats that are in use, posing a health and aesthetic threat to bathing beaches. Elevated concentrations of fecal coliform have been found in areas with high boating density.29

Federal law requires boats with onboard toilets either to treat the waste with chemicals before discharging it or to hold the waste and later pump it out into a sewage treatment plant. Also, the federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 provides federal grant money to states for building pump-out and dump stations in marinas so boaters can dispose of human wastes in an environmentally sound manner.30 However, there is limited oversight of the adequacy of pump-out facilities in many areas.31 Military warships are not subject to the federal law requiring storage or treatment of human wastes before discharging them.

BEACHGOERS

In the 2005 study “Outbreaks Associated With Recreational Water in the United States,” researchers found that bathers themselves are an important localized source of contamination leading to illness outbreaks.32 All swimmers release fecal organisms when they enter the water in a process called bather shedding. Results from one study showed that bathers shed on the order of 600,000 colony-forming units, or cfu, per person of enterococci bacteria during the first 15 minutes of water contact.33 Beachgoers who swim while ill can spread diseases to other bathers. Fecal accidents are also a health risk, as are diaper-aged children if care isn’t taken to ensure that their wastes are kept from entering the water. The presence of E. coli and coliform bacteria has been shown to correlate to the number of visitors and periods of high recreational use (generally the summer and weekends).34

WILDLIFE AND PET WASTE

Municipalities sometimes list waterfowl as the cause of beach closings or advisories. During migration season, large or excessive populations of waterfowl can gather at beaches or in suburban areas that drain into recreational waters. These dense clusters can occur when other potential waterfowl habitats are unavailable, often because wetlands have been filled or ecological conditions have been altered (for example, when Canada geese that were previously migratory become resident). Seagulls are a source of bacterial contamination at some coastal beaches.

Pet waste deposited on or near the beach also carries pathogens that can wind up in beachwater when pet owners do not pick up and properly dispose of their pet’s waste. The fecal matter from these animals can overload the normal capacity of a beach to absorb wastes, degrading water quality, particularly if there is no vegetation around the waterway to absorb the waste.


AGRICULTURAL DISCHARGES AND AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF

Runoff from farms and animal feeding operations may contain high concentrations of pathogenic animal waste, fer tilizers, and pesticides. Agricultural pollution is responsible for nearly 40% of all water quality problems in the country’s polluted rivers and streams.35 The production of farm animals has increasingly shifted toward huge, industrial-scale operations where large numbers of animals are confined together. These confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) often produce vast quanti ties of manure that far exceed the assimilation capacity of neighboring crops and pastures and have been estimated to be a con tributing source in 20% of impaired rivers and streams.36 Animal waste from large feedlots has been linked to outbreaks of a toxic micro-organism, Pfiesteria piscicida,in the Chesapeake Bay region and in North Carolina, causing numerous waterway closings and serious human and aquatic health impacts. Animal waste can also contain pathogens usually not found in human waste, such as E. coli 0157:H7, which con tami nated baby spinach in 2006 and resulted in 205 confirmed illnesses and three deaths.37

CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEACHWATER POLLUTION

Beachwater quality is generally adversely affected by increased rainfall. Scientists agree that in many regions of the United States, climate change will cause increased frequency and magnitude of rain and large storms; increased runoff, coastal flooding, and coastal erosion; and warmer water and air temperatures.38 These changes will exacerbate existing causes of beachwater pollution that threaten public health. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that “[w]ater-borne diseases and degraded water quality are very likely to increase with more heavy precipitation.”39

The number and intensity of combined sewer overflow events is directly related to climate—especially increased pre cipi-tation, which causes greater runoff.40 As more high-intensity rainfall events occur, the risk increases that com bined sewer systems will overload, discharging untreated storm water runoff and wastewater directly into lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Global climate change is predicted to increase the amount of rainfall in the Great Lakes region and the Northeastern United States. Since these are the regions where the majority of combined sewer systems are concentrated, an increase in CSOs can be expected.41 Indeed, in the Great Lakes region, climate modeling predicts that the regional average annual CSO frequency between 2060 and 2099 will increase between 13% and 70%.42 Given the uncertainty in predicting future climate, communities must decide whether to ensure mitigation effectiveness based on predicted changes, or face potentially significant retrofit costs in the future to maintain effective mitigation.

Even in areas that have separate sewer systems, like much of the West, an increase in extreme rainfall events can still lead to more pollution in coastal waters via increased stormwater runoff. For instance, in California, warmer tempera tures can mean more winter precipitation that falls as rain and less that falls as snow, leading to more winter runoff.43 More winter runoff over saturated soils will result in larger sediment flows and more bacteria in beachwaters.44

In some coastal areas, the impacts of stormwater runoff on beachwater quality are mitigated by tidal wetlands that filter the runoff before it is discharged to coastal waters. Climate change is predicted to result in a rise in sea levels that will submerge these tidal wetlands.

Climate change is also expected to result in an increase in the population of some disease-causing organisms in coastal waters and might already be expanding the range of harmful algal blooms in some parts of the country, as discussed in the Health Effects section of Chapter 2.

NOTES1 EPA, “Report to Congress: Impacts and Control of CSOs and SSOs,” April 26, 2004, EPA 833-R-04-001, p. 4-29, available at: http://cfpub.epa .gov/npdes/cso/cpolicy_report2004.cfm.

2 EPA, “National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress, 2004 Reporting Cycle,” EPA 841-R-08-001, January 2009.

3 Bartlett, Gold, McGee, and Deets, “Pathogens and Indicators in Storm Drains Within the Santa Monica Bay Watershed,” Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, 1992, p. 18. See also R. Haile et al., “An Epidemiological Study of Possible Adverse Health Effects of Swimming in Santa Monica Bay,” Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, 1996.

The IPCC found that “[w]ater-borne diseases and degraded water quality are very likely to increase with more heavy precipitation.”


4 John Ho Ahn, Stanley B. Grant, Cristiane Q. Surbeck, Paul M. Di Giacomo, Nikolay P. Nezlin, and Sunny Jiang, “Coastal Water Quality Impact of Stormwater Runoff From an Urban Watershed in Southern California,” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 39, no. 16, 2005, pp. 5,940–5,953.

5 Michael A. Mallin, “Wading in Waste,” Scientific American, June 2006, pp. 53–59.

6 NOAA-National Ocean Service, “Population Trends Along the Coastal United States: 1980–2008,” September 2004, p. 6, available at: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/programs/mb/pdfs/coastal_pop_trends_complete.pdf.

7 Ibid., p. 1.

8 Dana Beach, “Coastal Sprawl—The Effects of Urban Design on Aquatic Ecosystems in the United States,” Pew Ocean Commission, 2002.

9 Tony Barboza, “Major sewage spill could keep O.C. beaches closed through the weekend,” L.A. Times, March 26, 2010.

10 EPA, Combined Sewer Overflow Demographics, available at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/cso/demo.cfm?program_id=5.

11 EPA, “Report to Congress: Impacts and Control of CSOs and SSOs,” p. 4-17.

12 Ibid., p.4-19.

13 Ibid., p. 4-13.

14 Ibid., p. 5-14.

15 Ibid., p. ES-5;EPA Office of Water, National Water Program Mid-Year Report: Fiscal Year 2009, July 2009, Appendix B, p. 4.


17 The American Society of Civil Engineers has given the U.S. wastewater system an overall rating of D-minus. ASCE, “Report Card for America’s Infrastructure,” 2005, available at: http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm.


19 Ibid., p. 4-25 to 4-26.

20 Ibid., p. 4-27.

21 Ibid., p. 4-27.

22 75 Fed. Reg. 30,395 (June 1, 2010).

23 National Research Council, Issues in Potable Reuse: The Viability of Augmenting Drinking Water Supplies With Reclaimed Water,National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1998, pp. 90–91.

24 Ibid., p. 92.

25 Ibid., p. 92

26 Ibid., p. 92.

27 EPA, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, February 2002, EPA/625/R-00/008, at pp. 1-4 and 1-6, available at: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/625r00008/625r00008.pdf.

28 Ibid., p. 1-4.

29 Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, “State of the Sound,” 1992, p. 22.

30 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Keep Our Waters Clean—Use Pumpouts,” available at: http://library.fws.gov/Pubs9/cva_brochure.pdf.

31 U.S. General Accounting Office, “Water Quality: Program Enhancements Would Better Ensure Adequacy of Boat Pumpout Facilities in No-Discharge Zones,” GAO-04-613, May 2004..

32 Gunther F. Craun, Rebecca L. Calderon, and Michael F. Craun, “Outbreaks Associated With Recreational Water in the United States,” International Journal of Environmental Health Research,August 2005, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 243–262.

33 Elmir, S.M. et al. “Quantitative Evaluation of Bacteria Released by Bathers in a Marine Water,” Water Res.,January 2007, 41(1): 3–10.

34 A.T. McDonald, P.J. Chapman, and K. Fukasawa, “The Microbial Status of Natural Waters in a Protected Wilderness Area,” Journal of Environmental Management,vol. 87, no. 4, June 2008, pp. 600–608.

35 EPA, “National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress, 2004 Reporting Cycle,” EPA 841-R-08-001, January 2009, p. 12..

36 Marc Ribaudo and Noel Gollehon, “Animal Agriculture and the Environment,” Economic Research Service/U.S. Department of Agriculture, in Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2006 Edition,EIB-16, pp. 124–133.

37 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA News: FDA Finalizes Report on 2006 Spinach Outbreak,available at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01593.html.

38 See, e.g., IPCC, Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group II Report, “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability,” Ch. 14, available at: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter14.pdf. We focus here on the United States, but note that most water-related health effects of climate change will be felt in developing countries that lack proper drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

39 Ibid., p. 619.

40 EPA, “A Screening Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions,” EPA/600/R-07/033F, February 2008, p. 1.

41 Federal Register,vol. 72, no. 60, March 29, 2007, pp. 14,803–14,804.

42 E PA, “A Screening Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions,” EPA/600/R-07/033F, February 2008, p. 19.

43 Union of Concerned Scientists and Ecological Society of America, “Confronting Climate Change in California,” November 1999, p. 9.

44 Ibid., p. 18.


Chapter 2

The Impacts of Beach Pollution

HEALTH RISKS

Diseases Caused by Pathogens in Bathing WatersPolluted waters may contain disease-causing organisms called pathogens. The most common types of pathogens are those associated with human and animal waste, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. For instance, giardiasis, caused by the protozoa Giardi lambia, is the most commonly reported intestinal disease in North America.1 Swimmers in sewage-polluted water can contract any illness that is spread by fecal contact, including gastroenteritis, respiratory infection, and ear and skin infections (see Table 2-1). (Gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, is inflammation of the stomach and the small intestine, symptoms of which can include vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, nausea, head-ache, and fever.) Most swimming-related illnesses last from a few days to several weeks, but in some cases pathogens may cause severe, long-term illness or even death. Sensi-tive populations such as children, the elderly, or those with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk for long-term effects. For example, diarrhea can be more than 100 times as likely to result in death in individuals over the age of 74 compared with those between the ages of 5 and 24.2 And research has shown that children under the age of 9 have more reports of diarrhea and vomiting from exposure to waterborne pathogens than any other age group, with at least a twofold increase occurring over the summer swimming months.3

Table 2-1. Pathogens and Swimming-Associated Illnesses

Pathogenic Agent Disease

Bacteria

Aeromonas hydrophilaDysenteric illness, wound infections, gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea, death in susceptible populations), septicemia (generalized infections in which organisms multiply in the bloodstream)

Campylobacter jejuni Gastroenteritis

E. coli Gastroenteritis

Leptospira Leptospirosis (jaundice, fever)

Helicobacter pyloriGastritis (diarrhea); peptic ulcers can occur long-term along with an increased likelihood of developing gastric cancer

Legionella pneumoniae Legionellosis (fever, pneumonia)

Mycobacterium Respiratory infection

Naegleria Neurologic infections

PseudomonasUrinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, and a variety of systemic infections (in immunocompromised individuals)

Salmonella typhi Typhoid fever (high fever, diarrhea, ulceration of the small intestine)

Other salmonella species Various enteric fevers (often called paratyphoid), gastroenteritis, septicemia

Shigella dysenteriae and other species

Bacterial dysentery

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that the incidence of infections associated with recreational water use has steadily increased over the past several decades.


Pathogenic Agent Disease

Bacteria

Vibrio cholerae Cholera (extremely heavy diarrhea, dehydration)

Vibrio vulnificus Skin and tissue infection, death in those with liver problems

Yersinia spp. Acute gastroenteritis (including diarrhea, abdominal pain)

Viruses

Adenovirus (31 types) Respiratory, eye, and gastrointestinal infections

Astroviruses Gastroenteritis

Calicivirus Gastroenteritis

Coxsackie viruses (some strains)

Various, including severe respiratory disease, fever, rash, paralysis, aseptic meningitis, myocarditis

Echovirus Neurologic infections

HAV Infectious hepatitis (liver malfunction); also may affect kidneys and spleen

Norovirus Gastroenteritis

Poliovirus Poliomyelitis

Polyomavirus Cancer of the colon

Reovirus Respiratory infections, gastroenteritis

Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

Protozoa

Acanthamoeba Eye infections

Balantidium coli Balantidiasis (dysentery, intestinal ulcers)

Cayetanensis Abscess in liver or other organs

Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidiosis (diarrhea)

Cyclospora Gastroenteritis

Entamoeba histolyticaAmoebic dysentery (prolonged diarrhea with bleeding, abscesses of the liver and small intestine, infections of other organs)

Giardia lamblia Giardiasis (diarrhea, nausea, indigestion)

Isospora belli and Isospora hominis

Intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal infection

Microsporidia Diarrhea

Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis

There is usually a delay of several days to two weeks between contact with contaminated water and expression of symptoms, and most people who get sick from swimming are not aware of the link. In Australia, a study of 600 families over 15 months showed that ocean swimmers are nearly twice as likely as nonswimmers to suffer from a case of gastro-enteritis in the two weeks following their dip.4

Since 1971, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the EPA, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists have worked to maintain the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System for collecting and reporting waterborne diseases and outbreak-related data. Their most recent report, released in 2008, summarizes findings for January 2005–December 2006. During this survey period, 78 waterborne disease outbreaks were reported. These outbreaks caused illness in 4,412 people, resulting in 116 hospitalizations and 5 deaths. The CDC concluded that this was the largest number of outbreaks reported to them in a two-year period. The increase is attributed to “a com bina tion of factors, such as the emergence of pathogens (e.g., Cryptosporidium), increased partici pa tion in aquatic activities,” and better reporting.5

Because the CDC relies on voluntary reporting of outbreaks, not individual illnesses, the incidences may be much higher than those cases accounted for. In addition, outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with large venues that draw


from a wide geographic range, like large lakes and marine beaches, can be difficult to detect because potentially infected persons disperse widely from the site of exposure and, therefore, might be less likely to be identified as part of an out break. On the basis of beach visitation rates and monitoring data, researchers have estimated that 689,000 to 4,003,000 instances of gastrointestinal illness and 693,000 instances of respiratory illness occurred each year between 2000 and 2004 at Southern California beaches.6 While these estimates are subject to a great deal of uncertainty, they provide insight into the potential for underreporting of swimming-related illnesses.

Regional studies provide further insight into the correlation between recreational swimming and illnesses. For example, in 2005, the first major report of the National Epidemiological Environmental Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study examined the association between recreational freshwater quality and gastrointestinal illness as well as upper respiratory illness, rash, eye ailments, and earache after swimming at two beaches in the Great Lakes region.7 Both beaches are known to be affected by sewage discharges from wastewater treatment plants. Water samples were collected from each beach and tested for enterococcus using rapid and traditional culture-based methods. (Entero coccus is a bacterium found in fecal matter and is an indicator for the presence of fecal contamination of beachwater.) At one beach (Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan in Indiana), the NEEAR study found that the inci dence of gastrointestinal illness was 10% among subjects who came in contact with the water, representing twice the number of illnesses reported by nonswimmers. At a second beach (on Lake Erie near Cleveland) the rate of gastrointestinal illness among swimmers was as high as 14%. The illnesses correlated with the amount of entero coccus bacteria that were present.

Discharges of polluted urban runoff result in elevated bacteria levels and increased illness rates among swimmers, and the association between heavy precipitation (leading to increased runoff ) and waterborne disease outbreaks is well documented (see Figure 2-1).8 In a 2004 California study:

[Researchers] compared rates of reported health symptoms among surfers in urban North Orange County (NOC) and rural Santa Cruz County (SCC), California, during two winters (1998 and 1999) to determine whether symptoms were associated with exposure to urban runoff. NOC participants reported almost twice as many symptoms as SCC participants during the 1998 winter. In both study years, risk increased across symptom categories by an average of 10% for each 2.5 hours of weekly water exposure. [Their] findings suggest that discharging untreated urban runoff onto public beaches can pose health risks.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

May 10May 7May 4May 1 May 13 May 16 May 19 May 22 May 25 May 28 May 31

Num

ber

of c

ases R

ainfall (ml)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Number of casesRainfall

Figure 2-1. Influence of Heavy Rainfall on Occurrence of E. coli Infections

The graph shows the relationship between unusually heavy rainfall and the number of confirmed cases of E. coli infection that occurred during a massive disease outbreak in Ontario, Quebec, in May 2000. The incubation period for E. coli is usually three to four days, which is consistent with the lag between extreme precipitation events and surges in the number of cases. Source: Amy Greer, Victoria Ng, and David Fisman, “Climate Change and Infectious Diseases in North America: The Road Ahead,” CMAJ, March 11, 2008, 178(6): 715–722.


Table 2-2. Possible Influence of Climate Change on Climate-Susceptible Pathogens

Pathogen Climate-Related Driver

Possible Influence of Climate Change

Likelihood of Change Basis for Assessment

Vibrio species

Rising temperature

Increasing ambient tempera-tures associated with growth in pre-harvest and post-harvest shellfish (in absence of appropriate post-harvest controls) and increasing disease

Very likely

Likelihood of climate event is high, and evidence supports growth trend in ambient waters; adaptive (control) measures (refrigeration) would reduce this effect for post-harvest oysters

Increasing temperature asso ciated with higher environmental prevalence and disease

Extremely likely

Likelihood of climate event is high, and evidence supports environmental growth trend

Increasing temperature associated with range expansion

Very likely

Likelihood of climate event is high, and evidence collected to date supports trend; more data needed to confirm

Changes in precipitation

Increasing precipitation and freshwater runoff leads to depressed estuarine salinities and increases in some Vibrio species

About as likely as not

Likelihood of climate event is probable, but additional research is needed to confirm pathogen distribution patterns

Sea level changesRising sea level or storm surge increases range and human exposure

Likely Likelihood of climate event is probable

Naegleria fowleri Rising temperature

Increasing temperature associated with expanded range and conversion to flagellated form (infective)

More likely than not

Likelihood of climate event is high, but more research is needed to confirm disease trend

Cryptosporidium

Rising temperature

Expanded recreational (swimming) season may increase likelihood of exposure and disease


Likelihood of climate event is high, but there is insufficient research on this relationship


Increasing precipitation associated with increased loading of parasite to water and increased exposure and disease

Very likely

Likelihood of climate event is probable, and research supports this pattern; adaptive measures (water treatment and infrastructure) would reduce this the effect

Giardia

Rising temperature

Expanded recreational (swimming) season may increase likelihood of exposure and disease




Increasing precipitation associated with increased loading of parasite to water and increased exposure and disease

Very likely

Likelihood of climate event is probable, and research supports this pattern; but adaptive measures (water treatment and infrastructure) would reduce this effect

Shifts in reservoir host ranges or behavior

Increasing temperature associated with shifting range in reservoir species (carriers) and expanded disease range



Adapted from “Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems Final Report,” Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.6, U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research (EPA, July 2008).


A large-scale 1995 epidemiological study, also in California, investigated possible adverse health effects associated with swimming in ocean waters contaminated by urban runoff.10 The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project study involved initial interviews with 15,492 beachgoers who bathed and immersed their heads, as well as follow-up interviews with 13,278, to ascertain the occurrence of certain symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, and diarrhea. The study found an increase in risk of illness associated with swimming near flowing storm drain outlets in Santa Monica Bay, compared with swimming more than 400 yards away. For example, swimmers near storm drains were found to have a 57% greater incidence of fever than those swimming farther away. This study also confirmed the increased risk of illness associated with swimming in areas with high densities of fecal indicator bacteria. Illnesses were reported more often on days when water samples tested positive for fecal bacteria.

In September 2009, University of Washington researchers presented findings of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on Washington beaches. (MRSA is a staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics.) Researchers found MRSA at half of 10 beaches in Washington along the West Coast and in Puget Sound from February to September 2008. Staph bacteria are resistant to salt and have long been known to be found in sand and salt water, but the MRSA strains found by the researchers resembled the highly resistant ones usually seen in hospitals, rather than the milder strains acquired in community settings. The source of the MRSA is unknown. Washington’s beachwater quality monitoring program is currently working with the University of Washington and the Surfrider Foundation to develop a plan for further investigation. The beachwater quality monitoring program is hoping to assist the researchers in investigating how prevalent MRSA is on Washington beaches and if people are getting sick from this and other targeted pathogens.11

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that “[w]ater-borne diseases and degraded water quality are very likely to increase with more heavy precipitation.”12 Climate change is expected to increase the incidence of diseases contracted by swimmers (see Table 2-2). This is because water is more likely to become contaminated with pathogens in areas where there are larger storm events with increased runoff and combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and because warmer waters will allow pathogens to expand their range. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the “combined effects of increased temperature and precipitation are likely to worsen the burden of water- and food-borne disease in the U.S., though the magnitude of this effect is difficult to project with certainty.”13 Pathogens such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia, which are associated with polluted runoff and CSOs, can be expected to increase in recreational waters in areas where climate change causes increased precipitation and runoff.14 An article in Climate Research concurs, concluding that “a wetter climate in the [mid-Atlantic region] could lead to higher C. parvum loads in water.”15 A major cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee in 1993, which killed 54 and sickened more than 400,000 people, occurred after heavy rains and runoff compromised a drinking water treatment plant.16

The bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera, is an example of a pathogen that presents an increased threat to humans as a result of climate change. Extreme weather events and warmer waters can foster growth of the bacterium—one study found that V. cholerae was up to nearly 20 times more likely to occur at a temperature of 19°C or higher than at lower temperatures.17 In 2005, cases of illness due to V. cholerae occurred in association with Hurricane Katrina.18 Increased freshwater runoff, high in nutrients and low in salinity, also may favor the growth of V. cholerae. As one study of Chesapeake Bay concluded, “increased climate variability, accompanied by higher stream flow rates and warmer temperatures, could favor conditions that increase the occurrence of V. cholerae in Chesapeake Bay.”19

Threats to Swimmers from Harmful Algal BloomsHarmful algal blooms (HABs), which are known as “red tides” when they occur in marine waters, are a growing problem in surface waters where nutrient-rich pollution can spur algal growth. Several species of phytoplankton, including Karenia brevis, Alexandrium tamarense, and Pseudo-nitzschia australis, produce potent toxins that can make people sick if they are exposed to contaminated water or if they eat contaminated fish or shellfish. These toxic organisms are a natural part of the phytoplankton community, but when conditions are right, they experience a rapid growth in numbers, resulting in a “bloom.” HABs can last for days, weeks, or months and cause serious and potentially life-threatening human illnesses that have a slew of symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, chills, diminished temperature sensation, muscular aches, dizziness, anxiety, sweating, seizures, numbness and tingling of the mouth and digits, and paralysis, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms (see Table 2-3).20 Approximately 10% of all food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States are caused by eating


seafood contaminated by algal toxins.21 Toxins produced by harmful algae can aerosolize and cause respiratory distress even in beach visitors who do not enter the water.

The incidence of HABs has increased dramatically over the past 30 years (see Figure 2-2).22 Indeed, analyzing data over nearly 50 years from the southwest coast of Florida, researchers at the University of Miami determined that K. brevis red tides are occurring with greater frequency, closer to shore, and during more months of the year. They attribute this phenomenon to greater inputs of nutrients into coastal waters due to increased agricultural runoff and sewage discharges in the watershed over that time period.23 K. brevis red tides are also becoming more common elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. For example, along the Texas coast, red tide blooms occurred in all but one year between 1995 and 2002.24 In August and September of 2007, red tides occurred off the coast of Delaware, the first documented occurrence of K. brevis north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.25

While red tides are a natural phenomenon, they are exacerbated by human impacts such as nutrient overloads into coastal waters, which spur their growth. Land use and development practices along coastlines and in watersheds can lead to increased runoff into water bodies and result in a greater number of red tide events. Man-made alterations to hydrology, such as dredging and filling, can slow water circulation and thus impede the ability of the water body to cleanse itself of harmful algae. Filter-feeding shellfish serve as natural cleansers of phytoplankton, so human activities that diminish shellfish populations reduce an ecosystem’s capacity to naturally cleanse itself of toxic algae.

Table 2-3. Algae and Their Threats to Human Health

Algal Blooms Health Risk

Cyanobacteria (mainly Microcystis and Anabaena)Severe dermatitis, burning or itching of the skin, erythematous wheals, redness of lips and eyes, sore throat, asthma symptoms, dizziness

Karenia brevis (and other marine algae) Irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat; coughing, shortness of breath

Pfiesteria piscicida Headache, confusion, skin rash, eye irritation, respiratory irritation

Alexandrium tamarenseParalytic shellfish poisoning: tingling, numbness, and burning of the perioral region, ataxia, giddiness, drowsiness, fever, rash, and staggering; repiratory arrest in more severe cases

Pseudo-nitzschia australisAmnesic shellfish poisoning: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea; in more severe cases dizziness, headache, seizures, disorientation, short-term memory loss, respiratory difficulty, and coma

Abbreviations: NSP: Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning, PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, ASP: Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, and DSP: Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning. Source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “Bad Water 2009: The Impact on Human Health in the Chesapeake Bay Region,” July 2009, p. 9. Source: Anderson, D.M., “Harmful Algal Blooms: An Expanding Problem in the U.S. Coastal Zone,” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, presented to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy at the Northeast Regional Meeting July 23–24, 2002, Boston, MA, available at: http://www.oceancommission.gov/meetings/jul23_24_02/anderson_testimony.pdf.

Figure 2-2. Expansion of HAB Problems in the United States

Pre-1972 2002

NSP

PSP

Fish kills

Ciguatera

Occasional anoxiaHI PR HI PROccasional anoxiaDSP (unconfirmed)Marine mammal mortalities (whales, manatees, sea lions, dolphins)Noxious blooms (aesthetics)Macro algal blooms

Pfiesteria complex

Ciguatera

Brown tide

ASP

NSP

PSP

Fish kills


In September 2009, at least 10,000 birds died off the Washington coast during a large algae bloom that created slimy foam. Researchers identified the brownish bloom as Akashiwo sanguinea, which acted as a surfactant on the birds’ feathers, causing them to die of hypothermia. Surfers reported health problems and were concerned that the bloom could be making them ill. On November 21, the Departments of Ecology and Health, NOAA, CDC, and the University of Washington conducted a health investigation in Westport to investigate the possible health effects of the recent algae bloom. The results of this investigation, which included 20 surfers at Halfmoon Bay beach in Westport who agreed to provide health histories and nasal swabs, are not yet available.26

Climate change may be contributing to the increases in frequency, intensity, and duration of harmful algal blooms that have occurred on a global scale in the past few decades.27 The blooms are influenced by weather patterns, ocean temperature, and nutrients in the water. For example, heavy rains lead to increased runoff, and this runoff, especially when carrying nutrient-rich fertilizers from agriculture, is linked to the proliferation of harmful algal blooms. On the Gulf Coast, for instance, precipitation and runoff have both increased significantly over the past 100 years.28

Advisories, Closings, and Notices Issued at Beaches Due to Oil Spil in the Gulf

Since the April 20, 2010 explosion and subsequent failure of emergency containment measures at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil have gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. Damage to Gulf and shore line life and the people who depend on these resources has been profound.

As of July 15, the federal government had prohibited commercial and recreational fishing across an 83,927 square mile area, representing roughly 35% of the Gulf.a The likely economic impact of this closure is hard to overstate; according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

In 2008, commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico harvested 1.27 billion pounds of finfish and shellfish that earned $659 million in total landings revenue.

There were 3.2 million recreational fishermen who took a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico region, and they took 24 million fishing trips in 2008.b

The spill is also harming shoreline recreation, as oil washes ashore at Gulf Coast beaches in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi (at the time of this writing, beaches in Texas have been only minimally affected). State and local officials have issued beach advisories, closures, and notices in response to oil on beaches and in coastal waters, because exposure to this oil can cause a variety of adverse human health effects. Besides being a beloved source of recreation for local residents, tourism at these beaches is an important part of the region’s economy. In 2004 alone, tourism and recreation contributed $26.5 billion to the GDP for the Gulf region (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) and eastern Florida.

Tourists are being driven away by the specter of oil “mousse,” tar balls, tar mats and even liquid oil on the sand and in the water. Unfortunately, there has been a dearth of accurate and comprehensive information about which beaches have been affected by the oil spill. This information is important not only to those contemplating a visit to the Gulf, but for understanding the impacts of the spill. Accordingly, NRDC, as part of this year’s Testing the Waters effort, has tracked the history of oil spill-related beach closures, advisories, and notices in the areas that have been affected by the oil spill. This information is available online at http://www.nrdc.org/energy/gulfspill/beaches.asp, and is regularly updated.

Pulling this information together is challenging. Information is spotty, dynamic, and sometimes hard to come by, as the status of local beaches is reported typically at the local government level. But NRDC has made every effort to use a combination of official websites as well as telephone calls to local officials to create an inter-active, map-based picture of where beaches have been closed or advisories issued related to oil. The good news is that many beaches remain open; the bad news is that far too many have been affected.

As of July 23, 2010, 49 of the 253 beach segments that are monitored for bacteria in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and western Florida have had oil spill-related closures, advisories, and notices. Up to that date, these beaches have had a total of 1,755 days of closings, advisories, and notices related to the oil spill, com-pared with 205 closing and advisory days at this time last year for any reason.

a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Southeast Fishery Bulletin FB10-064, BP Oil Spill: NOAA Modifies Commercial and Recreational Fishing Closure in the Oil-Affected Portions of the Gulf of Mexico, July 13, 2010, available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/bulletins/pdfs/2010/FB10-064_BP_Oil_Spill_Closure_071310.pdf.

b National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA’s Oil Spill Response: Fish Stocks in the Gulf of Mexico, available at http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/1886_Fish-Stocks-Gulf-fact-sheetv2.pdf.


As is the case with pathogens, warmer waters may also result in expanded ranges of some harmful algae species.29 For instance, shellfish toxicity from harmful algae in Puget Sound occurs in late summer and early fall when temperatures are warmest. Given that temperatures in Puget Sound are expected to increase, so too will the window of time during which these harmful algae bloom.30 According to a recent Chesapeake Bay Foundation report:

climate change might be expanding the range of a few new toxic species of algae into the estuary, and causing others to bloom earlier, according to a 2008 report by a scientific advisory committee of the U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program. For example, a toxic alga normally associated with Florida and the Gulf Coast, Alexandrium monilatum, in 2007 was believed to have been responsible for killing whelks (a species of sea snail) in the York River in Virginia. It was the first known bloom in this area, and it represented a potential shift northward, according to the EPA committee report. A large bloom of a toxic alga normally found in the Caribbean Sea, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, killed young fish and oysters in the lower Chesapeake Bay in August 2007.31

Efforts to deal with red tides have focused on mitigating the effects of these events, primarily through improved systems to monitor for harmful algal blooms, educate and communicate the risks to the general population, and learn more about the causes of harmful algal blooms and how they affect humans and aquatic life. Other techniques to prevent HABs involve restricting the movement of harmful algal species via the shellfish market and ship ballast water. For example, ballast water may be heated or chemically treated to prevent the introduction of invasive species, and trade may be restricted in shellfish from areas experiencing red tides. Strong efforts need to be made to control nutrient pollution from nonpoint sources (e.g., agricultural runoff and septic tank runoff ) as well as from point sources (e.g., sewage treatment and aquaculture facilities) to reduce the number of red tide events.32

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Beaches, rivers, and lakes are the number one vacation destination for Americans; about one-fourth of the population goes swimming in our waterways every year. Approximately 85% of all U.S. tourism revenue is received in coastal states. Americans take more than 1.8 billion trips annually—or an average of approximately six trips per person per year—to

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Figure 2-3. The Value of the Coastal Economy (2007)

Source: National Ocean Economics Program, Market Data, Ocean Economy Data, accessed at http://noep.mbari.org/Market/ocean/oceanEcon.asp in July 2009.


fish, swim, boat, or just relax.33 Yet our coasts provide more than just recreation—in 2007, the nation’s shoreline-adjacent counties contributed $5.6 trillion toward the nation’s gross domestic product and 47 million jobs (Figure 2-3).34 Economic activity directly associated with the ocean contributed more than $138 billion to the U.S. economy in 2004.35

The ways in which polluted water puts these revenues at risk are many and varied. Polluted beaches result in a loss of utility for those who had planned to visit and swim in the water; that in turn impacts local economies in the form of lost tourist dollars and the jobs they support. Clean beaches, on the other hand, can transform a community. In Racine, Wisconsin, great efforts have been made to correct water quality problems at North Beach. North Beach was closed or under advisory for bacterial exceedances more than half the time in 2000. Today, the beachwater nearly always meets water quality standards, and North Beach has been named one of the best urban beaches in the Midwest.36 As a result, the city is able to attract beach-related events, such as the U.S. Grand Prix of Watercross, that contribute significantly to the city’s and county’s economic health. Real Racine, the county’s convention and visitor’s bureau, estimates that in 2009 the Iron Man Racine 70.3 Triathlon netted $1,432,000 in revenue based on overnight stays alone. The 2009 EVP Pro-Beach Volleyball Tour event generated an additional $175,000 in direct economic benefits.37

Once water quality improved, summer weekday attendance at North Beach soared, increasing from an average of 126 people in 2005 to 641 people in 2008. Holiday and weekend visitors frequently numbered in the thousands.38 The increase in steady customers has resulted in the creation of a number of small-business opportunities such as cabana, beach chair, and kayak rentals.39

Even the perception of water quality is an important factor in the economics of beach tourism. In the spring of 2010, before the oil from BP’s offshore spill was affecting states other than Louisiana, Gulf Coast states from Alabama to Florida saw a huge drop in coastal hotel bookings and a large number of cancellations from tourists whose perception was that beachwater quality at these destinations was impacted by the spill. Texas saw an decrease in beach tourism for the same reason.

Coastal tourism, attributable in part to clean beaches, generates substantial revenues for state and local governments as well as for businesses lining the coasts. Economists estimate that a typical swimming day is worth $30.84 to each individual.40 Depending on the number of potential visitors to a beach, this “consumer surplus” loss can be quite sig nifi-cant. For example, one study estimated economic losses as a result of closing a Lake Michigan beach due to pollution could be as high as $37,030 per day.41

Another study, performed in Orange County, Cali fornia, evaluated the economic burden of several indi vidual illnesses that can be contracted from swimming in polluted recreational marine waters. For the two beaches studied, researchers estimated the cumulative public health cost from lost wages and medical care to treat the more than 74,000 inci dences of illness annually by calculating a cost for each illness (see Table 2-4). The total annual burden was $3.3 million, excluding personal out-of-pocket expenses associated with having a prescription filled after a doctor visit or the costs of self-medication.42 Similarly, another Southern Cali fornia study concluded that fecal contamination at Los Angeles and Orange County beaches caused between 627,800 and 1,479,200 excess gastrointestinal illnesses with a pub lic health cost of $21 million to $51 mil lion each year.43

The commercial fishing and recreational angling industries are also affected by beach pollution. In 2006, the U.S. com mercial fishing industry (including processors and retailers) generated more than $44 billion in income and sup-ported more than 1.5 million jobs.44 The same year, 13.6 million individuals participated in recreational angling, contributing $82 billion directly to the economy and generating more than 500,000 jobs.45

Nutrient pollution in runoff plays a role in one of the most serious coastal pollution threats these industries face: the creation of “dead zones.” Besides posinf a pathogenic threat to swimmers from urban and agricultural runoff, sewage, and animal wastes, these streams are rich in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. When excessive nutrients are discharged into aquatic ecosystems, eutrophication occurs and aquatic plants become more abundant. As these plants die, they sink to the bottom

Table 2-4. Cost Estimates for Illnesses Associated With Polluted Water Due to Lost Wages and Medical Care

Type of Illness Cost Per Illness

Gastrointestinal Illness $36.58

Acute Respiratory Disease $76.76

Ear Ailment $37.86

Eye Ailment $27.31

Source: Ryan H. Dwight, Linda M. Fernandez, Dean B. Baker, Jan C. Semenza, and Betty H. Olson, “Estimating the Economic Burden from Illnesses Associated with Recreational Coastal Water Pollution: A Case Study in Orange County, California,” in Journal of Environmental Management, 76 (2): 95–103, 2005, p.1–9.


and are decomposed by microbes that consume oxygen. This can lead to hypoxia, a depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water. Aquatic life flees areas of hypoxia when it can, and dies when it cannot. In the Gulf of Mexico, nutrient pollution carried from the corn belt by the Mississippi River has contributed to the creation of a zone of hypoxia that covers approximately 8,000 square miles, an area roughly the size of New Jersey.46 It is the second-largest human-caused zone of hypoxia in the world and has compromised fishing resources that are an important source of human nutrition. While natural conditions created zones of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico several times prior to the advent of commercial fertilizers, the size of the current zone has increased rapidly over the past several decades.47

The Chesapeake Bay also has a hypoxic zone that is sensitive to nitrogen loading. In 2008, this dead zone was particu-larly large, about as large as it has ever been.48 The growth in some of the world’s zones of hypoxia, however, is linked to global climate change rather than nitrogen loading. A dead zone off the coast of Oregon and Washington has grown larger and become more depleted in oxygen in recent years, encroaching on the continental shelf. Global climate change may be responsible, as it results in stronger and more persistent winds that stir up nutrients from the ocean floor.49

Harmful algal blooms, which can also be spurred by nutrients delivered in runoff, can create substantial economic losses in terms of their impact on public health (lost work days and medical costs), commercial fisheries, recreation and tourism, and monitoring and management. As one example, in the spring and summer of 2005, shellfish beds from Maine to Cape Cod that represented more than 35% of the nation’s clam harvest were closed due to the worst toxic algal bloom in New England since 1972. The problem was so bad that the governor of Massachusetts asked the Small Business Administration to declare an “economic injury disaster” for the state’s fishermen and related businesses.50 Nationwide, one study estimates that harmful algal blooms cost the United States $82 million a year.51 According to a 2004 account from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “[o]ver the last several decades, [harmful algal blooms] have caused more than $1 billion in economic losses in the U.S.”52

Fisheries are also directly harmed by urban runoff, which has been found to have significant impacts on aquatic life in receiving waters.53 Urban runoff can lead to excess sedimentation, suffocating fish eggs and smothering the habitat of bottom-dwelling organisms such as aquatic insects, which are a food source for many fish and other wildlife species. Toxic chemicals washed into the water can increase the susceptibility of aquatic organisms to disease, interfere with reproduction, reduce the viability of offspring, or cause direct mortality.54

Another example of the potential for economic harm from beach pollution is found in the Florida Keys. Each year, 4 million people travel to the Keys, in part to visit its renowned coral reefs.55 A 2003 study estimates that reef-related sales in Broward County, Florida, contribute more than $2 billion to the economy and provide more than 35,000 jobs.56 Yet coral reefs are adversely impacted by a combination of rising temperatures, increasing nutrients, and pathogen pollution from sources such as untreated or inadequately treated sewage. Fecal contamination from sewage in the Florida Keys is thought to be a major source of disease in coral.

Investments in improving water quality result in greater economic returns. For instance, a 2007 Brookings Institution study concluded that the $26 billion Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to clean and preserve the Great Lakes would result in present-value economic benefits of “[o]ver $50 billion in long-term benefits; and etween $30 and $50 billion in short-term multiplier benefits.”57 A 2007 study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin istration found that an increase in water quality in Long Beach, California, to the healthier standards of Huntington City Beach would create $8.8 million in economic benefits over a 10-year period.58 A similar, 2001 study compared the 1996 water quality of the Chesapeake Bay with the quality it would have had if legislation to clean the waters had never been passed. The study estimated that the water quality improvements increased annual boating, fishing, and swimming revenue by $357.9 million to $1.8 billion.59 And along Maryland’s western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, one study showed that localized improvements in fecal coliform counts so that state standards are met would increase waterfront property values by approximately 6%.60

Some areas either do not monitor their beaches or do not close them when water quality fails to meet standards. This can result in lower short-term losses for businesses in the area, but it also means that those who get sick will incur medical costs and lost workdays as a result. Cleaning up the sources of pollution so that beachwater does not pose a health risk is the optimal solution. In the meantime, protecting public health will require improved beachwater moni-toring and closing of beaches when contamination is detected or suspected, rather than allowing people to swim and get sick. Given the large number of people using beaches and the substantial income from coastal tourism, the cost of moni-toring programs is reasonable.


NOTES1 Health Canada (2004) “Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Supporting Documentation—Protozoa: Giardia and Cryptosporidium.” Water Quality and Health Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, p. 11, available at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/pubs/water-eau/protozoa/protozoa.pdf.

2 Lew, J.F. et al., “Diarrheal Deaths in the United States, 1979 Through 1987. A Special Problem for the Elderly.” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 265, no. 24 (June 26, 1991) pp. 3,280–3,284.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Giardiasis Surveillance—United States, 1998–2002,” January 2005, available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5401a2.htm.

4 Dale, K, R Wolfe, M Sinclair, M Hellard, K Leder. Sporadic Gastroenteritis and Recreational Swimming in a Longitudinal Community Cohort Study in Melbourne, Australia. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Dec 15;170(12):1469–77.

5 Yoder, J.S., et al., “Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks Associated With Recreational Water Use and Other Aquatic Facility–Associated Health Events—United States, 2005–2006,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 12, 2008/57(SS09) pp. 1–29, available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5709a1.htm.

6 Brinks, M.V., et al., “Health Risk of Bathing in Southern California Coastal Waters,” Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, vol. 63, no. 3 (Fall 2008).

7 Wade, T.J., et al., “Rapidly Measured Indicators of Recreational Water Quality Are Predictive of Swimming-Associated Gastrointestinal Illness,” in Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 114, no. 1 (January 2006) pp. 24–28.

8 Curriero et al., “The Association Between Extreme Precipitation and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks in the United States, 1948–1994,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2001, available at: http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/91/8/1194.pdf.

9 Dwight, R. H., et al., “Health Effects Associated With Recreational Coastal Water Use: Urban Versus Rural California,” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 94, no. 4 (April 2004).

10 Haile, R., et al., “An Epidemiological Study of Possible Adverse Health Effects of Swimming in Santa Monica Bay,” Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, 1996.

11 Washington State Department of Ecology. January-December 2009 (FFY08) Annual Report for: Washington State’s BEACH Program. Not dated.

12 IPCC, Technical Paper IV, “Climate Change and Water,” June 2008, pp. 103. Available at: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/climate-change-water-en.pdf.

13 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, available at: http://www.cdc.gov/climatechange/effects/waterborne.htm.

14 See, e.g., P.R. Hunter, “Climate Change and Waterborne and Vector-borne Diseases,” Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2003, 94, 37S–46S, p. 40S; Frank C. Currio, Jonathan A. Patz, Joan B. Rose, and Subhash Lele, “The Association Between Extreme Precipitation and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks in the United States, 1948–1994,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2001, vol. 91, no. 8; and Wael M. Khairy, “Assessing and Modeling Flood Event and Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region,” Chapter 10 in Integrated Assessment of the Climate Change Impacts on the Gulf Coast Region, findings of the Gulf Coast Regional Assessment, June 2003, p. 169.

15 Keith Benson, Patricia Kocagil, and James Shortle, “Climate Change and Health in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” Clim. Res., 2000, vol.14: pp. 245–253.

16 Frank C. Currio, Jonathan A. Patz, Joan B. Rose, and Subhash Lele, “The Association Between Extreme Precipitation and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks in the United States, 1948–1994,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2001, vol. 91, no. 8.

17 Louis, V.R., et al. “Predictability of Vibrio Cholerae in Chesapeake Bay,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2003, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 2,773–2,785.

18 Greer, A., Ng, V., and Fisman, D. “Climate Change and Infectious Diseases in North America: The Road Ahead,” Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 178, No. 6 (March 11, 2008), pp. 715–722.

19 Louis, V.R., et al. (2003).

20 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, “The Harmful Algae Page,” available at: http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/.

21 Frances M. Van Dolah. “Marine Algal Toxins: Origins, Health Effects, and Their Increased Occurrence.” Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements, vol. 108, no. S1, March 2000.

22 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, “The Harmful Algae Page” available at: http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/.

23 Brand, L.E., and Compton, A. “Long-Term Increase in Karenia Brevis Abundance Along the Southwest Florida Coast,” Harmful Algae vol. 6, no. 2, (February 2007) pp. 232–252.

24 Stumpf, R. P., et al., “Monitoring Karenia Brevis Blooms in the Gulf of Mexico Using Satellite Ocean Color Imagery and Other Data,” Harmful Algae, vo.. 2, no. 2 (June 2003,) pp. 147–160.

25 State of Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Information on Red Tides, at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Pages/RedTideInformation.aspx.

26 Washington State Department of Ecology. January-December 2009 (FFY08) Annual Report for: Washington State’s BEACH Program. Not dated.

27 Moore, S.K, et al., “Impacts of Climate Variability and Future Climate Change on Harmful Algal Blooms and Human Health,” Environmental Health 2008, 7 (Suppl 2):S4; Rose, J.B., et al., “Climate Variability and Change in the United States: Potential Impacts on Water- and Food-borne Diseases Caused by Microbiologic Agents,” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 109, Supplemental 2 (May 2001) p. 217.

28 Khairy, W.M., “Assessing and Modeling Flood Event and Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region (Ch. 10 from Integra ted Assessment of the Climate Change Impacts on the Gulf Coast Region),” Findings of the Gulf Coast Regional Assessment (June 2003) pp. 166.

29 Moore, S.K. et al. (2008); Mortsch, L. et al., “Climate Change and Water Quality in the Great Lakes Region: Risks, Opportunities, and Responses,” a report prepared for the Great Lakes Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission (August 2003) pp. 91.

30 Moore, S.K. et al. (2008).


31 Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “Bad Water 2009: The Impact on Human Health in the Chesapeake Bay Region,” July 2009, p. 9 (citation omitted).

32 See Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, “Prevention Control and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms: A Research Plan,” September 2001, pp. 9–10, available at: http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/redtide/pertinentinfo/PCM_HAB_Research_Plan. .

33 EPA, Liquid Assets: A Summertime Perspective on the Importance of Clean Water to the Nation’s Economy, EPA 800-R-96-002, 1996, at iv.

34 National Ocean Economics Program, Market Data, Coastal Economy Data, Shore Adjacent Coastal Zone Counties, available at: http://noep.mbari .org/Market/coastal/coastalEcon.asp.

35 National Ocean Economics Program, Market Data, Ocean Economy Data, available at: http://noep.mbari.org/Market/ocean/oceanEcon.asp.

36 “Best of the Midwest 2010,” Midwest Living, midwestliving.com.

37 Smith, A. Real Racine, personal communication, July 2010.

38 Kinzelman, J. and McLellan, S. Success of Science-Based Best Management Practices in Reducing Swimming Bans—a Case Study from Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 12(2): 187–196.

39 Kinzelman, J., City of Racine, personal communication, June 2010.

40 EPA, Pathogens and Swimming: An Economic Assessment of Beach Monitoring and Closure, draft report prepared by Environomics, Inc., 1995. The authors review studies of consumer surplus, which is the willingness to pay over cost, and conclude that $30.84 is a best estimate. See also Bell, F. and Leeworthy, V.R., “Recreational Demand by Tourists for Saltwater Beach Days,” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 189–205; R.G. Walsh, D.M. Johnson, and J.R. McKean, “Benefit Transfer of Outdoor Recreation Demand Studies, 1968–1988,” in Water Resources Research, vol. 28, no. 3, 1988, pp. 707–713.

41 Rabinovici, S.J. et al. “Economic and Health Risk Trade-Offs of Swim Closures at a Lake Michigan Beach,” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 38, no. 10, 2004, p. 2,742.

42 Dwight, R.H. et al., “Estimating the Economic Burden From Illnesses Associated With Recreational Coastal Water Pollution: A Case Study in Orange County, California,” Journal of Environmental Management, 76 (2):95-103 (2005) pp.1–9.

43 Given, S. et al., “Regional Public Health Cost Estimates of Contaminated Coastal Waters: A Case Study of Gastroenteritis at Southern California Beaches,” 40 Environ. Sci. Technol. 4851 (2006).

44 U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2006,” p. 10, available at: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/publication/econ/EconomicsReport_ALL.pdf.

45 Ibid., p. 11.

46 http://www.snre.umich.edu/newsroom/2009-06-18/snres_scavia_colleagues_predict_large_2009_gulf_of_mexico_dead_zone.

47 Osterman, L., Poore, R., Swarzenski, P.W., and Turner, E., “Reconstructing a 180-Year Record of Natural and Anthropogenic Induced Hypoxia From the Sediments of the Louisiana Continental Shelf,” Geology, vol. 33, no. 4, 2005, pp. 329–332.

48 Scavia, D. and Y. Liu, “Chesapeake Bay Hypoxic Volume Forecasts and Results,” University of Michigan, June 9, 2009. Available at: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/scavia/files/2009_chesapeake_bay_hypoxic_volume_forecast.pdf.

49 Chan et al. “Emergence of Anoxia in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.” Science, 15 February 2008: vol. 319. no. 5865, p. 920. DOI: 10.1126/science.1149016.

50 New York Times, “Red Tide Emergency,” June 10, 2005, late edition–final.

51 NOAA, “Economic Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms,” not dated, available at: http://www.cop.noaa.gov/stressors/extremeevents/hab/current/econimpact_08.pdf.

52 NOAA. September 15, 2004. Press Release—”NOAA Begins Operational Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast System for Florida, Gulf of Mexico.” Available at http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/news/pr/PressReleases/HABMonitoringGulf.pdf.

53 D. Hoffman, B. Rattner, G.A. Burton, Jr., and J. Cairns, Jr., Handbook of Ecotoxicology, 2nd Edition (Boca Raton, FL: CRC-Lewis, 2002).

54 EPA, “National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report to Congress,” EPA 841-R-02-001, August 2002.

55 “Sewage Casts Pox on Reefs,” Nature, June 18, 2002.

56 Johns, G.M. et al., ”Socioeconomic Study of Reefs in Southeast Florida,” Final Report October 19, 2001 as revised April 18, 2003, available at: http://marineeconomics.noaa.gov/reefs/pdf ’s/white.pdf.

57 Austin, J.C. et al., Healthy Waters, Strong Economy: The Benefits of Restoring the Great Lakes Ecosystem (The Brookings Institution, Sept. 2007), at 2, 5, 10, available at: http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/about-precaution/documents/true%20cost%20tool%20kit-09/pdf/FCA%208.pdf.

58 Leeworthy, V.R. and Wiley, P.C. ”Southern California Beach Valuation Project: Economic Value and Impact of Water Quality Change for Long

Beach in Southern California,” NOAA, February 2007.

59 Morgan, et al., “Benefits of Water Quality Policies: the Chesapeake Bay,” Ecological Economics, vol. 39, issue 2 (November 2001) pp. 271–284.

60 Leggett, C.G., et al., “Evidence of the Effects of Water Quality on Residential Land Prices,” J. Environ. Econ. Manage, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 121–144.


Chapter 3

Plan of Action

When NRDC first issued Testing the Waters in 1991, most beaches in the United States were rarely, if ever, monitored for pollution, and the public was usually not informed whether the beaches were safe for swimming. That situation has improved considerably due to years of public education and advocacy by NRDC and other public health and environmental organizations. While concerns about the adequacy of water quality standards and water quality test methods remain, the NRDC has largely shifted its focus to addressing the sources of beachwater pollution.

CLEAN UP URBAN RUNOFF

Strategies for reducing contamination carried by stormwater runoff fall into three categories: stormwater reduction, stormwater treatment, and reduction of the sources of contamination in stormwater.

Stormwater Reduction: Green InfrastructureGreen infrastructure strategies employ a variety of technologies to reduce urban stormwater discharges to surface waters. These strategies, which are also often termed “low-impact development” or LID, act to restore natural hydrologic conditions by increasing the amount of permeable, usually vegetated areas that minimize the volume of stormwater discharges. Most often, these technologies retain and filter rainwater where it falls and let it soak back into the ground, rather than dumping it into waterways. Green infra structure reduces pollutant flows and minimizes the need for more expensive traditional treatment by utilizing strategically placed rain gardens in yards, tree boxes along city side walks, green roofs that use absorbent vegetation on top of buildings, and permeable pavement. Green infrastructure also involves capturing and storing stormwater in rain barrels or cisterns and re-using it, most often for irrigation or other nonpotable uses. Many green infrastructure strategies have the added benefits of augmenting the water supply, providing wildlife habitat, minimizing greenhouse gas generation, and being aesthetically pleasing.1

When surveyed for this year’s Testing the Waters, many states reported that green infrastructure is gaining traction as success stories mount. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifically directs clean water funding to environmentally innovative projects, including green infrastructure, and grant recipients are using funds to assist some cities to improve beachwater quality by implementing green infrastructure techniques. For example, in California, the City of Hermosa Beach was awarded nearly $1.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in 2010 to turn one of its major thoroughfares into a “green street.” The project includes a new storm drain system designed to prevent bacteria-laden runoff from ending up in beachwater that is listed as impaired because of high bacteria levels.2 The City of Redondo Beach in California was awarded $2.2 million in Recovery Act funds to protect coastal waters from urban stormwater by collecting rainwater for irrigation at a park and infiltrating excess water. This project will reduce discharges of bacteria in urban runoff to the city’s beaches.3

Green infrastructure techniques are being promoted in an effort to improve the water quality in Wreck Pond, a tidal pond in New Jersey that is high in fecal indicator bacteria and whose discharges are at least sometimes to blame for persistent water quality problems at beaches in the town of Sea Girt and Spring Lake. The Wreck Pond Regional Stormwater Management Planning Committee is working with Rutgers Cooperative Extension to install six showcase

In addition to warning the public or closing our beaches when they are unsafe, we must address the sources of beachwater pollution.


rain gardens in the Wreck Pond watershed.4 These gardens will encourage the use of rain gardens that will reduce the overall runoff, sediment, and pollutant loading into streams in the Wreck Pond watershed, which will in turn improve water quality at beaches downstream of the pond.

In many locations, current stormwater management cannot meet clean beachwater goals, and communities often struggle with the economic burden of repairing or expanding existing stormwater infrastructure. While retrofitting of existing development to reduce stormwater runoff can be cheaper and more effective than constructing traditional stormwater treatment facilities, the most economical time to implement green infrastructure strategies is during construction. Unless strong measures are taken to ensure that developers use sustainable practices such as on-site retention of stormwater, runoff from these areas will increasingly degrade coastal waters and pollute our beaches. Green infrastructure is an effective and innovative stormwater management approach that can be used to achieve more economically sustainable and environmentally sound solutions. NRDC recommends that green infrastructure require ments for all development and redevelopment (including road retrofit and renovation projects) be an element in every municipal stormwater permit.

A bill recently introduced in Congress, the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (H.R. 4202 and S. 3561), aims to make green infrastructure and low-impact development techniques a national priority. The bill establishes institutional “Centers of Excellence” for green infrastructure that will provide critical research and information coordination services. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency to incorporate green infrastructure principles into its permitting and other programs more broadly than it has done in the past. Most importantly, the bill will provide communities with the financial and technical resources they need to implement green infrastructure and LID projects on the ground, improving the lives of their residents and the nation’s water quality. The Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1262), which has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate, would authorize almost $14 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund over the next five years and provide critical assistance for various water quality improvement projects, including the use of green infrastructure.

Stormwater TreatmentThere are many means of treating stormwater to reduce bacterial contaminants, such as installing filters into outfall catch basins and using UV disinfection. In North Carolina, a $1.1 million treatment unit for treating bacteria in a stormwater outfall began operating in Dare County in the fall of 2009. In this system, the stormwater enters a central chamber and is routed to an outfall at the beach after passing through filters lining the central chamber. The water quality from this unit will be monitored, and if the device is successful, more of these units will be installed statewide.5

A stormwater treatment system installed in Racine, Wisconsin, is pleasing to the eye in addition to being a very effective means of improving beachwater quality. In late 2000, a reengineering effort began on a stormwater outfall

Figure 3-1. A Re-Engineered Stormwater Outfall in Racine, Wisconsin

(a) Installation of a system for removal of solids from stormwater. The photo was taken in late 2000.

(b) The infiltration/evaporation basins after planting with native wetland species.

(c) The infiltration/evaporation basins as they appear today.

Source: Kinzelman, J., City of Racine Health Department, personal communication, July 2009.


that was affecting water quality at North Beach and Zoo Beach in Racine. The improved outfall includes a pre treat ment ystem that removes solid wastes and oils from stormwater and then directs it to a series of infiltration/evapora tion basins planted with native wetland species (see Figure 3-1). Under high flow situations caused by large storms (five-year or greater, meaning that there is less than a 20% likelihood that a storm this large would occur in any given year, excluding the first flush, which is held for treatment), stormwater bypasses the treatment structures and wetlands, discharging through a bypass outlet and into a plunge pool that also contains native vegetation before it is released into Lake Michigan. In addition to this stormwater treatment system, other strategies for improving water quality at these beaches were undertaken: the development of a series of dune ridges to intercept stormwater from the parking area, altered beach grooming practices that facilitate bacterial die-off in the sand through increased sun exposure, the placement of additional trash cans with liners so the trash can be emptied on an as-needed basis instead of over flowing and attracting seagulls, solar powered trash compactors, enacting a city ordinance and posting signs informing that feeding of seagulls is prohibited, and stenciling storm drains with the words “No dumping, drains to lake.”6 During the summer of 2000, before these measures were taken, North Beach was under advisory for 62 days (more than half the time) and Zoo Beach for 39 days. Since then, the number of advisories has dropped dramatically. In the summer of 2009, two advisory days were issued at North Beach and six were issued at Zoo Beach. The average summer season E. coli count at North Beach decreased from 232 MPN/100 ml in 2000 to 2004 to 76 MPN/100 ml in 2005 to 2009.7

In some cases, sending urban runoff to sewage treatment plants is an effective means of improving beachwater quality. In dry weather, runoff occurs as a result of landscape irrigation, the draining of swimming pools, car washing, and various commercial activities. Even though it is much smaller in volume than stormwater runoff, dry weather runoff can be a significant source of beachwater contamination, especially along the coast of California, where it is dry during the summer when the beaches are most heavily used. Along the densely populated Santa Monica Bay in California, more than 20 low-flow diversion facilities have been constructed to route dry weather runoff through sanitary sewage treatment after trash and debris have been screened out.8 Sanitary sewage treatment plants in this area have the capacity to treat dry weather runoff, but they cannot handle the huge volume of runoff that is generated during storms.

In Maine, as part of the Gooch’s Beach Seawall Reconstruction project, the stormwater system along Beach Avenue was modified to coincide with the Seawall Construction.9 The town designed the system to allow for the implementation of a stormwater treatment device referred to as an Ultra Urban Filter. These devices were installed in four catch basins to provide treatment of stormwater by removing waterborne pollutants that have historically been allowed to discharge directly to the beach. This will provide treatment of approximately 920 feet of roadway and surrounding area.10

Preventing ContaminationEPA regulations require cities and industrial and construction sites to obtain permits, develop stormwater management plans, and implement best management practices to control pollutants in stormwater runoff. However, only limited progress has been made to date. Vigorous implementation and enforcement and ambitious pollutant reduction goals are necessary to make this effort successful.

ELIMINATE DISCHARGES OF HUMAN SEWAGE

Although the EPA’s combined sewer overflow policy has been in place since 1994, many of the roughly 772 communities nationwide that are served by combined stormwater and sewage systems have not yet begun implementation of a long-term plan to control combined sewer overflows and to include in such plans low-impact development approaches that provide more environmental benefits per dollar expended.11

Sanitary sewer overflows are illegal, yet the EPA has estimated that there are more than 23,000 sanitary sewer over-flows every year into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters.12 The EPA needs to enhance its implementation and enforcement of this provision of the law. Also, the “ocean waiver” provision of the Clean Water Act gives the EPA administrator the authority to grant sewage treatment plants a waiver from secondary treatment requirements. The City of San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant has been granted such a waiver since 1995. The waiver was renewed in 2002 and again in 2010.13 This waiver allows the treatment plant to discharge up to 240 million gallons a month of sewage that has not undergone secondary treatment through its ocean outfall.14


Coastal localities that have taken steps to reduce sewer overflows see beachwater quality benefits. Lakewalk Beach in Duluth, Minnesota used to have a number of advisory days every year due to sewage bypasses and overflows. The city installed a series of holding tanks, including one that holds a million gallons of wastewater, to reduce or eliminate sewage bypasses into Lake Superior and the St. Louis River. Water quality at Lakewalk Beach showed immediate improvement, with no beach advisory days in 2009.15

Installing holding tanks that allow sewage generated during high flow events to be treated is one way to prevent sewage overflows. Another way is to upgrade sewage treatment plants so that they can treat higher volumes of flow. However, there are hundreds of billions of dollars of documented needs for water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States, according to the EPA. Congress should assist state and local communities in meeting these levels by substantially increasing the federal resources available to meet clean water needs through the creation of a Clean Water Trust Fund or other dedicated source of clean water funding, and by increasing annual funding to the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The Water Quality Investment Act/Water Infrastructure Financing Act (H.R. 1262/S. 1005), which has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate, would authorize between $13.8 and $16.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund over the next five years and provide critical assistance for projects that repair and rebuild failing water and wastewater infrastructure. This funding includes support for green infrastructure and between $1.8 and $2.5 billion in authorized funds for grants to help communities address combined sewer overflows.

Sometimes significant sewage contamination of coastal waters occurs from multiple smaller sources. Many states find that elimination of malfunctioning septic systems improves their beachwater quality. Eliminating failing septic systems upstream of Fairview Beach in Virginia is such a success story. Microbial source tracking showed that the stormwater outfall at this beach had a persistent human signature, regardless of rainfall levels. The Virginia Department of Health and local officials located several apartments, homes, and trailers on old septic systems and connected them to the com-munity sewer system. In 2009, the statewide fraction of advisories at Fairview Beach dropped compared to 2007 and 2008. Both 2007 and 2009 were wet years, but in 2009, the beach was under advisory half as many days as in 2007.16

Communities also need to spend smarter by linking water and sewer rates to water use and degradation, preserving and enhancing the use of wetlands and forests, and using soil and vegetation to reduce beachwater pollution. In a study of watersheds with at least 13.5% wetland coverage, for example, “periods of rainfall did not substantially increase the fecal coliform bacteria counts.”17

Finally, Congress is considering the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act, which would reauthorize and increase the federal grants made available to states under the BEACH Act. This funding is crucial and should not only be authorized but should also be fully appropriated to provide states with the full support they need to tackle beachwater contamination and protect the public and the environment.

REDUCE AGRICULTURAL DISCHARGES AND AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF

The EPA needs to plug the loopholes that allow industrial livestock operations to continue to discharge animal wastes into waterways. The EPA estimates that confined livestock produce about three times the amount of waste as people do nationwide; however, these facilities lack treatment facilities for livestock waste even remotely comparable to those that treat human sewage.18 Moreover, many large feedlot operations historically avoided getting Clean Water Act permits, something made easier by lax federal regulation. The EPA needs to revise its rules to close the loopholes and require all large feedlots to keep animal waste out of waterways. Right now, the public is bearing the true cost of these feedlots because of their degradation of water quality.

IMPROVE COORDINATION BETWEEN SANITATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS

When a sewer overflow threatens beachwater quality, there needs to be immediate communication between those respon-sible for the overflow and those charged with protecting public health. The public has the right to know that an overflow or discharge has occurred and should be informed when it happens, not several days later, after beachwater monitoring


results have been analyzed and reported. To close these communication gaps and improve coordination between sanita tion and public health officials, the Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 753/S. 937) should be passed. It would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, directing owners or operators of sewage treatment plants to: 1) institute an alert system for sanitary sewer overflows, 2) notify the public of such overflows in areas where human health is potentially affected within 24 hours, 3) immediately notify public health authorities and other affected entities of certain kinds of overflows, and 4) provide specified reports to the administrator of the EPA or the state.19 Improved monitoring, immediate reporting of overflows to public health authorities and to the general public, and prompt response to overflows to minimize human exposure and environmental harm are critical steps that need to be taken to close the communica-tion gaps between those responsible for sewage and stormwater treatment and those charged with protecting public health. As noted above, NRDC also supports the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act provision to direct public health officials to inform environmental agencies when they find a violation so that its source can be addressed.

IMPROVE BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Often, manmade modifications and activities that are intended to make a beach more attractive or accessible to visitors backfire because they are conducive to poor water quality. Breakwaters, for example, make water less turbulent for swimmers, but they also reduce natural water circulation and trap polluted waters in areas where bathers congregate. Ironically, many “mother’s beaches” that are frequented by families with small children because of their quiet waters are prone to exceeding water quality standards. From a water quality standpoint, beach infrastructure that interferes with water exchange is undesirable.

The beaches in East San Pedro Bay along Long Beach, California, illustrate the impact that infrastructure designed to reduce waves can have on beaches. After considering a reconnaissance phase analysis, the Army Corps of Engineers has leant its support of further study concerning the reconfiguration of the 2.2-mile breakwater off the coast of this bay.20 This World War II-era breakwater has been blamed for trapping water pollution from various sources, including the Los Angeles River, resulting in water quality exceedances at the beaches as well as wreaking ecological damage to the near-coast environment. The reconnaissance analysis estimated that the “maximum improvement scenario” for reconfiguring the breakwater could result in “increases of approximately $52 million per year in local spending and economic activity, and nearly $7 million per year in taxes and parking fees” because of the increased recreational value of the Long Beach shoreline.21

A beach amenity that can contribute to degradation of beachwater is parking lots. Parking lots are often constructed at the edge of beaches for ease of access, but pavement prevents water from soaking into the ground when it rains. Simple strategies like separating roads and parking lots from the beach with a strip of vegetation can prevent contaminated runoff from reaching the beachwater.

Waterfowl also contribute to pollution. Birds are attracted by food sources, including handouts from misguided visitors as well as trash left on beaches and in overflowing garbage cans. Where there are birds there is fecal con tami na-tion. Waterfowl congregate more freely when areas adjacent to beaches have been cleared of trees and bushes that would provide cover for predators. Frequently, parking lots at the beach are attractive to shoreline birds as well as people, and parking lot runoff washes fecal matter from the birds into the beachwater.

Beach maintenance strategies can have a huge impact on beachwater quality. Beachgoers might appreciate a long expanse of relatively flat and tightly packed sand, but sand harbors bacteria,22 and beach grooming techniques that pack and level the sand can increase the density of bacteria in sand.23 Switching to beach grooming techniques that deeply groom the sand without leveling it can have a positive impact on beachwater quality.24

IMPROVE BEACHWATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND USE FASTER DETECTION METHODS

Water Quality StandardsCurrent federal standards for recreational water quality are based on the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria, usually enterococcus and E. coli. They are called indicator bacteria because, although they may not be directly harmful


to humans, they indicate the likely presence of fecal contamination, are relatively easy to test for, and are typically found in the presence of harmful pathogens. Testing for the full range of pathogens found in beachwater is difficult, partly because if they are present they are at very low concentrations.

Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA is required to develop water quality criteria for pollutants based on their impact on human health and aquatic life. States then create limits, or standards, for these pollutants using the EPA’s recom-mended water quality criteria or other criteria that the EPA deems as protective. In 1986, the EPA developed criteria for testing recreational waters using E. coli and enterococci bacteria as pathogen indicators in the Great Lakes (fresh) waters, and enterococci as indicators in marine and fresh waters, based on prior scientific research (see Table 3-1).

As of 2000, only 11 states had adopted the 1986 criteria. Recognizing the need for consistent water quality criteria at recreational beaches, Congress passed the Beach Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act in 2000, amending the Clean Water Act to improve beachwater quality monitoring programs and processes for notifying the public of health risks from contamination at beaches. Under the BEACH Act, states were pushed to adopt standards based on the EPA’s 1986 criteria for pathogen indicators.25 In addition, the EPA was required to complete studies on the human health effects of pathogens in coastal recreational waters and to develop new criteria and methods for detecting pathogens by 2005.26 The EPA did not meet this deadline. As a result of a settlement of an enforcement action brought by NRDC four years ago to enforce the BEACH Act requirements, the EPA has conducted epidemi o logical studies and is now analyzing data from those studies and studies conducted by others in order to set new water quality criteria. It is also working to validate quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), a rapid test method.27

The gastrointestinal illness rates predicted by the fecal indicator bacteria concentrations set by the EPA in 1986 have been confirmed throughout the world.28 However, the acceptable illness rate for full-body water contact that was used when setting the standards is high. Under the levels set by the EPA in the 1986 criteria, 19 out of 1,000 people swimming in ocean waters and 8 out of 1,000 swimmers in fresh waters just meeting these standards will become ill.29 Put another way, if a family of four were to swim once a week in the summer (June, July, and August) in ocean waters that just meet the EPA’s standard, one member of the family would probably become ill. The EPA is committed to a common level of risk protection in all waters of the United States that is at least as protective as the old standards as it prepares its new standards.30 The new standards will probably be similar to the old standards in that they will have a standard for a short-term measure of water quality and a longer-term measure as well.

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the current water quality criteria have other significant limitations.31 The GAO concluded that the current indicators may not identify all health risks. For instance, the standards were developed primarily to address the risk of contracting gastroenteritis but not necessarily to address rashes, earaches, pinkeye, respiratory infections, or very serious illnesses such as hepatitis and encephalitis (inflamma tion of the brain). An epidemiological study at four Great Lakes beaches noted that rates of gastrointestinal illness correlated with enterococcus levels, but other illnesses known to be associated with swimming did not.32 New standards being devel oped by the EPA will focus on gastroenteritis, with other illnesses included if they are “significant and have indicators that reflect risk.”33

If a family of four were to swim once a week in June, July, and August in ocean waters that just met the EPA’s current bacteria standard, one member of the family would probably become ill.

Table 3-1. Beachwater Quality Standards Required by the BEACH Act

Water Type IndicatorStandard

For Multiple Samplesa For a Single Sampleb

Marine Enterococcus 35 per 100 ml 104 per 100 ml

FreshEnterococcus 33 per 100 ml 61 per 100 ml

E. coli 126 per 100 ml 235 per 100 ml

EPA, Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria, EPA 440/5-84-002, 1986.

a Geometric mean of at least five samples over a 30-day period. b For designated beach areas.


The ability to test for pathogens instead of fecal indicator bacteria would strengthen the link between health standards and illness. While quantifying the concentrations of the multitude of pathogenic bacterial and viral species in recreational waters is difficult and expensive, the technologies for molecular methods are advancing and the possibility of directly detecting the relative presence of microbes has been demonstrated.34,35 Molecular methods take advantage of the fact that fecal indicator bacteria and pathogens themselves have unique genetic sequences that can be detected. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction is an example of a molecular method for quantifying very small amounts of specific sequences of RNA or DNA. Because molecular methods do not involve culturing live cells, there is a possibility that water quality standards could be developed for species that are not easily cultured. However, most molecular methods, including qPCR, do not differentiate between live and dead cells, which is particularly problematic when measuring for water quality in waters that receive disinfected sewage. Also, molecular methods are susceptible to interference from chemicals, which could cause an underestimation of health risk.36 The EPA is planning to develop its new standards based on fecal indicators, not on pathogens themselves.37

Another potential problem with the EPA’s current beachwater quality standards is that the underlying epidemio-logical studies used to develop these standards were conducted primarily at beaches with exposure to human feces–dominated point-source contamination coming from pipes. In many coastal areas, diffuse, nonpoint sources—including urban runoff, septic system discharges, and animal waste—can be larger sources of pathogens in recreational waters. The EPA is now analyzing the results of studies at stormwater-impacted beaches to address this concern. Thus far, the agency has not found any data to support different criteria for different sources of fecal contamination.38 In other words, it appears that illnesses from animal fecal sources occur at similar rates as illnesses from human sources of fecal contamination.

Geographic differences among water conditions, such as the amount of UV exposure and temperature, may affect the lifecycle of pathogens and their impact on human health. As a result, pathogens can behave differently in tropical waters than in temperate waters. The current standards fail to capture the variability in the potential for pathogens to re-grow, persist, and die off, or to address variability in indicator/illness relationships.39

Standards could include requirements for sampling locations and times. Recent studies establish that ambient con-centrations of bacteria in dynamic aquatic environments can vary radically within short spatial and temporal scales.40 Also, since human viruses are generally more resistant to sunlight than the indicator organisms that are measured, sampling is best conducted in the early morning hours.41

Faster Detection MethodsPerhaps more important than any challenges associated with current fecal indicator bacteria standards is that current approved detection methods for fecal indicator bacteria require a long incubation period, usually producing results in 24 hours. This lag time between when pathogen-contaminated waters are sampled and when the public is notified creates a window of time where swimmers are exposed to contaminated water (see Figure 3-2). In addition, it results in beach closure days on days when the beachwater meets standards.

For several years, the EPA has been conducting research on the use of rapid test methods to determine beachwater quality, particularly using qPCR methods, including how the qPCR results correlate with other test methods of deter-mining fecal indicator bacteria concentrations, whether qPCR detects all strains of fecal indicator bacteria, and whether the methods can be used to correlate the amount of indicator present with illness rates in swimmers.

The EPA included qPCR analysis as part of its freshwater epidemiological surveys conducted in the Great Lakes in 2004. The study concluded that the use of faster test methods for assessing recreational water quality would result in the ability to make decisions about beach closings and advisories on the day of sample collection and could thereby lower gastrointestinal illnesses in beach communities.42

Another promising rapid test method is immunomagnetic separation/adenosine triphosphate (IMS/ATP), which exploits the unique properties of the surfaces of target cells (e.g., enterococcus or E. coli) to capture and tag the cells and count their concentrations in a given sample. The use of IMS/ATP techniques for detecting microbes in surface waters has not been studied as much as the use of qPCR, but it is being used in epidemiological studies this year. One of the challenges of IMS/ATP is that strains of indicator bacteria for which antibodies do not yet exist are not detected.43

More epidemiological studies using rapid test methods have been conducted at beaches in California, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and the results of these studies are being analyzed. Many other locations have conducted or are conducting


pilot tests of rapid test methods. For example, the City of Racine, Wisconsin, has been testing and piloting different rapid detection technologies since 2006.44 In July of 2010, a pilot project was launched at several beaches in Orange County, California, in order to demonstrate the use of qPCR for making beachwater quality warning decisions on the same day a sample is taken. Traditional methods will be used to analyze the samples alongside qPCR analysis, but the qPCR results will be used to determine whether or not warnings about beachwater quality will be issued and signs posted at the pilot study beaches. This is the first use of a rapid test method for issuing beachwater quality notifications at coastal beaches in the United States.

Beachwater quality generally depends on many complex factors, but for some beaches, predictions of beachwater quality based on a few physical measurements of daily conditions can be fairly accurately calculated. Some states have taken advantage of this and have created computer beachwater quality models that rely on data from physical measure ments such as rainfall levels, wind speed and direction, tides, wave heights, and currents. These models prepare rapid predictions of beachwater quality and allow for beaches to be closed or placed under advisory the day that bacterial levels are expected to be high, rather than 24 hours after samples with high bacteria concentrations are taken. The importance of predictive models in protecting public health was illustrated by one local beach manager who demon-strated that at his or her beach, advisories and closings based on monitoring results were issued inaccurately 100% of the time.45 In other words, samples taken when the beach was under advisory or closure due to the previous day’s monitoring results showed that the beachwater quality met standards on the days that the beach was under advisory or closure in every case.

Because the water quality at many beaches is adversely affected by stormwater runoff, another less sophisticated means of protecting public health is to preemptively close beaches or issue advisories when indicator bacteria levels are expected to be high after rainfall events. These preemptive rainfall advisories can be based on rainfall intensity or some other rain-related factor. States should always provide adequate warnings to swimmers when there has been a sewage spill.

INCREASE SOURCE IDENTIFICATION EFFORTS

Information about sources of contamination is invaluable in terms of addressing poor water quality, but determining sources of contamination can take time, money, and expertise that beach managers do not have at their disposal. One simple way to identify sources is to conduct a sanitary survey. Beach sanitary surveys involve collecting information at the beach, and sometimes information about the surrounding watershed. Information collected at the beach may include data regarding discharge from any outfalls, the number of birds at the site, the amount of litter, and the presence of seaweed or algae. Information about the watershed may reflect land use, the use of residential septic tanks, and locations of wastewater treatment facilities. After a pilot study of sanitary surveys was conducted at 36 beaches in Wisconsin, the number of closing and advisory events attributed to unknown sources decreased from 84% to 24%.46 Sani tary surveys

Figure 3-2. Lag Time Associated With Current Water Quality Monitoring and Public Notification Methods

Monday morning: Collect water samples.

24 to 48 hours: Samples are incubated and tested.

Tuesday morning to Wednesday afternoon: Advisory/closure decision made and public notified.


used to be associated mainly with drinking water and shellfish safety programs, but more and more states are conducting sanitary surveys of their recreational beaches, either annually or when exceedances are found.

In many cases, neither a visual survey nor an assessment of upstream sewage treatment plants or animal feedlots reveals the source of beachwater contamination. This is the case when many small or nonpoint sources are contributing to the contamination. Sometimes chemical markers (such as pharmaceuticals or their metabolites) are measured to determine whether a human sewage source is responsible for high bacteria counts. The presence of caffeine or optical whiteners used in laundry detergents is also used to determine whether contamination with human sewage has occurred.

There are many methods for identifying species responsible for fecal organisms present in water. Most microbial source tracking, as this process is called, relies on matching DNA or RNA “fingerprints” from bacterial strains found in contaminated beachwater with those of bacteria found in various animal hosts and human sewage. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is an example of a laboratory technique used in microbial source tracking.

10 SIMPLE THINGS INDIVIDUALS CAN DO

Everyone can help reduce beachwater pollution. For example, we can all take steps to reduce the amount of water sent to sewage treatment plants—which have the potential to overflow—and we can all play a part in reducing polluted runoff. Individuals can also make a difference by becoming educated and expressing their desire for clean, healthy water. Below are 10 simple actions individuals can take to improve our beachwater.

1. Be a good steward at the beach.If you bring a picnic to the beach, pick up your garbage, and do not feed the birds or other wildlife. Seagulls and other animals are attracted to the garbage and food waste that people often leave behind on the beach, and feeding them will only encourage their permanent presence there. Waste from wildlife is one of the three largest known sources of bacterial pollution and can lead to beach closures. Ask your local beach management agency to invest in secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Make sure children not yet toilet trained are dressed in a swim diaper and rubber pants or a similar tight-fitting outer garment. An extra layer of protection in addition to a swim diaper is necessary to help prevent bacteria from entering the water.

2. Clean up after your pet.Don’t leave pet waste on the ground. It could contain harmful bacteria and excess nutrients that can wash into storm drains and eventually pollute local waters. Flush it, bag it, or look for signs in public parks that direct pet owners to appropriate waste receptacles.

3. Conserve water.Extra water overwhelms sewage treatment plants and contributes to raw sewage overflows. Here are some ways you can reduce the amount of water you use at home:• Scrape–don’t rinse–dirty dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.• Do not let water run unnecessarily when brushing your teeth or shaving.• Install a water-saving toilet to conserve thousands of gallons annually.• Install faucet aerators and a water-efficient showerhead to cut the amount of water you use and to save energy by reducing hot water use.

4. Direct runoff to the soil, not the street.Help keep stormwater from running off your property and into local waterways and the sewer system. Direct rain gutters and downspouts on your home to soil, grass, or gravel areas rather than blacktop, cement, or other hard surfaces. Learn about creating a rain garden or using rain barrels. Sweep your driveway and sidewalks instead of hosing them down.


5. Don’t pour it down the drain.When you dump paint, oil, harsh cleansers, and other hazardous products down the drain, they can find their way into nearby bodies of water. Contact your local sanitation, public works, or environmental health department to find out about hazardous waste collection days and sites. Don’t wash your car in the driveway or street; instead, do it at a car wash, where contaminated rinse water may be treated before being discharged to the sewage system.

6. Maintain your septic system.Have your septic tank cleaned out every three to five years. Such maintenance prolongs the life of your system and can help prevent groundwater and beachwater contamination.

7. Practice proper lawn and garden care.Use natural fertilizers such as compost on your garden, and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. To reduce the amount of polluted runoff, landscape with natural vegetation rather than lawns, which require fertilizers and herbicides. Do not allow water used to irrigate your landscaping to hit paved surfaces and run off.

8. Practice proper marine and recreational boating waste disposal.Dispose of your boat sewage at onshore sanitary facilities. Don’t dump waste or trash overboard. Boating wastes discharged into coastal waters can be a significant cause of high pathogen concentrations.

9. Support local, state, and federal legislation that promotes the cleanup of pollution sources.Write to your representatives and senators and let them know you support strong beach legislation and clean water protections. Tell your local government to move forward quickly to address sewage overflows and stormwater. Make sure you tell officials that you are willing to pay for programs to monitor beaches and reduce runoff pollution.

10. Learn about the water quality at local beaches and choose your beach carefully.Go to NRDC’s vacation beaches website (www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp), the EPA’s Beach Advisory and Closing Online Notification website (http://iaspub.epa.gov/waters10/beacon_national_page.main), or your local beach manager (usually the local public health authority), all of which have data on beach monitoring and notification policies and on closings and advisories. Also, to show your concern, ask the local beach manager the following questions: What are the sources of pollution affecting the waters where I swim? What sort of water quality monitoring is performed at these beaches? Are beaches always closed when monitoring shows that the bacterial standard is exceeded? What is the current status of these waters (are they closed or open?), and what warning signs can I look for? Whenever possible, swim at the beaches that your research shows have the cleanest waters or are carefully monitored with strict closure or advisory procedures in effect. Stay away from beaches with visible discharge pipes, and avoid swimming at urban beaches after a heavy rainfall.

For more ways you can prevent beachwater pollution visit NRDC’s Your Oceans website (http://oceans.nrdc.org/)

NOTES1 See NRDC’s report Rooftops to Rivers, http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp

2 U.S. EPA, E-media kit, Hermosa Beach Strand Gets $1.3M in Recovery Act Funds For “Green” Improvements to Protect Pacific Ocean, January 8, 2010, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/F4C80640683FAFE4852576A5006A7F0D.

3 U.S. EPA, U.S. EPA, Redondo Beach celebrate stormwater pollution control project groundbreaking, February 9, 2010, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/400d957999f19b75852576c5006b0ae5!OpenDocument.

4 Virginia Loftin, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, personal communication, June 2010.


5 Johnny Martin, Moffatt & Nichol, personal communication, July 2009.

6 Kinzelman, J., City of Racine Health Department, personal communication, July 2010.

7 Kinzelman, J. and S. McLellan. Success of science-based best management practices in reducing swimming bans—a case study from Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 12:2,187–196.

8 Tam, W., “Infrastructure Improvements in the City of Los Angeles for Santa Monica Bay Beaches,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA., April 2009.

9 Maine Healthy Beaches Program. 2009 Report to EPA. April 2010.


11 EPA, Report to Congress on Implementation and Enforcement of the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy, p. 7-3, August 2004. EPA Office of Water, National Water Program Mid-Year Report: Fiscal Year 2009, July 2009, Appendix B, p. 4.

12 Report to Congress on Implementation and Enforcement of the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy, p. ES-5.

13 United States Environmental Protection Agency Region IX. City of San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, Application for a Modif-ied NPDES Permit under Sections 301(H) and (J)(5) of the Clean Water Act. Final Decision of the Regional Administrator Pursuant to 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart G. May 27, 2010.

14 California Regional Water Quality Control Board San Diego Region and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX. ORDER NO. R9-2009-0001, NPDES NO. CA0107409. Waste Discharge Requirements and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for the City of San Diego E.W. Blom Point Loma Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge to the Pacific Ocean through the Point Loma Ocean Outfall, San Diego County. June 16, 2010, with errata sheet.

15 Brian Fredrickson, Lake Superior Basin Coordinator, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, personal communication, May 25, 2010.

16 Virginia’s Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Program. Final Report on 2001-2009 EPA Beach Monitoring Grant – CU-9839605-0. January 29, 2010.

17 Michael A. Mallin, “Wading in Waste,” •••Scientific American , June 2006, pp. 53–59.

18 Federal Register, vol. 68, no. 29, February 12, 2003, p. 7180.

19 Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act, H.R. 753, 111th Cong., 1st Sess. & S. 937, 111th Cong., 2d Sess.

20 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Long Beach Breakwater (East San Pedro Bay) Ecosystem Restoration Study Reconnaissance Phase 905(b) Report, April 2010, available at http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=27756.

21 East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study 905(B) Analysis, July 2009, available at http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload .asp?BlobID=23110.

22 Heaney, CD, et al., “Contact With Beach Sand Among Beachgoers and Risk of Illness,” American Journal of Epidemiology: 170(2): 164-–172 (2009).

23 Kinzelman, JL, KR Pond, KD Longmaid, RC Bagley. The effect of two mechanical beach grooming strategies on Escherichia coli density in beach sand at a southwestern Lake Michigan beach, Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, Volume 7, Issue 3 July 2004, pages 425–432.

24 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, “Racine: Beach Grooming Tactics to Reduce Swimming Bans,” June 2003, available at http://www.glslcities.org/best-practices/beaches/racine-beaches.cfm.

25 33 USC §1313(i).

26 33 U.S.C. §1254(v) & 33 U.S.C §1314(a)(9).

27 U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Settlement Agreement Status Report

January 15, 2010, NRDC v. Johnson, No. CV06-4843 PSG (JTLx).

28 Tim Wade, “Health Effects and Water Quality at Marine Beach Sites: Results from the National Epidemiologic and Environmental Assessment of Recreational Water,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA, April 2009.

29 U.S. EPA, Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria – 1986, EPA440/5-84-002, January 1986, Table 4.

30 Elizabeth Doyle, “Current Thinking on Development of New Criteria,” overheads used for EPA Stakeholder Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 2009.

31 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional Requesters, Great Lakes: EPA and States Have Made Progress in Implementing the BEACH Act, but Additional Actions Could Improve Public Health Protection, May 2007, pp 15–17.

32 Wade, TJ et al., “High Sensitivity of Children to Swimming-Associated Gastrointestinal Illness: Results Using a Rapid Assay of Recreational Water Quality,” Epidemiology, May 2008 - Volume 19 - Issue 3 - pp 375-383.


34 Eric Dubinsky, “A Complete Microbial Community Approach to Monitoring and Source Tracking Coastal-Zone Pollution,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA, April 2009.

35 DeSantis, TZ et al., “High-Density Universal 16S rRNA Microarray Analysis Reveals Broader Diversity than Typical Clone Library When Sampling the Environment,” Microbial Ecology, DOI: 10.1007/s00248-006-9134-9, Volume 53, 371–383 (2007).

36 Steve Weisberg, “… of Emerging Science,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA, April 2009.



39 EPA, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, Report of The Experts Scientific Workshop on Critical Research Needs for the Development of New or Revised Recreational Water Quality Criteria, June 15, 2007, EPA 823-R-07-006, p. 29.

40 A.B. Boehm, S.B. Grant, J.H. Kim, S.L. Mowbray, C.D. McGee, C.D. Clark, D.M. Foley, and D.E. Wellman, “Decadal and Shorter Period Variability of Surf Zone Water Quality at Huntington Beach, California,” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 36, no. 13, 2002, p. 3885.


41 Boehm et al., “Decadal and Shorter Period Variability of Surf Zone Water Quality at Huntington Beach, California,” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 36, no. 13, 2002, p. 3891.

42 Ritu Tuteja, Julie Hewitt, Matthew Clark, William Wheeler, Elizabeth Sams, Tim Wade, Kristen Brenner, Al Dufour, “Economic Benefits of a New Beach Water Quality Monitoring Method,” EPA Science Forum, 2005, available at http://www.epa.gov/scienceforum/2005/pdfs/ordposter/Hewitt_ORD11.pdf.

43 Rebecca Bushon, “Testing and Validating Rapid Analytical Methods for Assessments of Recreational Water Quality,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA, 2009.

44 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Annual Report, 2006, p. 12, available at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/wqs/beaches/AnnualReport2006.pdf .

45 Shannon Briggs, MDEQ, personal communication, June 2009.

46 J. Kinzelman and G. Kleinheinz, “Identifying Pollutant Sources through the Use of the USEPA/GLRC Standardized Sanitary Survey Tool,” National Beach Conference, Huntington Beach, CA, April 2009.


Chapter 4

Beachwater Quality Monitoring Programs and State-by-State Results

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

The BEACH Act authorizes the EPA to award grants to states for implementing programs to monitor coastal recreational waters adjacent to beaches used by the public for compliance with the standards for pathogen indicators. Grant funds are also used to notify the public promptly of any exceedances through posting or equivalent means.

While the BEACH Act authorizes $30 million a year for state grants for monitoring and public notification, appropriations have funded only about one-third of that level each year. Since Fiscal Year 2002, EPA awarded between $9.75 and $10 million in grants to states, tribes, and territories. The allocations for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 are included in Table 4-1. Many states and localities supplement their BEACH Act funding so that they can achieve the objectives of their beachwater monitoring programs.

Table 4-1. State Distribution of BEACH Act Funding for Beachwater Quality Monitoring and Notification for 2009 and 2010

State or Territory 2009 Allocation 2010 Allocation

Alabama $262,000 $264,000

Alaska $150,000 $86,000

American Samoa $302,000 $303,000

California $517,000 $520,000

Connecticut $223,000 $225,000

Delaware $211,000 $212,000

Florida $528,000 $531,000

Georgia $286,000 $288,000

Guam $303,000 $304,000

Hawaii $323,000 $326,000

Illinois $243,000 $245,000

Indiana $206,000 $207,000

Louisiana $322,000 $323,000

Maine $255,000 $256,000

Maryland $269,000 $271,000

Massachusetts $254,000 $257,000

Many states and localities supplement their BEACH Act funding so that they can achieve the objectives of their beachwater monitoring program..


State or Territory 2009 Allocation 2010 Allocation

Michigan $278,000 $281,000

Minnesota $204,000 $206,000

Mississippi $257,000 $259,000

New Hampshire $205,000 $206,000

New Jersey $278,000 $280,000

New York $348,000 $351,000

North Carolina $302,000 $305,000

Northern Marianas $303,000 $304,000

Ohio $224,000 $225,000

Oregon $229,000 $230,000

Pennsylvania $222,000 $224,000

Puerto Rico $328,000 $330,000

Rhode Island $213,000 $215,000

South Carolina $297,000 $299,000

Te•as $383,000 $386,000

U.S. Virgin Islands $303,000 $304,000

Virginia $277,000 $278,000

Washington $270,000 $272,000

Wisconsin $225,000 $227,000

Total $9,800,000 $9,800,000

Source: EPA Makes Grants Available to States to Implement Water Quality Monitoring and Public Notification Programs at the Nation’s Beaches Fact Sheet, EPA 823-F-09-002, January 2009 and EPA Grants Available in 2010 for States to Implement Water Quality Monitoring and Public Notification Programs at the Nation’s Beaches Fact Sheet, EPA 823-F-09-10, January 2010

Water Quality Standards The EPA’s current beachwater quality standards include a geometric mean indicator density for at least five samples taken at evenly spaced intervals over 30 days, and a single-sample maximum allowable indicator density.1 Some state and local agencies apply both the geometric mean and the single-sample standards and issue beach closings or advisories if either standard is exceeded; others apply the geometric mean standard or the single-sample standard but not both. Some states apply the single-sample maximum allowable indicator density standard for designated beach areas, some states apply less stringent standards, and some apply designated beach area standards to some of their beaches and less stringent standards to others. Also, there are states that apply additional water quality standards that are not associated with the EPA’s standards when they make their closing and advisory decisions. Table 4-2 summarizes the states’ use of water quality standards (more details about state standards are given in the individual state summaries).

Monitoring There is a considerable amount of variability among state beachwater monitoring protocols. Some states perform additional monitoring after exceedances and when they expect beachwater to be contaminated. Others adhere to a schedule that doesn’t vary with circumstances. Some states take multiple samples that are composited before analysis, or analyze multiple samples and average the results before applying them to the water quality standard.

States also vary as to how often they sample. Some states monitor their high-priority beaches almost daily, while other states monitor their high-priority beaches once or twice a week. Although the EPA has recommended daily beach monitoring of high-priority beaches, some local governments have stated that they lack the necessary staff and funding to carry this out. As a result, beaches may remain open during a contamination event that occurs between sample collections.


Table 4-2. State Coastal Beachwater Quality Standards

State

Standards applied:EPA’s 30-day geometric mean standard for at least five evenly spaced samples taken over

a 30-day period (E. coli density of 126 per 100 mL for freshwater, enterococcus density

of 35 per 100 mL for marine water)

EPA’s “designated beach area” single sample maximum standard

(E. coli density of 235 per 100 mL for freshwater; enterococcus density of

104 per 100 mL for marine water)

Less stringent single sample maximum standard than the EPA’s “designated beach area” single sample

maximum standard

Additional indicator organism

water quality standard(s)

Alabama •

Alaska • • •

California • • •

Connecticuta • •

Delawareb • •

Florida • • •

Georgia • •

Hawaiic • • •

Illinois •

Indiana •

Louisiana • • •

Maine •

Marylandd • • •

Massachusetts • •

Michigane • •

Minnesota • •

Mississippi •

New Hampshiref • •

New Jersey •

New Yorkg • •

North Carolinah • • •

Ohio •

Oregon •

Pennsylvania • •

Rhode Island •

South Carolina •

Texas •

Virginia •

Washingtoni • •

Wisconsinj • •

a Localities in Connecticut determine how they will apply water quality standards; the state guidelines encourage localities to apply the single-sample maximum standard for designated beach areas and encourage localities to consider the 30-day geometric mean standard when making beach closing and advisory decisions.b DNA analyses to track the source of bacteria at Slaughter Beach and Prime Hook Beach have shown that non-human sources contribute to indicator bacteria counts at these beaches. Monitoring results at these beaches are adjusted downwards to account for non-human sources at these beaches before the water quality standard is applied.c Hawaii applies the geometric mean standard and a Clostridium perfringens standard at beaches that are monitored at least five times a month and the single sample maximum standard at other beaches.d Maryland uses the designated beach area single-sample maximum standard at its Tier 1 and Tier 2 beaches and a less stringent single-sample maximum standard at its Tier 3 beaches.e Michigan’s geometric mean standard is 130 cfu/100 ml for at least five representatively spaced sampling events over 30 days.f In New Hampshire, at beaches that are sampled in three locations, when either two or more samples collected at a beach exceed the standard or when one sample exceeds 174 counts/100 ml a beach advisory is issued. The geometric mean is calculated from at least three samples collected over a 60-day period.g For freshwater beaches, New York uses an E. coli single-sample maximum of 235 cfu/100 ml or 61 cfu/100 ml for enterococcus (this is the designated beach area standard for enterococcus in freshwater). Whether or not geometric mean standards are applied when making closing and advisory decisions depends on the local beach authority.h North Carolina’s water quality standards at its Tier 1 beaches are a single-sample maximum of 104 mpn/100 ml water and a running monthly geometric mean of 35 mpn/100 ml. At Tier 2 beaches, the standard is a single-sample maximum of 276 mpn/100 ml, and at Tier 3 beaches, the standard is a single-sample maximum of 500 mpn/100 ml. During April and October, the standard for Tier 1 beaches is generally the same as the standard for Tier 2 beaches.i The geometric mean standard of 35 cfu/100 ml is taken into consideration when determining permanent or extended advisories in Washington.j In Wisconsin, the geometric mean water quality standard for fresh water may be used to make closing and advisory decisions at high priority beaches.Source: See individual state summaries.


Moreover, sampling techniques differ by state. The EPA recommends that samples be collected 12 inches below the surface in water that is three feet deep, but states report collecting samples at varying depths. Some states are particular about collecting samples at a particular time of day or tidal stage. Samplers in some states wade into the surf and hold the collection container in their hand to collect the sample, others use a telescoping golf ball retriever so samples are collected far from the sampler’s body.

Public Notification PracticesAlong with different standards for triggering an advisory or closure, states vary as to whether or not they issue a public health advisory or close a beach or both when sampling has found bacteria levels that exceed the standards. Some states wait until there have been two consecutive standard violations before an advisory is issued, and some take other factors into account when an exceedance occurs before deciding to issue a closing or advisory. A handful of states use more precaution; they use predictive modeling to issue preemptive closures or advisories when an exceedance of standards is expected based on beachwater conditions such as wind direction, water temperature and turbidity, and currents.

Methods for notifying the public of health advisories and beach closures are variable among states as well, and for some beaches it may be difficult for beachgoers to get complete information about any notifications. States make use of a variety of notification methods, including the Internet, toll-free phone lines, signs posted at beaches, electronic noti fi ca tions, newspaper notices, and television and radio coverage in conjunction with the weather report. At a minimum, public notification for beach closings and advisories should include a sign or flag at the beach and an easily located website.

STATE-BY-STATE RESULTS

The following pages contain the summaries of state beachwater quality standards, monitoring and closing/advisory practices, and NRDC’s 2009 monitoring results and closings and advisories, listed alphabetically by state. It is impossible to make direct comparisons between states or to assess trends over time on the basis of advisory and closure data. Standards, monitoring, and closing/advisory practices vary from state to state, making it difficult to know, for example, whether a state with many closings has vigilant health officials or has more coastal pollution. High numbers of closings and advisories, while indicating pollution problems, may also indicate that the state or county is making a good effort to protect the public health by vigilantly monitoring its waters and informing the public when they are polluted. States with comprehensive programs and closure practices should be commended for their efforts.

The most meaningful way of comparing beachwater quality between states or tracking it over time is to compare the percent of monitoring samples taken at each beach that exceed the single-sample maximum standard for designated beach areas. For the fifth consecutive year, thanks to provisions of the BEACH Act that require the EPA to make beach monitoring data available from all states receiving BEACH Act grants, NRDC was able to provide these values for beaches in all 30 coastal and Great Lakes states.

NRDC included U.S. territories for the purpose of comparing total closing/advisory days in the national overview with earlier years. However, we do not prepare individual summaries for each territory as we do for each U.S. state; the state summaries follow in this chapter.

Sources of InformationFor the seventh consecutive year, our research for Testing the Waters is based primarily on the EPA’s electronic reporting system designed to implement provisions of the federal BEACH Act. Information from the electronic reporting system has been supplemented by NRDC surveys of state and local officials. Beach monitoring coordinators in nearly every state cooperated with NRDC with a great deal of patience and grace and provided interesting and meaningful information for this report. NRDC is thankful for their time and their openness.

High numbers of closings and advisories may indicate that the state or county is making a good effort to protect public health by vigilantly monitoring its waters and closing beaches when they are polluted.


Unfortunately, the EPA’s electronic data submission system continues to experience technical problems, resulting in delays in data availability and incomplete or inaccurate data. Therefore, NRDC requested 2009 beach season monitoring and closing/advisory data directly from the states. When states provided these data, NRDC used them; otherwise, we used monitoring data downloaded from the EPA’s STORET website and closing/advisory data sent to us by the EPA. NRDC received monitoring data from seven states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) and downloaded data for 23 states from STORET (Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina). Seven states sent their closing/advisory data (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) and the EPA sent the data for 22 states (Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massa chu-setts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina) and four U.S. territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—NRDC does not include American Samoa because EPA has only recently compiled data for this territory). Alaska’s information was taken from its annual report to EPA.

NRDC sent its analysis of these data as well as the narrative material for each state summary to the state for review, verification, and comment.

Many states have dedicated and talented individuals that work hard to improve their beachwater quality and to protect public health when beachwater quality is poor. States that do more than monitor their beachwater and issue closings and advisories should be recognized for their extra efforts.

The state summaries are organized into sections as described below.

HOW TO READ THE STATE SUMMARIES

Rank in the NationEach state’s national ranking in percent exceedances is based on the EPA’s single-sample maximum standard for desig nated beach areas. Thus, all monitoring samples were compared to the same standard to arrive at the national ranking. Rankings go from 1st for the state with the lowest percent exceedances to 30th for the state with the highest percent exceedances.

MonitoringSampling Practices: In this section, the state’s beach monitoring season is given along with the level of control that the state’s program has over local beach monitoring and notification practices. Sampling protocols and factors the states use to determine which beaches to monitor and how frequently to monitor them are also described. This section tells if a state chooses to sample when and where the water quality is suspect, or if monitoring is conducted more frequently after a closing or advisory is issued.

Results: This section describes the number of beaches monitored in the state and how frequently they are monitored. For the fifth year in a row, NRDC was able to provide the percent of samples that exceeded state standards, in addition to providing data on the percent of samples exceeding national standards. Information on monitoring frequency and percent exceedance is organized by county with beaches in alphabetical order. For this section, NRDC calculated percent exceedance by taking the number of samples exceeding the state’s daily maximum standards and dividing that number by the total number of samples collected during the calendar year (replicate samples on the same day are each counted as an individual sample). These exceedance determinations are used for tracking water quality over time; NRDC does not compare these calculations with specific beach closings or advisories. The list of dirtiest beaches in the state excludes beaches with less than 12 monitoring samples reported during the year.

This section also shows the trends in beachwater quality from 2006 to 2009. When making year-to-year comparisons, NRDC only includes beaches that were sampled all four years. Thus, each state summary has three 2009 percent exceed ance rates that might not agree: one that was calculated based on national single-sample maximum water quality stan dards for desig-nated beach areas, one that was calculated based on the state’s single-sample maximum standard, and one that was calculated based on the state’s single-sample maximum standard for the set of beaches that appear in all four years from 2006 to 2009.


For example, the EPA’s daily maximum bacterial standard for “designated beach areas” in marine waters is a desnity of 104 enterococcus per 100 milliliters of beachwater. However, along with enterococcus, Florida beach officials also test for the presence of fecal coliform. The state’s fecal coliform standard is 400 cfu/100ml. County officials can close a beach or issue an advisory if either one of these standards is exceeded. In 2009, 5% of beachwater samples exceeded either the federal enterococcus and/or the state fecal coliform standard, whereas 4% or samples exceeded only the federal entero-coccus standard. Florida’s national rank among the 30 states is based on the 4% exceedance rate. See Figure 4-1 for an explana tion of any differences you might see in a state’s 2009 percent exceedance values.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: This section describes the state standards. Information about any use of predictive models and preemptive standards for issuing beach closings and advisories is included, as well as what factors are involved when a state decides to issue a closing or advisory.

Number of closings and advisories: The total number of beach closing and advisory days for each beach is included in the monitoring results table mentioned above. In an effort to be consistent in tabulating closings and advisories, NRDC used the following guidelines:

FL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

FLORIDA10th in Beachwater Quality

4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Bayou Chico in Escambia County (73%) • Keaton Beach in Taylor County (71%) • Palma Sola South in Manatee County (55%)

With its year-round swim season and more than 1,000 miles of beach, Florida has the most coastal swimmers in the nation.1 The state has more than 600 public coastal beaches stretching along its Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastline.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Monitoring occurs year-round, and peak season from April to mid-September.

The beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Florida Department of Health, which determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state.2 Samples are collected 18 inches below the surface in water that is approximately 36 inches deep, usually in the morning. Beaches are prioritized for monitoring on a county-by-county basis. Criteria for monitoring are population served, pollution potential, and rainfall. While this ensures that the most critical beaches in each county are monitored, there are a wide variety of beach characteristics in Florida, and beaches chosen for monitoring in one county may not be as important as beaches left unmonitored in another county.

Sampling frequency does not increase after an advisory is issued.

Results: In 2009, Florida reported 633 coastal beaches, of which 305 (48%) were monitored once a week; 328 (52%) were not moni tored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi-mum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calcu-late the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach moni toring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Bayou Chico in Escambia County (73%), Keaton Beach in Taylor County (71%), Palma Sola South in Manatee County (55%), Hagen’s Cove in Taylor County (47%), Bayview Park in Escambia County (46%), Garniers in Okaloosa County (42%), Monument Beach in Gulf County (41%), Sunny Isles Beach-Pier Park in Miami-Dade County (41%), Ringling Causeway in Sarasota County (39%), and Oelsner Park Beach in Pasco County (37%).

Taylor County had the highest exceedance rate (35%) in 2009, followed by Citrus (22%), Escambia (17%), Levy (15%), Manatee (14%), Gulf (13%), Pasco (12%), Okaloosa (12%), Monroe (10%), Hillsborough (9%), Miami-Dade (8%), Wakulla (6%), Charlotte (6%), Hernando (5%), Pinellas (5%), Walton (4%), Sarasota (4%), Nassau (4%), Bay (3%), Santa Rosa (3%), Lee (3%), Indian River (2%), Broward (2%), Volusia (1%), Martin (1%), Palm Beach (1%), and Brevard (1%). There were no exceedances in Collier, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, St. Johns, and St. Lucie Counties.

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 299 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 5% in 2009 from 4% in 2008 and 2007, and 6% in 2006.

2009200820072006

6%

4% 4%5%

Florida Percent Exceedance for 299 Beaches Reported 2006–2009

*Why don’t the 2009 percent exceedances match? See Figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 of this report for an explanation.

Figure 4-1. Why Don’t 2009 Percent Exceedances Match?

Beachwater monitoring samples are compared to EPA’s single-sample maximum standard for designated beach areas. Some states apply additional standards and some apply standards that are not as strict.

Only samples from a common set of beaches monitored each year from 2006–2009 are included and compared to the state’s standards. If a beach was not monitored in all four years, its samples are not included in the comparison.

Beachwater monitoring samples are compared to the state’s single-sample maximum standards.


• Closings or advisories issued for an individual beach for one day are counted as one closing/advisory day.

• Extended closings/advisories are those lasting more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks.

• Permanent closings/advisories include those lasting longer than 13 consecutive weeks, as well as standing advisories that warn against swimming whenever certain conditions occur, such as a heavy rainfall or stormdrain flow.

• If a reported advisory at a specific beach overlapped with a general rain advisory that applied to all beaches within the same jurisdiction, the overlapping days were subtracted from the advisory for that specific beach to avoid double counting. However, if a specific beach was closed during a general rain advisory, NRDC did not modify the reported duration. Individual and total beach closing and advisory days are included in each state summary.

• Reported closing/advisory days include only events lasting six consecutive weeks or less. Closing and advisory days for events lasting more than six weeks are reported separately.

Causes of closings and advisories: The EPA asks states to report a cause and a source for each closing and advisory event. This information is given in this section. In 2008, some states began systematically reporting factors important in diagnosing sources of contamination at some of their monitored beaches to the EPA based on sanitary surveys. Results from this initial reporting effort are not included in the state summaries in this chapter as they are incomplete.

NOTES1 United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria—1986. EPA440/5-84-002. January 1986.

AL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

ALAbAmA19th in beachwater Quality

8% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009

Dirtiest beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Mary Ann Nelson Beach in Baldwin County (30%) • Dog River, Alba Club in Mobile County (23%) • May Day Park in Baldwin County (20%)

Alabama has 97 coastal beaches stretching along 50 miles of Gulf Coast and 70 miles of bay and island shoreline. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) administers the state’s beachwater quality monitoring program.

monitoringSampling Practices: Monitoring is conducted throughout the year, with more frequent monitoring from May to September.

ADEM determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are collected 6 to 12 inches below the surface of the water, usually in kneedeep water. Monitoring frequency is determined using a quantitative ranking scheme that weighs three factors: the amount of use, a measure of risk, and the presence of important factors such as high use by the elderly or the very young.1

Once an exceedance is reported, samples are collected daily until the standard is met.2 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total advisory days than those that do not alter their sampling schedule after an exceedance is reported.

Results: In 2009, Alabama reported 97 coastal beaches, 8 (8%) of which were monitored more than once a week, 12 (12%) once a week, and 5 (5%) every other week; 72 (72%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season). In 2009, 8% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Mary Ann Nelson Beach in Baldwin County (30%), Dog River, Alba Club in Mobile County (23%), and May Day Park in Baldwin County (20%).

Mobile County had the highest exceedance rate (12%) in 2009 followed by Baldwin (7%).Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported

each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 25 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard remained steady at 8% in 2009 and 2008, compared with 7% in 2007 and 2006.

AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Alabama does not issue beach closings; the state’s policy is to issue advisories only.2 An enterococcus singlesample maximum of 104 cfu/100ml is the standard used to issue beach advisories in Alabama.

When a sample exceeds the standard, there are no overriding factors that can be taken into account before issuing an advisory. Beaches are given green status when sampling results meet the standard. When sample results exceed the

0

2

4

6

8

10

2009200820072006

Set highest value on data axis to 125% of highest excedance value

7% 7%8% 8%

Alabama Percent Exceedance for 25 beaches Reported 2006–2009


standard, a yellow advisory is issued. Yellow indicates that there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in such water, and that the beach is being immediately retested. If a resample, taken the next day, also exceeds the standard, a red public health advisory is issued. Red indicates that resampling revealed enterococcus levels over the EPA threshold.

There are no standards for preemptive rainfall or sewage spill advisories, but fullscale advisories for all sites have been issued by the county health departments after hurricanes.2

Number of Advisories: Total advisory days for 11 events lasting 6 or fewer consecutive weeks more than doubled to 34 in 2009 from 14 days in 2008 (2008 days were a 53% decrease from the previous year). There were 30 advisory days in 2007, 44 days in 2006, and 27 days in 2005. There were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Advisories: All advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Alabama 2009 monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

County beach Tier monitoring Frequency

Total Samples

% of Samples Exceeding

State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Baldwin 10th Street Access no tier none 0 NA 0





Baldwin Alabama Point (Gulf of Mexico) 2 1/wk 30 0% 0

Baldwin Alabama Point (Perdido Pass) no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Anderson Street no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Barklay Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Battles Rd no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bay Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bay Front Park (Daphne) no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bay Side Drive no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bayou Drive no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bear Point Civic Association 3 2/mo 21 14% 0

Baldwin Belrose Ave. Daphne no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bernard Court no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Boggy Point 1 none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge 3 2/mo 18 0% 0

Baldwin Boykin Street Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Buchanan Street Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Cabana Beach Association no tier none 0 NA 0

Stormwater 0% Sewage 0% Wildlife 0% Other 0% Unknown 100%

Alabama Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Baldwin Camp Baldwin no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Camp Beckwith 1 2/wk 61 5% 0

Baldwin Camp Dixie 1 2/wk 55 2% 0

Baldwin Cedar St. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Cedar St. E. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Choctaw Road North no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Cotton Bayou 1 2/wk 54 0% 0

Baldwin Cypress Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Escambia Ave. 3 2/mo 18 0% 0

Baldwin Fairhope Public Beach 1 2/wk 67 19% 4

Baldwin Fish Trap Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Florida Point 1 2/wk 54 0% 0

Baldwin Fort Morgan National Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Fort Morgan Public Beach 3 2/mo 18 0% 0

Baldwin Gore Road no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Gulf Coast Remainder no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Gulf Shores Public Beach 1 2/wk 54 0% 0

Baldwin Gulf State Park-Pavilion 1 2/wk 54 0% 0

Baldwin Haupt Road no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Holly Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Josaphine Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Kee Ave. 2 1/wk 62 6% 0

Baldwin Koa Campground 2 none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Lafite Road no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Laine Court Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Little Lagoon Pass Beach 2 1/wk 30 0% 0

Baldwin Live Oak no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Marjon Lane no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Mary Ann Nelson Beach 3 2/mo 27 30% 8

Baldwin May Day Park 2 1/wk 40 20% 5

Baldwin Mcdonald Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Mobile Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Montgomery Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Morgantown Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Mullet Dr. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Murphy Lane no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin N. Mobile St/Perdido Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Navy Cove no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin North Road no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Oak St. #91 no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Orange Beach Waterfront Park 2 1/wk 31 3% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Baldwin Orange Street Pier/Beach 2 1/wk 41 10% 0

Baldwin Our Road no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Palmetto Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Pelican Pt. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Pensacola Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Perdido Bay Rec. Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Pinewood Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Pirate’s Cove 1 2/wk 59 10% 1

Baldwin Ponce De Leon Annex no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Ponce De Leon Court Lot 35 no tier none 0 NA 0



Baldwin Ponce De Leon Dr. Access East no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Ponce De Leon Dr. Public Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Randolf Rd. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Rester St. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Romar Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Sea Cliff Dr. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Seabright Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Sibley St./Steadmans Landing no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin South Wilson Blvd no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Spanish Cove 2 1/wk 37 16% 4

Baldwin Sunset Dr. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Village Pt. Foundation no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Volanta Ave. 2 1/wk 43 16% 1

Baldwin Wolf Bay Lodge no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Wydell St. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Yupon Ave. no tier none 0 NA 0

Baldwin Zundall Lane no tier none 0 NA 0

Mobile Bay Front Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Mobile Dauphin Island East End 2 1/wk 32 3% 0

Mobile Dauphin Island Public Beach 2 1/wk 30 0% 0

Mobile Dog River, Alba Club 2 1/wk 40 23% 7

Mobile Fowl River @ Hw 193 2 1/wk 38 18% 4

NoTES1 Baldwin County Health Department, Risk Based Beach Evaluation and Ranking, not dated.

2 Suzi Rice, Senior Environmental Scientist, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, personal communication, June 2010.

AK.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

AlAsKA15th in Beachwater Quality

5% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. In 2009, Kanakanak Beach in Bristol Bay County was the only beach with exceedances (11%).

Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles of coastal shoreline. While low water temperatures discourage swimming, recreational shoreline activities do occur, and more than 200 recreational beaches have been identified. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation administers the state’s beachwater quality program.

Monitoringsampling Practices: Agencies that choose to participate in the program are encouraged to sample for eight weeks during the summer season.

Sampling practices are uniform throughout the state. Samples are collected 12 inches below the surface in water that is three feet deep, at high tide if possible. When selecting which beaches to monitor, factors such as proximity to an established road system and distance from a laboratory are considered,1 along with the types of recreational activities that occur, the levels of use, and the types of nearby pollution sources.2

If a beach is placed under advisory, monitoring occurs daily until standards are met.3

Results: In 2009, Alaska reported 18 coastal beaches, of which 5 (28%) were monitored once a week; 13 (72%) were not monitored. Alaska monitored a few beaches in 2006, and began its full monitoring program in 2007. For the third consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, Kanakanak Beach in Bristol Bay County was the only beach with exceedances (11%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2007 and 2009. For this consistent set of two beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 6% in 2009 from 0% in 2008 and 2007.

Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Alaska’s program recommends advisories rather than closings, and does so based on water quality. Water quality standards for the monitoring program include Alaska’s fecal coliform standard (in a 30day period, the geometric mean of five samples may not exceed 100 cfu/100 ml, and not more than one sample may exceed 200 cfu/100 ml) and an enterococcus standard (singlesample maximum of 276 cfu/100 ml, 30day 5sample geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml). The enterococcus standards are the BEACH Act–required standards for moderately and lightly used beaches. Alaska does not have an E. coli standard, but the results from fieldbased analysis methods for quantifying

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

7.5

200920082007


0% 0%

6%

Alaska Percent Exceedance for 2 Beaches Reported 2007–2009


http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/chap4.pdf

AK.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

E. coli can be used as a standin for analysis methods for quantifying fecal coliform in remote locations. If this were to occur, the fecal coliform standard would be applied to E. coli results. Thus far, all monitoring locations use membrane filtra tion methods for analyzing samples; E. coli has not been used as a standin for fecal coliform.

While the state encourages participating municipalities to issue an advisory when a sample exceeds the standards, the authority for issuing advisories is delegated to the local governments that choose to participate in the program. A bacterial exceedance is one of many factors that can be used to deter mine whether to issue a beach advisory.3

Alaska has no preemptive standards for issuing beach closings or advisories due to rainfall or known sewage spills.3

Number and Causes of Advisories: NRDC received no data about beach notifications in Alaska from the EPA. A warning was issued at Kanakanak Beach in July because two beluga whale carcasses had washed up on the beach. The year’s only exceedance of bacterial water quality standards was observed at that time, but a sign had already been posted at the beach entrance warning potential users of the whale carcasses and no further action was taken.4

Alaska 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

County Beach Tier Monitoring Frequency

Total samples

% of samples Exceeding

state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Bristol Bay Kanakanak Beach 1 1/wk 9 11% no data

Bristol Bay King Salmon Beach (No. Naknek) 1 none 0 NA no data

Bristol Bay Scandinavian Beach no data none 10 0% no data

Bristol Bay Snag Point no data 1/wk 9 0% no data

Juneau Sandy Beach 5, Douglas 3 1/wk 17 0% no data

Kenai Peninsula Homer Spit no data 1/wk 17 0% no data

no data Anchor Point to Happy Valley Creek no data none 0 NA no data

no data City Park no data none 0 NA no data

no data Harris and Aurora Harbors no data none 0 NA no data

no data Letnikof Cove no data none 0 NA no data

no data Lutak Inlet no data none 0 NA no data

no data Naknek River no data None 0 NA no data

no data North Kenai Beach no data None 0 NA no data

no data Petroglyph Beach no data None 0 NA no data

no data Portage Cove no data None 0 NA no data

no data Sandy Beach Park no data 1/wk 0 NA no data

no data West Beach no data None 0 NA no data

no data Whisky Bill Beach no data None 0 NA no data

Notes1 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Annual Performance Report for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation BEACH Monitoring Program (Agreement #CU97023701) Activity Period FFY 2007: October 1, 2006–September 30, 2007. Not dated.

2 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Beach Water Quality Monitoring and Pathogen Detection 2007 Quality Assurance Program Plan, prepared by Shannon & Wilson, Inc., April 2007.

3 Erin Strang, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, personal communication, February 2009.

4 Annual Performance Report for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) BEACH Monitoring Program, Activity Period FFY 2009: October 1, 2008September 30, 2009. Not dated.

Alaska’s beach monitoring program issued no advisories in 2009.

CA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

CAliforniA20th in Beachwater Quality

8% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Avalon Beach-North of GP Pier in Los Angeles County (82%) • Pudding Creek Beach-Pudding Lagoon in Mendocino County (65%) • Poche County Beach in Orange County (63%)

California has more than 400 beaches stretching along more than 500 miles of Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay coastline. The California Department of Health Services administers the BEACH Act grant.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Beachwater quality monitoring in California occurs from at least April 1 to October 31, with most beaches in Southern California and in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and San Francisco Counties monitored year-round.

Individual counties determine sampling locations, while sampling depth and minimum sampling frequency are determined by state law. Most counties sample at more locations and often more frequently than required by state law.1 Samples are taken in ankle-deep water. Monitoring locations in California are selected based on the number of visitors, the location of storm drains, NPDES effluent discharge requirements, and legislative requirements. Monitored beaches represent the vast majority of beach day use in California. All beaches along the San Francisco Bay are monitored per legislation. Funding cuts resulted in reduced water quality monitoring in some areas of the state in 2009. For example, Ventura County did not begin monitoring until June of 2009, and locations dropped to 40 from 53 because of funding cuts.

Samples are usually collected in the most likely areas of possible contamination. In Los Angeles County, for example, sampling points are located where creeks or storm drains enter the surf zone, which are usually permanently posted as being under advisory. Most other counties may permanently post outfalls and sample 25 yards up or down the coast from the outfall to predict further impacts to beach bathing areas.1 Shortly after an advisory is issued, immediate resampling occurs in order to lift that advisory as soon as possible. When there is a closing, samples must meet standards for two days before the beach can be reopened. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, California reported 452 coastal beaches, 10 (2%) of which were monitored daily, 14 (3%) more than once a week, 281 (62%) once a week, 12 (3%) once a month, and 129 (28%) less than once a month; 2 (<1%) were not monitored, and there was no monitoring information for 4 (1%) beaches. In 2008, the state reported 426 coastal beaches, 3 (1%) of which were monitored daily, 27 (6%) more than once a week, 247 (58%) once a week, 1 (<1%) every other week, 12 (3%) once a month, and 4 (1%) less than once a month; 125 (29%) of the beaches were not monitored, for 7 (2%) beaches there was no monitoring information. Overall, there were 24% (6,405) fewer samples reported for 2009 than for 2008, ranging from a decrease of more than 60% in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties to a 26% increase in Sonoma County.

0

3

6

9

12

15

2009200820072006


12%

8%10%

9%

California Percent Exceedance for 234 Beaches reported 2006–2009

*Why don’t the 2009 percent exceedances match? See figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 of this report for an explanation.



Total Monitoring Samples Per County, 2008 vs. 2009

County 2009 Total Samples 2008 Total Samples Difference Percent Difference

Alameda 311 322 –11 -3%

Contra Costa 142 135 7 5%

Humboldt 223 221 2 1%

Los Angeles 3,746 6,059 –2,313 -38%

Marin 710 832 -122 -15%

Mendocino 165 156 9 6%

Monterey 277 276 1 0%

Orange 6,679 8,877 –2,198 -25%

San Diego 3,411 3,387 24 1%

San Francisco 929 919 10 1%

San Luis Obispo 1,096 1,044 52 5%

San Mateo 847 964 –117 -12%

Santa Barbara 335 854 –519 -61%

Santa Cruz 629 908 –279 -31%

Sonoma 306 242 64 26%

Ventura 622 1,637 -1,015 -62%

Total 20,428 26,833 -6,405 -24%

For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). NRDC considered a sample on a given day at a given beach station to be in exeedance if any one of California’s bacterial standards was exceeded. If all bacterial standards were exceeded on a given day at a given station, NRDC counted that as one exceedance. For example, if a sample exceeded the enterococcus, E. coli, and total coliform standards on a given day, NRDC counted that as one exceedance, not three (note that when determining California’s national beachwater quality ranking, NRDC analyzed results based on the single-sample maximum BEACH Act standard of 104 cfu/100 ml enterococcus).

In 2009, 9% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Avalon Beach-North of GP Pier in Los Angeles County (82%), Pudding Creek Beach-Pudding Lagoon in Mendocino County (65%), Poche County Beach in Orange County (63%), Avalon Beach-Near Busy B Cafe (52%), Santa Monica State Beach-Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles County (46%), Candlestick Point-Windsurfer Circle in San Francisco County (46%), Cabrillo Beach (45%), Surfrider Beach (45%), Avalon Beach-South of GP Pier in Los Angeles County (44%), and Newport Bay-Newport Blvd. Bridge in Orange County (43%).

San Francisco County had the highest exceedance rate (17%) in 2009, followed by Los Angeles (16%), Mendocino (14%), Santa Cruz (11%), Humboldt (11%), San Mateo (10%), Contra Costa (10%), Orange (8%), Santa Barbara (8%), Alameda (8%), San Diego (6%), Monterey (5%), San Luis Obispo (5%), Ventura (5%), Marin (4%), and Sonoma (4%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 234 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 9% in 2009 from 10% in 2008, 8% in 2007, and 12% in 2006.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Local health agencies are responsible for issuing beachwater quality warnings.2 There are four types of beachwater quality warnings: postings, rain advisories, permanent postings, and closings. Postings are issued when a water sample fails to meet bacterial standards. Rain advisories, on the other hand, are preemptive warnings to


prevent people from swimming in ocean waters during a rain event and for three days after rainfall ceases; permanent postings are issued at sites where historic data show that the beachwater generally contains elevated bacteria levels.2 Beach closings are generally issued after sewage spills or other serious health hazards. However, although it is rare, local health officials do sometimes decide to close a beach when more than one standard is exceeded or when exceedances are far in excess of the standards.1 This is rare, however, and closings are generally issued only when it is suspected that sewage is impacting a beach.

For total coliform, the single-sample standard is 1,000 cfu/100 ml if the ratio of fecal/total coliform bacteria exceeds 0.1. Otherwise, the single-sample standard for total coliform is 10,000 cfu/100 ml. The total coliform standard for the geometric mean of at least five weekly samples collected during a 30-day period is 1,000 cfu/100 ml. For fecal coliform, the single-sample standard is 400 cfu/100 ml and the standard for the geometric mean of at least five weekly samples collected during a 30-day period is 200 cfu/100 ml. In some jurisdictions, E. coli is used as a surrogate for fecal coliform; in this case, the standard is the same as for fecal coliform. For enterococcus, the single-sample standard is 104 cfu/100 ml and the standard for the geometric mean of at least five weekly samples collected during a 30-day period is 35 cfu/100 ml. Almost all counties monitor for all three organisms (total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus), and an exceedance of the single-sample standard of any one of these three indicators triggers an advisory. Geometric mean standards are sometimes used to keep a beach posted after the single-sample maximum has been exceeded but are rarely used by themselves to trigger a posting.1

Advisories are posted without resampling when a single-sample exceedance occurs. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory when a single-sample exceedance occurs.

Since 2003, San Diego County has used a predictive model to trigger beach closings at three south county beaches near the outlet of the Tijuana River. These beaches are Imperial Beach, Coronado Beach, and Silver Strand State Beach. The model assesses the need for closures based on real-time information about ocean currents in addition to other parameters. Use of the model allows the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to make more accurate and timely notifications to protect the health of beachgoers.3

In addition to advisories triggered by indicator exceedances, three-day preemptive rain advisories are automatically issued for all beaches in five counties (Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, and Santa Cruz) when rainfall exceeds pre-determined levels, regardless of whether bacterial monitoring samples have been collected and analyzed. Los Angeles County advises swimmers that to stay safe when swimming in the ocean, ocean water should be avoided for 72 hours after a rain-storm.4 These general advisories affect all beaches in the county. As a general rule, the Recreational Health Program issues a rain advisory when there is 0.1 inch or more of rainfall at the University of Southern California rain gauge; however, its decision can vary depending on how long it has been since the last rainfall, how sporadic the rainfall is, and where it is falling, since, according to the agency, much of the watershed that feeds storm drain flow is in the hills and mountains, which have rainfall different from those levels at the rain gauge. Orange County issues preemptive countywide rain advisories, warning of elevated bacteria levels in the ocean for a period of at least 72 hours after rain events of 0.2 inch or more. San Diego County issues preemptive rain advisories for a period of up to 72 hours after a rain event of 0.2 inch or more.

Preemptive advisories are also issued for reasons other than rain, such as excessive debris on the beach. Finally, preemptive closings are issued when there is a known sewage spill or when sewage is suspected of impacting a beach. Closings are issued immediately upon notification by the agency responsible for the spill.

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 714 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 30% to 2,904 days in 2009 from 4,133 days in 2008, 4,736 days in 2007, 4,644 days in 2006, and 5,199 days in 2005. Furthermore, there was a dramatic difference between northern California counties and Southern California counties. Closing/advisory days increased dramatically in northern California counties and decreased dramatically in Southern California, where several counties reduced monitoring frequency due to budget cuts. Heavy first flush rain events in October of 2009 influenced northern California beaches.5 In addition, on October 30, 2009, a tank vessel spilled an estimated 400 to 800 gallons of bunker fuel into the San Francisco Bay. The spill reached the

Stormwater 2% Sewage 3% Wildlife 0% Other 5% Unknown 76% No Data 13%

California Sources of Contamination


Alameda coast line, including Crown Beach. Crown Beach was posted and closed for over a month to swimming, fishing, and other recreational activities.

Total Closing/Advisory Days for Events lasting Six Consecutive Weeks or less by County, 2008 vs. 2009

County 2008 Days 2009 Days % Difference

Alameda 94 171 82%

Contra Costa 31 35 13%

Humboldt 21 43 105%

Los Angeles 1,438 687 -52%

Marin 22 164 645%

Monterey 22 no data

Orange 827 469 -43%

San Diego 474 364 -23%

San Francisco 69 127 84%

San Luis Obispo 12 16 33%

San Mateo 580 670 16%

Santa Barbara 206 73 -65%

Santa Cruz 118 31 -74%

Sonoma 34 30 -12%

Ventura 185 no data

In addition, there were 4 extended events (259 days total) and 1 permanent event (141 days total) in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. In 2008, there were 3 extended events (148 days total) and 9 permanent events (1,700 days total).

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 714 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 79% (2,308) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 1% (40) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, 3% (90) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks, 4% (102) were preemptive due to other reasons, and there were no data for 13% (364).

reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 2% (57) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 76% (2,212) were from unknown sources of contamination, 3% (90) were from sewage spills/leaks, and 5% (157) were from other sources of contamination. There was no information on contamination sources for 13% (388) of closing/advisory days.

California 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or Advisory Days

County Beach Tier Monitoring frequency

Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Alameda Alameda Point not tier 1 no data 82 1% 11

Alameda Crown Beach-2001 Shoreline Dr. not tier 1 1/wk 44 9% 37 (122)*

Alameda Crown Beach-Bath House not tier 1 1/wk 46 9% 20 (122)*

Alameda Crown Beach-Bird Sanctuary not tier 1 1/wk 47 19% 51 (122)*

Alameda Crown Beach-Sunset Rd. not tier 1 1/wk 47 11% 35 (122)*

Alameda Crown Beach-Windsurf Corner not tier 1 1/wk 45 4% 17 (122)*



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Contra Costa Keller Beach not tier 1 1/wk 142 10% 35

Del Norte Beachfront Park not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Clifford Kamph Memorial Park not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Crescent Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Enderts Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte High Bluff Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Kellogg Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Lake Earl Wildlife Area Beaches not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Pebble Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Pelican Bay State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Point St. George not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte South Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Del Norte Wilson Creek Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Agate Beach 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Baker Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Big Lagoon not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Black Sands Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Carruthers Cove Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Centerville Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Clam Beach Co. Park 1 1/wk 49 18% 6

HumboldtClam Beach Co. Park-North Mad River Mouth

1 1/wk 45 16% 24

Humboldt College Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Crab Co. Park not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Dead Man’s Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Dry Lagoon not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Eel River State Wildlife Area not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Freshwater Lagoon not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Gold Bluffs Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Hidden Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Indian Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Little Black Sands Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Little River State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Luffenholtz Beach 1 1/wk 43 7% 7

Humboldt Mattole River Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Moonstone Beach 1 1/wk 43 7% 3

Humboldt Redwood Creek Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Samoa Dunes Rec. Area not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Shelter Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt South Spit not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Humboldt Stone Lagoon not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Humboldt Trinidad State Beach 1 1/wk 43 7% 3

Los AngelesAlamitos Bay Beach-1st and Bayshore

1 1/wk 19 11% 2

Los AngelesAlamitos Bay Beach-2nd St. Bridge and Bayshore

1 1/wk 58 22% 14

Los AngelesAlamitos Bay Beach-56th Place-on Bayside

1 1/wk 54 15% 9

Los AngelesAlamitos Bay Beach-Alamitos-Bay Shore Float

1 1/wk 54 15% 7

Los Angeles Alamitos Bay Beach-B-69 1 1/wk 21 29% 5

Los Angeles Amarillo Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Avalon Beach-bet. BBC and TC 1 1/wk 34 18% 0

Los Angeles Avalon Beach-near Busy B Cafe 1 1/wk 44 52% 29

Los Angeles Avalon Beach-near storm drain 1 1/wk 34 18% 2

Los Angeles Avalon Beach-North of GP Pier 1 1/wk 50 82% 40

Los Angeles Avalon Beach-South of GP Pier 1 1/wk 41 44% 27

Los Angeles Basin H 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Big Rock Beach 1 1/wk 51 12% 11

Los Angeles Bluff Cove 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Broad Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Cabrillo Beach 1 Daily 73 45% 65

Los Angeles Carbon Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Colorado Lagoon-Center 1 1/wk 23 30% 5

Los Angeles Colorado Lagoon-North 1 1/wk 63 29% 24

Los Angeles Coral Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Dan Blocker County Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los AngelesDockweiler State Beach-Ballona Creek

1 1/wk 82 26% 7

Los AngelesDockweiler State Beach-Culver Blvd.

1 1/wk 50 2% 0

Los AngelesDockweiler State Beach-Hyperion Plant

1 1/wk 47 4% 0

Los AngelesDockweiler State Beach-Imperial Hwy. storm drain

1 1/wk 50 2% 0

Los AngelesDockweiler State Beach-World Way

1 1/wk 47 6% 0

Los Angeles El Matador State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles El Pescador State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles El Segundo Beach 1 1/wk 47 4% 0

Los Angeles Escondido Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Hermosa Beach Pier 1 1/wk 50 4% 6

Los Angeles Hermosa Beach-26th Street 1 1/wk 47 4% 0

Los Angeles Inner Cabrillo Beach 1 Daily 73 7% 0

Los Angeles La Costa Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Los Angeles La Piedra State Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Las Flores Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Las Tunas County Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Leo Carillo State Beach 1 1/wk 47 4% 0

Los Angeles Long Beach-10th Place-Beach 1 1/wk 53 11% 9



Los Angeles Long Beach-3rd Place-Beach 1 1/wk 19 16% 2




Los Angeles Long Beach-62nd Place-Beach 1 1/wk 19 16% 2

Los Angeles Long Beach-72nd Place-Beach 1 1/wk 50 12% 8

Los Angeles Long Beach-B-69 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Long Beach-Coronado Ave-Beach 1 1/wk 54 15% 12

Los AngelesLong Beach-East Side of Belmont Pier

1 1/wk 18 6% 0

Los Angeles Long Beach-Granada Ave-Beach 1 1/wk 49 6% 5

Los Angeles Long Beach-Molino Ave-Beach 1 1/wk 54 17% 12

Los Angeles Long Beach-Prospect Ave-Beach 1 1/wk 51 8% 7

Los AngelesLong Beach-West Side of Belmont Pier

1 1/wk 56 18% 11

Los Angeles Malibu Beach-Latigo Shore Dr. 1 1/wk 48 8% 0

Los Angeles Malibu Beach-Malibu Colony Dr. 1 1/wk 53 9% 0

Los Angeles Malibu Beach-Malibu Pier 1 1/wk 55 25% 19

Los Angeles Malibu Beach-Nicholas Beach 1 1/wk 47 2% 2

Los Angeles Malibu Beach-Paradise Cove 1 1/wk 51 16% 11

Los Angeles Malibu Lagoon State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Malibu Point 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los AngelesManhattan Beach-27th Street Extended

1 1/wk 47 2% 4

Los AngelesManhattan Beach-40th Street Extended

1 1/wk 50 2% 0

Los AngelesManhattan Beach-Manhattan Beach Pier

1 1/wk 50 4% 0

Los Angeles Marina Del Rey Beach 1 1/wk 82 11% 9

Los Angeles Mothers’ Beach 1 1/wk 54 17% 10

Los Angeles Nicholas Canyon County Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles No Name not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Outer Cabrillo Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 2

Los AngelesPalos Verdes Beach-Abalone Cove

1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Palos Verdes Beach-Long Point 1 1/wk 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Los AngelesPalos Verdes Beach-near Busy B Cafe

1 1/wk 50 4% 7

Los Angeles Point Dume County Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Point Fermin Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Portuguese Bend 1 Daily 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Puerco Beach 1 1/wk 50 10% 2

Los AngelesRedondo Beach-Avenue I Extended

1 1/wk 50 2% 0

Los Angeles Redondo Beach-Herondo Street 1 1/wk 48 8% 3

Los Angeles Redondo Beach-Redondo Pier 1 1/wk 82 28% 25

Los Angeles Redondo Beach-Topaz Street 1 1/wk 52 19% 2

Los AngelesRobert Meyer Memorial State Beach

not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Royal Palms Beach-White Point not tier 1 Daily 0 NA 2

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Ashland storm drain

1 1/wk 83 7% 0

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Montana Ave.

1 1/wk 49 8% 2

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Pico Kenter storm drain

1 1/wk 84 23% 15

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Santa Monica Canyon

1 1/wk 84 39% 44

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Santa Monica Pier

1 1/wk 84 46% 74

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Strand Street

1 1/wk 48 8% 3

Los AngelesSanta Monica State Beach-Wilshire Blvd.

1 1/wk 49 12% 4

Los Angeles South Topanga State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles South Will Rogers State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Surfrider Beach 1 1/wk 83 45% 53

Los Angeles Topanga State Beach 1 1/wk 83 29% 28

Los Angeles Torrance Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Venice City Beach-Brooks Ave. 1 1/wk 49 12% 3

Los Angeles Venice City Beach-Topsail Street 1 1/wk 48 6% 2

Los Angeles Venice City Beach-Venice Pier 1 1/wk 48 8% 2

Los AngelesVenice City Beach-Windward storm drain

1 1/wk 50 0% 0

Los AngelesWill Rogers State Beach-17200 Pacific Coast Hwy

1 1/wk 48 6% 0

Los AngelesWill Rogers State Beach-Bel Air Bay Club

1 1/wk 49 8% 2

Los AngelesWill Rogers State Beach-Pulga storm drain

1 1/wk 51 4% 7

Los AngelesWill Rogers State Beach-Temescal Canyon Sd

1 1/wk 48 6% 2



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Los Angeles Zuma Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Los Angeles Zuma Beach-Trancas Beach 1 1/wk 47 4% 0

Los Angeles Zuma Beach-Westward Beach 1 1/wk 48 8% 0

Marin Bolinas Beach 1 1/wk 30 0% 7

Marin Chicken Ranch Beach at Creek 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Marin China Camp 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

Marin Dillon Beach 1 1/wk 30 3% 7

Marin Drake’s Beach 1 1/wk 30 3% 18

Marin Drake’s Beach-Drakes Estero 1 1/wk 27 7% 0

Marin Fort Baker, Horseshoe Cove 1 1/wk 90 4% 33

Marin Golden Hinde not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Marin Heart’s Desire 1 1/wk 30 3% 7

Marin Kehoe Beach not tier 1 None 0 NA 0

Marin Lawson’s Landing 1 1/wk 26 8% 14

Marin Limantour Beach 1 1/wk 29 7% 0

Marin Marshall Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Marin McClures Beach not tier 1 None 0 NA 0

Marin McNear’s Beach 1 1/wk 2 0% 0

Marin Miller Point 1 1/wk 27 11% 21

Marin Millerton Point 1 1/wk 30 3% 7

Marin Muir Beach 1 1/wk 89 2% 7

Marin Paradise Cove 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Marin Rodeo Beach (Cronkite) 1 1/wk 90 3% 19

Marin Schoonmaker Beach 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Marin Shell Beach not tier 1 4/yr 30 3% 7

Marin Stinson Beach 1 1/wk 90 3% 17

Mendocino Albion River not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Anchor Bay not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Arena Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

MendocinoBig River-Mendocino Bay Headlands SP

1 1/wk 26 4% 0

Mendocino Caspar Headlands Sb 1 1/wk 11 9% 0

Mendocino Chadbourne Gulch not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Mendocino Gualala River not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Hare Creek 1 1/wk 10 20% 0

Mendocino Irish Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Jug Handle State Reserve not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

MendocinoMacKerricher State Park-MacKerricher

1 1/wk 24 13% 0

MendocinoMacKerricher State Park-Virgin Creek Beach

1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Mendocino Manchester SB not tier 1 4/yr 1 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Mendocino Navarro River Redwood SP not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Noyo River not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

MendocinoPudding Creek Beach-Pudding Creek

1 1/wk 26 0% 0

MendocinoPudding Creek Beach-Pudding Lagoon

1 1/wk 23 65% 0

Mendocino Russian Gulch Sp not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Schooner Gulch not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Ten Mile River not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Mendocino Van Damme SP 1 1/wk 26 4% 0

Mendocino Westport/Union Landing not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Monterey Andrew Molera State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Asilomar State Beach 1 1/wk 32 3% no data

Monterey Carmel River State Beach 1 1/wk 32 0% no data

Monterey Fort Ord Dunes State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Garrapata State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Heritage Harbor not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey John Little State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Lover’s Point 1 1/wk 35 3% no data

Monterey Maccabee Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Marina State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Monastery Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

MontereyMonterey State Beach-Del Monte Beach

1 1/wk 41 17% no data

MontereyMonterey State Beach-Monterey Beach Hotel

1 1/wk 33 0% no data

Monterey Moss Landing State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Pacific Grove City Beaches not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

MontereyPoint Lobos State Reserve State Beach

not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Point Sur Shp not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Salinas River State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey San Carlos Beach 1 1/wk 32 0% no data

Monterey Seal Rock, Pebble Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Seaside Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Monterey Spanish Bay 1 1/wk 35 6% no data

Monterey Stillwater Cove 1 1/wk 37 11% no data

Monterey Zmudowski State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data

Orange Aliso County Beach-Aliso Beach not tier 1 no data 59 12% 0

OrangeAliso County Beach-Aliso Beach-South

not tier 1 no data 59 5% 0

Orange Aliso County Beach-Camel Point not tier 1 no data 60 3% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

OrangeAliso County Beach-Crystal Cove Ramp


Orange Aliso County Beach-Table Rock not tier 1 no data 59 0% 0

OrangeAliso County Beach-Treasure Island Ramp


OrangeAliso County Beach-Treasure Island Stairs


Orange Bolsa Chica Beach 1 Daily 149 0% 0

Orange Bolsa Chica Reserve 1 Daily 147 3% 7

OrangeCapistrano Bay District-10,000’ South Outfall

1 2/wk 51 18% 0

OrangeCapistrano Bay District-7,500’ South Outfall

1 2/wk 47 19% 91

OrangeCapistrano Beach-5,000’ South Outfall

1 2/wk 51 16% 36 (77)*

OrangeCrystal Cove State Park-Crystal Cove

1 Daily 22 5% 0

OrangeCrystal Cove State Park-Crystal Cove Ramp

1 Daily 0 NA 0

Orange Crystal Cove State Park-El Morro 1 Daily 22 0% 0

OrangeCrystal Cove State Park-Muddy Creek Surf

1 Daily 22 0% 0

OrangeCrystal Cove State Park-Pelican Point

1 Daily 22 0% 0

OrangeDana Point Harbor-Buoy Line/Baby Beach

1 1/wk 22 9% 0

OrangeDana Point Harbor-East End/Baby Beach

1 1/wk 22 9% 2

Orange Dana Point Harbor-Fuel Dock 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Orange Dana Point Harbor-Guest Dock 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

OrangeDana Point Harbor-Harbor Entrance

1 1/wk 47 9% 0

OrangeDana Point Harbor-Harbor Patrol Dock

1 1/wk 20 5% 5

Orange Dana Point Harbor-MDP18 1 1/wk 20 10% 4

Orange Dana Point Harbor-Pier 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Orange Dana Point Harbor-Pilgrim 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

OrangeDana Point Harbor-Swim Area/Baby Beach

1 1/wk 22 9% 2

OrangeDana Point Harbor-West End/Baby Beach

1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Orange Dana Point Harbor-Youth Dock 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Orange Dana Point-Ocean Institute Beach not tier 1 4/yr 47 2% 0

OrangeDoheny State Beach-1,000’ South Outfall

1 3/wk 48 23% 0


1 3/wk 49 24% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

OrangeDoheny State Beach-250’ S of San Juan Creek

1 3/wk 23 13% 0


1 3/wk 51 25% 6


1 3/wk 49 24% 0

Orange Doheny State Beach-North Beach 1 3/wk 23 22% 2

OrangeDoheny State Beach-North of San Juan Creek

1 3/wk 51 37% 0

OrangeDoheny State Beach-Surfzone at Outfall

1 3/wk 50 38% 73 (107)*

OrangeHuntington City Beach-17th Street

1 Daily 149 3% 4

Orange Huntington City Beach-Beach Hut 1 Daily 148 2% 2

Orange Huntington City Beach-Bluffs 1 Daily 149 5% 10

OrangeHuntington City Beach-Jack’s Snack Bar

1 Daily 149 0% 3

OrangeHuntington Harbour-11th Street Beach

1 1/wk 25 12% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Admiralty Drive

1 1/wk 26 12% 3

Orange Huntington Harbour-Anaheim Bay 1 1/wk 25 8% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Anderson Street

1 1/wk 25 12% 4

Orange Huntington Harbour-Bolsa Chica 1 1/wk 25 8% 0

Orange Huntington Harbour-Clubhouse 1 1/wk 24 8% 2

Orange Huntington Harbour-Coral Cay 1 1/wk 24 8% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Davenport Beach

1 1/wk 24 8% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Harbour Channel

1 1/wk 27 19% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Humboldt Beach

1 1/wk 25 12% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Mothers Beach

1 1/wk 24 4% 0

Orange Huntington Harbour-Sea Gate 1 1/wk 25 8% 0

OrangeHuntington Harbour-Sunset Aquatic Park

1 1/wk 24 4% 2

Orange Huntington Harbour-Trinidad Lane 1 1/wk 25 4% 0

OrangeHuntington State Beach-50’ N of Santa Ana River

1 Daily 149 4% 1

OrangeHuntington State Beach-Brookhurst Street

1 Daily 147 5% 5

OrangeHuntington State Beach-Magnolia Street

1 Daily 148 7% 7

OrangeHuntington State Beach-Santa Ana River-North

1 Daily 147 7% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

OrangeHuntington State Beach-SCE Plant

1 Daily 148 4% 0

Orange Laguna Beach-Blue Lagoon 1 2/wk 59 0% 0

Orange Laguna Beach-Bluebird Canyon 1 2/wk 59 3% 1

Orange Laguna Beach-Crescent Bay 1 2/wk 22 0% 0

Orange Laguna Beach-Emerald Bay 1 2/wk 21 0% 0

Orange Laguna Beach-Laguna Hotel 1 2/wk 59 3% 2

OrangeLaguna Beach-Laguna Lido Apartment

1 2/wk 59 0% 0

OrangeLaguna Beach-Laguna Main Beach

1 2/wk 21 0% 3

Orange Laguna Beach-Victoria Beach 1 2/wk 60 2% 1

Orange Monarch Beach 1 Daily 22 5% 34

Orange Newport Bay-10th Street 1 1/wk 30 10% 0



Orange Newport Bay-33rd Street 1 1/wk 32 22% 6

Orange Newport Bay-43rd Street 1 1/wk 34 21% 19

Orange Newport Bay-Abalone Avenue 1 1/wk 30 10% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Alvarado/Bay Island 1 1/wk 29 14% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Bayshore Beach 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

OrangeNewport Bay-Bayside Drive Beach

1 1/wk 31 16% 3

Orange Newport Bay-De Anza 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Garnet Avenue 1 1/wk 31 16% 4

Orange Newport Bay-Grand Canal 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Lido Yacht Club 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

Orange Newport Bay-N Street Beach 1 1/wk 30 10% 0

OrangeNewport Bay-Newport Blvd Bridge

1 1/wk 30 43% 0

OrangeNewport Bay-Newport Dunes East

1 1/wk 30 13% 2

OrangeNewport Bay-Newport Dunes Middle

1 1/wk 30 13% 0

OrangeNewport Bay-Newport Dunes North

1 1/wk 30 10% 0

OrangeNewport Bay-Newport Dunes West

1 1/wk 31 16% 4

Orange Newport Bay-Northstar Beach 1 1/wk 30 17% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Onyx Avenue 1 1/wk 31 19% 2

Orange Newport Bay-Park Avenue 1 1/wk 31 16% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Promontory Point 1 1/wk 30 7% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Rhine Channel 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Rocky Point 1 1/wk 30 10% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Orange Newport Bay-Ruby Avenue 1 1/wk 31 16% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Sapphire Avenue 1 1/wk 33 24% 10

Orange Newport Bay-Ski Zone 1 1/wk 7 29% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Vaughs Launch 1 1/wk 16 13% 0

Orange Newport Bay-Via Genoa 1 1/wk 31 16% 1

Orange Newport Beach-15th/16th Street 1 Daily 149 3% 3

Orange Newport Beach-38th Street (9S) 1 Daily 148 2% 0

OrangeNewport Beach-38th Street (BNB10)

1 Daily 31 13% 0

Orange Newport Beach-52nd/53rd Street 1 Daily 149 2% 0

Orange Newport Beach-Balboa Pier 1 Daily 149 1% 0

Orange Newport Beach-Corona Del Mar 1 Daily 148 4% 2

Orange Newport Beach-Grant Street 1 Daily 25 8% 2

Orange Newport Beach-Lancaster/62nd 1 Daily 26 12% 4

Orange Newport Beach-Little Corona 1 Daily 22 0% 0

Orange Newport Beach-Newport Pier 1 Daily 2 0% 0

Orange Newport Beach-Orange Street 1 Daily 147 3% 0

OrangeNewport Beach-Santa Ana River-South

1 Daily 147 18% 0

Orange Newport Beach-The Wedge 1 Daily 149 1% 2

Orange Poche County Beach 1 2/wk 48 63% 27 (141)*

Orange Riviera Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 4

OrangeSalt Creek County Beach Park-Dana Strands-Selva Ramp

not tier 1 3/wk 59 3% 0

OrangeSalt Creek County Beach Park-Salt Creek Beach

not tier 1 3/wk 71 4% 0

OrangeSan Clemente City Beach-20,000’ South Outfall

1 2/wk 49 18% 1

OrangeSan Clemente City Beach-450’ North of Pier

1 2/wk 49 14% 3

OrangeSan Clemente City Beach-Trafalgar Street Beach

1 2/wk 20 5% 0

OrangeSan Clemente State Beach-Avenida Calafia

1 2/wk 47 11% 0

OrangeSan Clemente State Beach-Las Palmeras

1 2/wk 47 6% 2

OrangeSeal Beach Surfside-100 Yds S of Pier

1 1/wk 30 10% 2

Orange Seal Beach Surfside-14th Street 1 1/wk 29 3% 0

Orange Seal Beach Surfside-1st Street 1 1/wk 29 17% 2

Orange Seal Beach Surfside-8th Street 1 1/wk 29 10% 1

Orange Seal Beach Surfside-Sea Way 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

OrangeSouth Laguna-Thousand Steps Beach

1 2/wk 59 2% 0

Orange South Laguna-Three Arch Bay 1 2/wk 59 3% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Orange South Laguna-Treasure Island Pier 1 2/wk 60 3% 1

Orange Sunset Beach 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

San Diego Agua Hedionda Lagoon not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA

San Diego Bayside Park not tier 1 no data 19 0% 0

San Diego Bird Rock (NR) not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San DiegoBorder Field State Park-Border Fence, N Side

1 1/wk 56 21% 0

San DiegoBorder Field State Park-Monument Rd.

1 1/wk 58 22% 0

San Diego Buccaneer Beach not tier 1 4/yr 22 5% 0

San DiegoBuccaneer Beach-500’ N. of Loma Alta Outlet

not tier 1 4/yr 49 2% 0

San Diego Cardiff State Beach 1 1/wk 57 0% 0

San DiegoCardiff State Beach-Charthouse Parking (Slight S.)

1 1/wk 51 0% 0

San DiegoCardiff State Beach-Las Olas (Georges)

1 1/wk 51 0% 0

San DiegoCardiff State Beach-Seaside State Park

1 1/wk 51 0% 0

San Diego Carlsbad City Beach 1 1/wk 14 7% 0

San Diego Carlsbad State Beach 1 1/wk 44 0% 0

San Diego Coronado Cays (Nr) not tier 1 4/yr 89 0% 4

San DiegoCoronado Cays (Nr)-Navy Fence on Ocean Blvd

not tier 1 4/yr 90 1% 0

San Diego Coronado City Beaches 1 3/wk 138 1% 0

San Diego Coronado, Central Beach 1 2/wk 91 0% 0

San Diego Del Mar City Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Dog Beach, O.B. not tier 1 4/yr 75 13% 18

San Diego Fletcher Cove not tier 1 4/yr 51 0% 0

San Diego Harbor Beach not tier 1 4/yr 5 0% 0

San DiegoHarbor Beach-San Luis Rey River Outlet, South Jetty

not tier 1 4/yr 69 7% 33

San DiegoImperial Beach Municipal Beach-Cortez Ave

1 1/wk 10 20% 0

San DiegoImperial Beach Municipal Beach-End of Seacoast Dr

1 1/wk 66 14% 17

San DiegoImperial Beach Municipal Beach, Other-Palm Ave

1 1/wk 1 0% 0

San Diego Imperial Beach Pier 1 1/wk 33 6% 1

San Diego La Jolla Community Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego La Jolla Cove 1 1/wk 38 3% 2

San DiegoLa Jolla Shores Beach-La Jolla Shores Beach (Fm-080)

1 1/wk 18 0% 0

San DiegoLa Jolla Shores Beach-Scripps Pier (S)

1 1/wk 2 50% 1



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Diego Leucadia not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Marine Street Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Bahia Point 1 1/wk 25 24% 14

San DiegoMission Bay, Campland on the Bay

1 1/wk 42 19% 30

San Diego Mission Bay, Crown Point Shores 1 1/wk 20 10% 4

San DiegoMission Bay, Crown Point Shores-Wildlife Refuge Fence

1 1/wk 21 10% 4

San Diego Mission Bay, De Anza Cove 1 1/wk 35 17% 8

San Diego Mission Bay, Fanuel Park 1 1/wk 21 10% 4

San DiegoMission Bay, Leisure Lagoon (MB-053)

1 1/wk 21 5% 2

San DiegoMission Bay, Leisure Lagoon-Leisure Lagoon Swim Area

1 1/wk 31 3% 2

San DiegoMission Bay, Mariners Basin-Balboa Ct.

1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San DiegoMission Bay, Mariners Basin-Bonita Cove

1 1/wk 33 6% 6

San DiegoMission Bay, North Pacific Passage

1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Quivera Basin not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Riviera Shores not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Sail Bay 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, San Juan Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Santa Barbara Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San DiegoMission Bay, Vacation Isle (MB-203)

1 1/wk 24 21% 10

San DiegoMission Bay, Vacation Isle-North Cove Beach

1 1/wk 40 25% 41

San Diego Mission Bay, Ventura Cove 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Mission Bay, Visitor’s Center 1 1/wk 37 16% 18

San Diego Mission Beach-Belmont Park 1 1/wk 57 2% 0

San Diego Moonlight Beach 1 2/wk 61 5% 10

San DiegoNorth Imperial Beach-Camp Surf (Carnation Ave)

not tier 1 4/yr 58 12% 0

San Diego Ocean Beach-Bermuda Ave 1 1/wk 60 13% 5

San DiegoOcean Beach-Newport Ave, North Side of Pier

1 1/wk 56 4% 0

San DiegoOcean Beach-O.B. Pier at Narragansett

1 1/wk 56 0% 0

San DiegoOcean Beach-Stub Jetty, South Side

1 1/wk 57 7% 0

San Diego Oceanside Harbor 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San DiegoOceanside Municipal Beach-Cassidy Street

1 1/wk 48 2% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San DiegoOceanside Municipal Beach-Forester Street

1 1/wk 49 0% 0

San DiegoOceanside Municipal Beach-St. Malo Beach

1 1/wk 48 2% 0

San DiegoOceanside Municipal Beach-Wisconsin Street

1 1/wk 15 0% 0

San DiegoOceanside Pier Area-Pier View Way

1 1/wk 4 0% 0

San DiegoOceanside Pier Area-Surfrider Way

1 1/wk 4 0% 0

San Diego Oceanside Pier Area-Tyson Street 1 1/wk 49 2% 0

San Diego Pacific Beach-Crystal Pier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Pacific Beach-Grand Ave. 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Powerhouse Park 15th Street not tier 1 4/yr 21 5% 2

San Diego San Diego Bay Chula Vista 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego San Diego Bay Coronado Cays not tier 1 4/yr 34 6% 9

San Diego San Diego Bay Glorietta Bay 1 1/wk 20 5% 5

San Diego San Diego Bay Shelter Is 1 1/wk 3 33% 2

San Diego San Diego Bay-Lawrence St not tier 1 4/yr 20 5% 2

San DiegoSan Diego Bay-Silver Strand (Bayside)

not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego San Dieguito River Beach 1 2/wk 63 8% 8

San Diego San Elijo State Beach (EH-400) 1 1/wk 51 2% 0

San Diego San Elijo State Park SE-070 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

San Diego San Onofre State Beach 1 1/wk 2 50% 0

San Diego Seascape Beach Park 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

San Diego Shell Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Diego Shoreline Park not tier 1 2/wk 36 14% 17

San Diego Silver Strand State Beach 1 1/wk 55 7% 17

San Diego Solana Beach City Beaches 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Batiquitos Lagoon Outlet

1 1/wk 22 0% 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Cerezo Drive

1 1/wk 50 0% 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Encina Creek Outlet

1 1/wk 49 0% 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Palomar Airport

1 1/wk 49 0% 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Poinsettia Lane

1 1/wk 49 0% 0

San DiegoSouth Carlsbad State Beach-Ponto Drive

1 1/wk 49 0% 0

San Diego South Casa Beach S.D. not tier 1 4/yr 19 0% 0

San Diego Spanish Landing Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

San Diego Sunset Cliffs Park 1 1/wk 58 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Diego Swami’s Park 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

San DiegoTecolote Shores-Tecolote Playground, Watercraft Area

1 1/wk 34 12% 4

San DiegoTecolote Shores-Tecolote Shores, swim area

1 1/wk 20 10% 2

San Diego Tide Beach Park not tier 1 4/yr 52 2% 4

San Diego Tijuana River 1 1/wk 0 NA 43

San DiegoTijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge-N of Tijuana River

1 1/wk 60 15% 0

San DiegoTijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge-Tijuana Rivermouth

1 1/wk 60 23% 0

San Diego Torrey Pines City Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Diego Torrey Pines State Beach 1 1/wk 69 3% 0

San Diego Tourmaline Surfing Park-P.B. Point not tier 1 1/wk 23 22% 11

San DiegoTourmaline Surfing Park-Tourmaline Surf Park

not tier 1 1/wk 43 5% 4

San Diego USMC Camp Pendleton 1 1/wk 1 0% 0

San Diego Whispering Sands Nicholson Pt. not tier 1 4/yr 37 0% 0

San Diego Windansea Beach-Bonair (Nr) 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San DiegoWindansea Beach-Playa Del Norte

1 1/wk 25 0% 0

San Francisco Aquatic Park-Hyde Street Pier 1 1/wk 55 5% 2

San Francisco Aquatic Park, Mid-Beach 1 1/wk 56 7% 2

San FranciscoBaker Beach, Lobos Creek at Lower Parking Lot

1 1/wk 85 36% 36

San FranciscoBaker Beach, Opposite Seacliff 2 Pumping Station

1 1/wk 55 4% 2

San Francisco Baker Beach, Upper Parking Lot 1 1/wk 88 8% 7

San FranciscoCandlestick Point-Jack Rabbit Beach

1 1/wk 72 26% 2

San Francisco Candlestick Point-Sunnydale Cove 1 1/wk 76 32% 19

San FranciscoCandlestick Point-Windsurfer Circle

1 1/wk 92 46% 37

San Francisco China Beach 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

San Francisco Crissy Field West 1 1/wk 55 5% 5

San Francisco Crissy Field, New Beach 1 1/wk 57 9% 5

San Francisco Crissy Field, Trees 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Francisco Fort Funston not tier 1 1/wk 5 40% 3

San Francisco Ocean Beach, at Balboa St. 1 1/wk 57 5% 2

San Francisco Ocean Beach, at Lincoln Ave. 1 1/wk 57 5% 2

San Francisco Ocean Beach, at Pacheco St. not tier 1 1/wk 5 40% 1

San Francisco Ocean Beach, at Sloat Blvd. 1 1/wk 57 5% 2

San Francisco Ocean Beach, at Vicente St. not tier 1 1/wk 5 40% 0

San Luis Obispo Avila Beach 1 1/wk 110 5% 2



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Luis Obispo Cayucos Beach-Cay13 1 1/wk 52 0% 1



San Luis Obispo Hearst Memorial State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Leffingwell Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Montana De Oro not tier 1 1/wk 53 0% 0

San Luis Obispo Moonstone Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Morro Bay City Beach-MB11 1 1/wk 54 4% 0



San Luis Obispo Morro Strand State Beach 1 1/wk 54 2% 1

San Luis Obispo N Morro Strand State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Oceano Dunes State Rec Area not tier 1 4/yr 52 2% 0

San Luis Obispo Olde Port Beach 1 1/wk 56 7% 3

San Luis Obispo Pismo State Beach 1 1/wk 54 4% 1

San Luis Obispo Pismo State Beach-PB4 1 1/wk 66 23% 2

San Luis Obispo Pismo State Beach-PB5 1 1/wk 55 5% 1

San Luis ObispoPismo State Beach, Oceano-OCB11

no data 1/wk 54 0% 0





San Luis Obispo S Morro Strand State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo San Simeon Beach-Pico23 1 1/wk 55 7% 0

San Luis Obispo San Simeon Beach-Sew7 1 1/wk 57 9% 3

San Luis Obispo Sewers 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Shell Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Luis Obispo Spyglass Park not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Ano Nuevo State Refuge not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Aquatic Park 1 1/wk 39 31% 117

San Mateo Bean Hollow State Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

San Mateo Capistrano Blvd. Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Coyote Point 1 1/wk 42 5% 14

San Mateo Coyote Point County Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Mateo Dunes State Beach 1 1/wk 47 6% 23

San Mateo El Granada not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Elmar Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Fitzgerald Marine (Moss Beach) 1 1/wk 53 17% 59

San Mateo Francis State Beach 1 1/wk 48 4% 13

San Mateo Gazos Creek Access 1 1/wk 19 5% 13

San Mateo Gray Whale State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Mateo Kiteboard Beach not tier 1 no data 25 8% 15

San Mateo Lakeshore Park not tier 1 4/yr 39 26% 98

San Mateo Manor Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Marina Lagoon 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Mateo Maverick’s Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Miramar Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Montara State Beach 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

San Mateo Mori Point not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Naples Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

San Mateo Oyster Point Marina not tier 1 1/wk 40 15% 53

San Mateo Pacifica State Beach 1 1/wk 49 12% 39

San Mateo Pebble Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Pescadero State Beach 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

San Mateo Pigeon Point Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Pillar Point 1 1/wk 50 28% 100

San Mateo Pillar Point 2 not tier 1 1/wk 50 20% 76

San Mateo Pillar Point Harbor not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Pomponio State Beach 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

San Mateo Poplar Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Redondo Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Rockaway Beach 1 1/wk 51 6% 9

San Mateo Roosevelt State Beach 1 1/wk 48 2% 7

San Mateo Ross’s Cove not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo San Gregorio State Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

San Mateo Sand Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Sharp Park Beach #3 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

San Mateo Sharp Park Beach #6 1 1/wk 13 0% 0

San Mateo Surfers Beach 1 1/wk 49 2% 6

San Mateo Thornton State Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Tunitas Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Vallejo Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

San Mateo Venice State Beach 1 1/wk 43 9% 28

Santa Barbara 1000 Steps not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Arroyo Burro 1 1/wk 24 21% 9

Santa Barbara Arroyo Quemado not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Butterfly Beach 1 1/wk 20 5% 2

Santa Barbara Campus Pt. not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Carpinteria City 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Carpinteria State 1 1/wk 22 5% 2

Santa Barbara Depressions not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Devereaux not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Santa Barbara East Beach Sycamore Creek 1 1/wk 20 5% 2

Santa Barbara East Beach-Mission Creek 1 1/wk 23 13% 3

Santa Barbara El Capitan State Beach 1 1/wk 21 5% 2

Santa Barbara Ellwood not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Gaviota Beach 1 1/wk 20 10% 10

Santa Barbara Goleta Beach 1 1/wk 22 9% 2

Santa Barbara Guadalupe Dunes Beach 1 1/wk 20 10% 16

Santa Barbara Hammonds 1 1/wk 20 5% 2

Santa Barbara Haskell’s Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Hope Ranch Beach 1 1/wk 22 14% 8

Santa Barbara Isla Vista Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Jalama Beach 1 1/wk 20 10% 10

Santa Barbara Leadbetter 1 1/wk 21 10% 3

Santa Barbara Loon Point not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Mesa Lane not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Miramar not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Ocean Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Padaro Lane not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Refugio State Beach 1 1/wk 21 5% 2

Santa Barbara Rincon Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Sands Beach at Coal Oil Point 1 1/wk 20 0 0

Santa Barbara Santa Claus Lane not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara Summerland Beach 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Santa Barbara Surf Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Barbara West Beach not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Beercan Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Capitola Beach East of Jetty 1 1/wk 37 11% 0

Santa Cruz Capitola Beach West of Jetty 1 1/wk 46 22% 2

Santa Cruz Corcoran Lagoon Beach 1 1/mo 9 11% 0

Santa Cruz Cowell Beach West of the Wharf 1 1/wk 52 27% 14

Santa Cruz Cowell’s Beach at the Stairs 1 1/wk 40 5% 0

Santa Cruz Hidden Beach 1 1/mo 11 9% 0

Santa Cruz Hooper’s Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Lighthouse Beach 1 1/mo 9 0% 0

Santa Cruz Main Beach at Boardwalk 1 1/wk 48 10% 14

Santa Cruz Main Beach at San Lorenzo River 1 1/wk 40 10% 0

Santa Cruz Manresa State Beach 1 1/mo 11 0% 0

Santa Cruz Mitchell’s Cove Beach 1 1/mo 9 0% 0

Santa Cruz Moran Lake, County Beach 1 1/mo 9 11% 0

Santa Cruz Natural Bridges State Beach 1 1/wk 39 10% 0

Santa Cruz Neary Lagoon Mouth 1 1/wk 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Santa Cruz New Brighton State Beach 1 1/wk 38 11% 0

Santa Cruz Pajaro Dunes Beach 1 1/wk 13 0% 0

Santa Cruz Pleasure Point Beach 1 1/mo 9 11% 0

Santa Cruz Rio Del Mar Beach 1 1/wk 44 18% 1

Santa Cruz San Vicente Beach 1 1/mo 7 0% 0

Santa Cruz Schwan Lake 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Scott Creek Beach 1 1/mo 7 0% 0

Santa Cruz Seabright Beach 1 1/wk 37 11% 0

Santa Cruz Seacliff State Beach 1 1/wk 46 4% 0

Santa Cruz Seascape Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Sunny Cove Beach 1 1/mo 9 22% 0

Santa Cruz Sunset State Beach 1 1/mo 13 0% 0

Santa Cruz Trestle Beach not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0

Santa Cruz Twin Lakes State Beach 1 1/wk 39 10% 0

Santa Cruz Waddell Creek Beach 1 1/mo 7 0% 0

Sonoma Black Point 1 1/wk 43 0% 0

SonomaBlack Point-Still Water Cove Regional Park

1 1/wk 43 9% 8

Sonoma Campbell Cove State Beach 1 1/wk 44 5% 5

Sonoma Doran Regional Park Beach 1 1/wk 44 2% 5

Sonoma Goat Rock State Park Beach 1 1/wk 45 4% 9

Sonoma Gualala Regional Park Beach 1 1/wk 43 0% 0

Sonoma Salmon Creek State Park Beach 1 1/wk 44 5% 3

SonomaStill Water Cove Regional Park Beach

1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura County Line Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Deer Creek Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Emma Woods State Beach 1 1/wk 21 5% 1

Ventura Faria County Park Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Ventura Hobie Beach 1 1/wk 21 14% 3

Ventura Hobson County Park 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Hollywood Bch-La Crescen. 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Hollywood Bch-Los Robles 1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Ventura Kiddie Beach 1 1/wk 22 14% 4

Ventura La Conchita Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Mandos Cove Beach 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Marina Park Beach 1 1/wk 12 8% 1

Ventura McGrath State Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Mussel Shoals Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Oil Piers Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Ventura Ormond Beach-Arnold Rd. 1 1/wk 19 5% 0

Ventura Ormond Beach-Indust. Drain 1 1/wk 20 10% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Ventura Ormond Beach-J St. 1 1/wk 21 14% 5

Ventura Oxnard Bch-5th St. 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Oxnard Bch-Amalfi Way 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Oxnard Bch-Channel Way 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Oxnard Bch-Outrigger Way 1 1/wk 10 0% 0

Ventura Oxnard Beach Park 1 1/wk 22 0% 0

Ventura Peninsula Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Point Mugu Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Port Hueneme Beach Park 1 1/wk 23 26% 9

Ventura Promenade Pk-Calif. St. 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Promenade Pk-Figueroa St. 1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Ventura Promenade Pk-Oak St. 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Promenade Pk-Redwood Apts 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Rincon Beach-Creek Mouth 1 1/wk 19 5% 0

Ventura Rincon Beach-Flagpole 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Rincon Beach-Footpath 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Rincon Parkway North 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura San Buenaventura State Beach 1 1/wk 54 2% 1

Ventura Seaside Wilderness Park Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Silverstrand Bch-S. Paula 1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Ventura Silverstrand Bch-San Nic. 1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Ventura Silverstrand Bch-Sawtelle 1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Ventura Solimar Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Ventura South Jetty Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ventura Staircase Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Surfers Knoll Beach 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Ventura Surfers Point at Seaside not tier 1 1/wk 18 6% 0

Ventura Sycamore Cove Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Ventura Thornhill Broome Beach 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Ventura Ventura River (Mouth) 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

*Reported closing or advisory days are for events lasting six consecutive weeks or less. Number of days in parentheses are for events lasting more than six consecutive weeks.

noTES1 Michael Gjerde, California State Water Resources Control Board, personal communication, May 2010.

2 California State Water Resources Control Board. Beach Water Quality Information, accessed at www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/beaches/beach_water_quality. June 2008.

3 San Diego County Department of Environmental Health. San Diego County 2004 Beach Closure & Advisory Report. May 2008.

4 Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Recreational Health Program website, FAQs, available at: http://lapublichealth.org/eh/progs/ envirp/rechlth/ehrecocfaq.htm.

5 Robert Turner, Marin County Environmental Health Services Beach Monitoring Program Manager, personal communication, May 2010.

6 Al Hom, Alameda County, personal communication, May 2010.

CT.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

ConneCTiCuT13th in Beachwater Quality

5% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Kiddie Beach in New London County (50%) • Marvin Beach in Fairfield County (17%) • Eastern Point Beach in New London County (16%)

Connecticut has 66 public beaches stretching along 18 miles of Long Island Sound coastline. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) administers the state’s BEACH Act grant.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Connecticut’s monitoring season stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Monitoring practices at coastal beaches are the responsibility of local health authorities (for municipal beaches) and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) (for state park beaches), who are encouraged to follow state guidelines that samples be taken in water that is 3–4 feet deep at a depth of 12–18 inches.2 Beaches are assigned to tiers at the end of the bathing season. These tiers do not determine sampling frequency,1 are are assigned instead on the basis of the sampling frequency reported by local health departments and the CT DEP for their respective beaches and the number of beach closing events for those beaches. Beaches that were sampled weekly and had no more than one closure event during the previ ous swim season are assigned Tier 1 status, beaches that were sampled weekly and had two or three closure events during the previous swim season are assigned Tier 2 status, and beaches that were not sampled weekly or that had more than three closure events during the previous swim season are assigned Tier 3 status.2 Sampling frequency and monitoring station locations are not necessarily adjusted or changed when a beach’s tier status changes.1

When there are higher bather loads, state guidelines suggest additional sampling, at culverts and drainage pipes after rains and sewage spills or other pollution events, as well as when waterfowl congregate in the area or when sanitary survey information indicates potential for non-point contamination after a rain event.2 At the four state park marine beaches monitored by the CT DEP, resampling is done every day once a beach is closed.3 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found or after heavy rains will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found or after heavy rainfall occurred.

Results: Although Connecticut’s 66 public coastal beaches were reported as monitored at least once a week in 2009, the state’s level of BEACH Act funding allowed it to maintain and report laboratory results for 65 beaches. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards.

The beaches with the highest percent exceedance in 2009 were Kiddie Beach in New London County (50%), Marvin Beach in Fairfield County (17%), Eastern Point Beach in New London County (16%), Byram Beach in Fairfield County

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

7.5

2009200820072006


5%

6%

5%

4%

Connecticut Percent exceedance for 48 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


http://nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/chap4.pdf


(15%), Green Harbor Beach in New London County (13%), Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach in Middlesex County (13%), Calf Pasture Beach in Fairfield County (12%), and Jacobs Beach (Town Beach) in New Haven County (10%). Dubois Beach in New London County had no monitoring data reported for 2009.

Middlesex County had the highest exceedance (9%) in 2009 followed by New London (8%), Fairfield (4%), and New Haven (3%).

Comparing percent exceedance values with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 48 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 6% in 2007 and 5% in 2006.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Local jurisdictions determine how they will apply water quality standards. State guidelines encourage local health departments and the CT DEP to apply the BEACH Act–required single-sample maximum standard for marine and estuarine beaches for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml when considering whether to close a beach or issue an advisory. The state guidelines also encourage local health departments and the CT DEP to consider the geometric mean of the last five samples collected in a 30-day period. If this geometric mean is greater than 35 cfu/100 ml, then the state suggests closing the beach. CT DPH encourages beach managers to take into consideration the range or spread of the sample values that generate geometric mean results greater than 35 cfu/100 ml. Connecticut’s understanding is that the national geometric mean standard is based on epidemiology studies showing that both an exceedance of a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml and a log standard deviation less than 0.7 may result in unacceptable illness rates.Some local health departments use either the single-sample maximum or the geometric mean to trigger closing and advisory decisions, while for other local health departments and the CT DEP, the single-sample maximum triggers advisory and closing decisions, and exceed ance of the geometric mean standard may trigger consideration of closings and advisories.1

When routine samples exceed the state standards, the state recommends that a resample be taken and a sanitary survey be conducted to determine if raw or partially treated sewage is contributing to the elevated bacterial con-centrations. If the survey reveals discharges of raw or partially treated sewage, then the state recommends closing the bathing area. If sample results exceed the standards and a sanitary survey reveals no evidence of sewage contamination, the state recommends that the bathing area be examined on an individual basis with consultation from CT DPH before any decision about closure is made. A beach whose samples exceed the standards may remain open if a sanitary survey reveals no sign of a sewage spill.2 Local authorities may adopt standards more protective of public health than the state standards and may issue advisories. Most municipalities resample before issuing an advisory and conduct a sanitary survey to determine if sewage is contributing to the elevated bacterial concentrations. Some municipalities collect multiple samples at each monitoring event, and in most cases, if more than one sample exceeds the standard, they will close the beach without resample.1

Local jurisdictions are also responsible for determining their own preemptive closing and advisory practices. State guidance allows preemptive beach closings based on rainfall data2 and many municipalities have adopted a preemptive rainfall threshold. When rainfall thresholds are reached at beaches with preemptive rainfall advisories, beaches are automatically closed until test results indicate that there is no bacterial violation.1 State guidance says that preemptive closures may be recommended by local jurisdictions if there is a known waste contamination event such as a sewage bypass, mechanical failure at a sewage treatment plant, or a sewer line break.2 If the beach is impacted by a mass of floating debris, the beach can be closed for safety reasons.2 In addition, local health departments may post an advisory or closure that responds to local conditions and protects public health. Local health departments may also post an advisory at a beach or close it if there is a harmful algal bloom.1

Shoreline municipalities are sensitive to reports of swimmer’s itch. Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain parasites that infect some birds and mammals. These


Connecticut Sources of Contamination


microscopic parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). While the parasite’s preferred host is the specific bird or mammal, if the parasite comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows into the skin, causing an allergic reaction and rash. Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. Connecticut beaches have been placed under advisory (sometimes lasting more than a week) when one or more cases of swimmer’s itch are reported.1

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 75 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 20% to 108 days in 2009 from 135 days in 2008, 108 days in 2007, 224 days in 2006, and 200 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended events and no permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 con secutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 75 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 26% (28) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 74% (80) were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall.

Reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 81% (88) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, and 19% (20) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Connecticut 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples

% of Samples exceeding

State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Fairfield Bell Island Beach 1 1/wk 32 0% 2

Fairfield Burying Hill Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Fairfield Byram Beach 3 1/wk 61 15% 20

Fairfield Calf Pasture Beach 2 1/wk 51 12% 7

Fairfield Compo Beach 1 1/wk 60 7% 2

Fairfield Cummings Beach 3 1/wk 49 0% 5

Fairfield East (Cove Island) Beach 3 1/wk 49 0% 5

Fairfield Great Captain’s Island Beach 1 1/wk 30 0% 1

Fairfield Greenwich Point Beach 3 1/wk 52 0% 4

Fairfield Hickory Bluff Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 2

Fairfield Island Beach 1 1/wk 31 0% 1

Fairfield Jennings Beach 1 1/wk 34 3% 1

Fairfield Long Beach (Marnick’s) 2 1/wk 17 6% 2

Fairfield Long Beach (Proper) 2 1/wk 32 0% 2

Fairfield Marvin Beach 1 1/wk 18 17% 2

Fairfield Pear Tree Point Beach 2 1/wk 54 7% 3

Fairfield Penfield Beach 1 1/wk 31 0% 1

Fairfield Quigley Beach 3 1/wk 16 0% 5

Fairfield Rowayton Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 2

Fairfield Sasco Beach 1 1/wk 35 6% 1

Fairfield Seaside Park Beach 1 1/wk 70 0% 0

Fairfield Shady Beach 2 1/wk 68 6% 7

Fairfield Sherwood Island State Park Beach 1 1/wk 66 3% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Fairfield Short Beach 2 1/wk 48 2% 2

Fairfield South Pine Creek Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 1

Fairfield Southport Beach 1 1/wk 33 0% 1

Fairfield Weed Beach 2 1/wk 33 6% 3

Fairfield West Beach 3 1/wk 50 6% 5

Middlesex Harvey’s Beach 2 1/wk 14 7% 4

Middlesex Middle Beach/Stannard Beach 1 1/wk 14 7% 0

Middlesex Town Beach (Clinton) 2 1/wk 12 8% 9

Middlesex Town Beach (Old Saybrook) 1 1/wk 16 6% 2

Middlesex Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach 1 1/wk 39 13% 0

New Haven Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #1 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

New Haven Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #2 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

New Haven Branford Point Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

New Haven Clark Avenue Beach 1 1/wk 9 0% 0

New Haven East Haven Town Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

New Haven East Wharf Beach 1 1/wk 13 0% 0

New Haven Gulf Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

New Haven Hammonasset Beach State Park 1 1/wk 92 0% 0

New Haven Jacobs Beach (Town Beach) 2 1/wk 50 10% 4

New Haven Lighthouse Point Beach 1 1/wk 3 0% 0

New Haven Pent Road Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

New Haven Silver Sands State Park Beach 1 1/wk 83 8% 2

New Haven Stony Creek Beach 1 1/wk 13 8% 0

New Haven Surf Club Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

New Haven Walnut Beach 1 1/wk 35 0% 0

New Haven West Haven East Beach 1 1/wk 188 2% 0

New Haven West Haven West Beach 1 1/wk 97 4% 0

New Haven West Wharf Beach 1 1/wk 13 0% 0

New Haven Woodmont Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

New London Dubois Beach 3 None 0 NA 0

New London Eastern Point Beach 1 1/wk 31 16% 0

New London Esker Point Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

New London Green Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 30 13% 0

New London Hole-in-the-Wall Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

New London Kiddie Beach 1 1/wk 22 50% 0

New London McCook Point Beach 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

New London Noank Dock 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

New London Ocean Beach Park 1 1/wk 43 5% 0

New London Pleasure Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

New London Rocky Neck State Park Beach 1 1/wk 64 5% 0

New London Soundview Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

New London Waterford Town Beach 1 1/wk 43 2% 0

New London White Sands Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

noTeS1 Jon Dinneen, Connecticut Department of Public Health, personal communication, May 2010.

2 Connecticut Department of Public Health. Connecticut’s 2009 Annual Report for the US EPA BEACH Grant With Summary Data for 2003–2009. January 10, 2010.

3 Connecticut Dept. of Public Health and Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Indicator Bacteria Monitoring at Public Bathing Beaches, available at http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/quality_assurance/qaap_water/qapp_indbac.pdf, February 2003.

DE.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

DElaWarE2nd in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower Road Bayside in Sussex County (17%) • Slaughter Beach in Sussex County (8%) • Broadkill Beach in Sussex County (8%)

Delaware has about 25 miles of Delaware Bay coastline, 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, and 115 miles of inland bay shoreline. The state’s marine beachwater monitoring program is administered by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

MonitoringSampling Practices: In 2009, the monitoring season extended from May 11 to September 30, two weeks longer than the 2008 monitoring season. DNREC hopes to extend the 2010 bacterial monitoring season into October.1 In 2009, the program continued to sample seven ocean sites in the off-season in conjunction with the Delaware Surfrider Chapter and the University of Delaware. The state’s Floatables and Debris Program has a vessel in the water year-round to monitor oil spills, harmful algae blooms, sewage treatment discharges, nutrient runoff, and industrial discharges.

The DNREC determines sampling practices, locations, stan-dards, and notification protocols and procedures throughout the state.2 Samples are taken in knee-deep water.1 Marine beaches with lifeguards are monitored twice a week.

Once an advisory or closing is issued, resampling to confirm the exceedance is conducted immediately and the beach is monitored more frequently until the advisory can be lifted.3 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, Delaware reported 25 coastal beaches, all in Sussex County and all monitored once a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 2% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower Road Bayside (17%), Slaughter Beach (8%), Broadkill Beach (8%), and Prime Hook Beach (7%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 19 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 2% in 2009 from 1% in 2008 and 2007 and 3% in 2006.

Closings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: Delaware standards for beachwater quality are an enterococcus single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml. DNA analyses to track the source of bacteria at Slaughter Beach and Prime Hook Beach have shown that nonhuman sources contribute to indicator bacteria counts at these beaches. Moni toring results at these beaches are adjusted downward to account for nonhuman sources at these beaches

0.00

0.75

1.50

2.25

3.00

3.75

2009200820072006


3%

1% 1%

2%

Delaware Percent Exceedance for 19 Beaches reported 2006–2009


before the water quality standard is applied. (Monitoring data are reported before this adjustment is made.) For Slaughter Beach, the cor rection factor is 0.49 multiplied by the raw count. This was calculated based on a microbial source tracking study at this beach, which found that 77% of fecal bacteria came from wildlife sources, with a 26% margin of error. At Prime Hook, microbial source tracking found that 70% of fecal bacteria came from wildlife, with a 24% margin of error, resulting in a correction factor of 0.54 for this beach.4

State policy is to issue advisories when fecal bacteria counts exceed either the single-sample or geometric mean standard.1 There are limited overriding factors, such as leaking sampling containers or excessive sediment in samples, which can be taken into account before issuing an advisory when a sample exceeds standards, but these are rare exceptions. Circumstances that would suggest an imminent health threat result in a closing rather than an advisory.

Delaware has a standard for issuing preemptive rainfall advisories. For marine waters, the DNREC has determined that 3.5 inches of rainfall within 24 hours or 3 inches within 12 hours may trigger a closing.2 Preemptive closings are issued in the case of a known sewage spill.2

The Recreational Water Program has been providing support and funding for research into analysis of marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like bacteria, including Heliobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni. The goal is to be able to quickly identify harmful bacteria and improve the safety of recreational waters.The program plans to provide support for research to test marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like Epsilonproteobacteria, which are associated with human gastric disease and gastroenteritis. Results will be compared with standard methods for indicators of fecal contamination.1

Number of Closings and advisories: Because of concerns about water quality, there is a permanent caution regarding swimming in Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and Little Assawoman Bay. This permanent advisory includes Tower Road Bayside in Rehoboth Bay and Holts Landing Beach in Indian River Bay. Contaminants in these bays come from many sources in the watershed, including failing septic systems, farm and lawn fertilizers, and runoff from poultry operations. In addition, the sewage treatment plants in Lewes and Rehoboth discharge treated effluent into the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, which feeds into the bays. Poor flushing of the shallow waters in these bays allows pollutants to linger; it takes 120 days for water to move out of the inland bays.2 Signs are posted at popular access points around Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and Little Assawoman Bay to warn potential swimmers of the risks associated with swimming in these bodies of water, particularly after a heavy rain.1

Total closing/advisory days for 16 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased more than 8-fold higher in 2009 than in 2008, increasing to 94 days in 2009 from 11 days in 2008, 10 days in 2007, 0 days in 2006, and 0 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended events and 2 permanent events (730 days) in both 2009 and 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6, but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and advisories: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels.

reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 98% (92) of closing and advisory days in 2009 were from storm-water runoff, and 2% (2) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Delaware 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Sussex Atlantic Beach Near Gordons Pond 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Bethany Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0


Delaware Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Sussex Broadkill Beach 1 1/wk 60 8% 7

Sussex Cape Henlopen Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Cape Henlopen State Park - Herring Point 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

SussexDelaware Seashore State Park, Tower Road Bayside

2 1/wk 60 17% 35 (330)*

SussexDelaware Seashore State Park, Tower Road Ocean Site

1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Delaware/Maryland Line Beach 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Dewey Beach-Dagsworthy Street 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Sussex Dewey Beach-Swedes Street 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Sussex Fenwick Island-Town 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sussex Fenwick Island State Park Beach 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Holts Landing Beach no data 1/wk 60 3% 15 (350)*

Sussex Lewes Beach no data 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Lewes Beach North 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Lewes Beach South 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

SussexNorth Indian River Inlet Beach, Delaware Seashore State Park

1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Prime Hook Beach 2 1/wk 60 7% 15

Sussex Rehoboth-Delaware Ave no data 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Rehoboth-Queen St Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Rehoboth-Rehoboth Ave Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Rehoboth-Virginia Ave Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex Slaughter Beach 1 1/wk 60 8% 22

Sussex South Bethany Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Sussex South Indian River Inlet Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0


NoTES1 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 2009 Recreational Water Year-End Report. Not dated.

2 Debbie Rouse, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, personal communication, June 2010.

3 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 2008 Recreational Water Year-End Report. Not dated.

4 Michael Bott, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, personal communication, July 2009.


FLorida10th in Beachwater Quality

4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Bayou Chico in Escambia County (73%) • Keaton Beach in Taylor County (71%) • Palma Sola South in Manatee County (55%)

With its year-round swim season and more than 1,000 miles of beach, Florida has the most coastal swimmers in the nation.1 The state has more than 600 public coastal beaches stretching along its Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastline.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Monitoring occurs year-round, and peak season from April to mid-September.

The beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Florida Department of Health, which determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state.2 Samples are collected 18 inches below the surface in water that is approximately 36 inches deep, usually in the morning. Beaches are prioritized for monitoring on a county-by-county basis. Criteria for monitoring are population served, pollution potential, and rainfall. While this ensures that the most critical beaches in each county are monitored, there are a wide variety of beach characteristics in Florida, and beaches chosen for monitoring in one county may not be as important as beaches left unmonitored in another county.

Sampling frequency does not increase after an advisory is issued.

results: In 2009, Florida reported 633 coastal beaches, of which 305 (48%) were monitored once a week; 328 (52%) were not moni tored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi-mum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calcu-late the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach moni toring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Bayou Chico in Escambia County (73%), Keaton Beach in Taylor County (71%), Palma Sola South in Manatee County (55%), Hagen’s Cove in Taylor County (47%), Bayview Park in Escambia County (46%), Garniers in Okaloosa County (42%), Monument Beach in Gulf County (41%), Sunny Isles Beach-Pier Park in Miami-Dade County (41%), Ringling Causeway in Sarasota County (39%), and Oelsner Park Beach in Pasco County (37%).

Taylor County had the highest exceedance rate (35%) in 2009, followed by Citrus (22%), Escambia (17%), Levy (15%), Manatee (14%), Gulf (13%), Pasco (12%), Okaloosa (12%), Monroe (10%), Hillsborough (9%), Miami-Dade (8%), Wakulla (6%), Charlotte (6%), Hernando (5%), Pinellas (5%), Walton (4%), Sarasota (4%), Nassau (4%), Bay (3%), Santa Rosa (3%), Lee (3%), Indian River (2%), Broward (2%), Volusia (1%), Martin (1%), Palm Beach (1%), and Brevard (1%). There were no exceedances in Collier, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, St. Johns, and St. Lucie Counties.

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 299 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 5% in 2009 from 4% in 2008 and 2007, and 6% in 2006.

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

7.5

2009200820072006


6%

4% 4%5%

Florida Percent Exceedance for 299 Beaches reported 2006–2009




advisoriesStandards and Procedures: The Department of Health does not have the authority to close Florida beaches; instead, advisories (for enterococcus exceedances) and warnings (for fecal coliform exceedances) are issued. All advisories and warnings are referred to in this report as “advisories.” In 2010, Florida started using the term “advisories” exclusively. Florida applies the EPA standard for enterococcus of a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml, as well as a fecal coliform single-sample standard of 400 cfu/100 ml.

In most coastal counties, officials issue an advisory if any one of the three standards is exceeded. However, if a sample exceeds a standard and the county can conduct a follow-up sample within the same week, the beach may be resampled before an advisory is issued. If the resample confirms an exceedance, an advisory is issued. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory if resampling confirms an exceedance.

Pinellas County has a preemptive rainfall standard for two of its marine beaches: Maximo and North Shore. Maximo Beach’s standard is 0.8 inch within a 24-hour period, while North Shore Beach’s standard is one inch within a 24-hour period.2 Monroe County also issues preemptive rainfall advisories, and Martin County has a preemptive standard based on turbidity. Most counties will warn against swimming after a sewage spill until sampling results are satisfactory. After a hurricane or tropical storm comes ashore, precautionary advisories are issued.

Number of advisories: Total advisory days for 248 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 8% to 2,201 days in 2009 from 2,067 days 2008, 3,139 days in 2007, 2,686 days in 2006, and 2,991 days in 2005. In addi tion, in 2009 there were 11 extended events (778 days total) and 3 permanent events (411 days total), compared with 13 extended events (845 days total) and 11 permanent events (2,470 days total) in 2008. Extended events are those in effect for more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 con secu tive weeks.

Causes of Closings and advisories: For the 248 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 98% (2,151) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 2% (50) were preemptive due to other reasons.

reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 68% (1,504) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 26% (567) were from unknown sources of contamination, 42% (934) were from sewage spills/leaks, 65% (1,436) were from wildlife, and 56% (1,226) were from other sources of contamination. Totals exceed total days and 100% since more than one contamination source was reported for most events.

Florida 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or advisory days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Bay 8th Street, Mexico Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Bay Bahama Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Bay County Public Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Beach Drive 1 1/wk 26 8% 28

Bay Beckrich Road (Edgewater Gulf Beach) 1 1/wk 26 8% 21

Bay Belaire Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Bid-A-Wee Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 7

0

376

752

1128

1504

1880

UnknownOtherWildlifeSewageStormwater

Set highest value on data axis to 125% of highest source value

1,504

934

1,4361,226

567

Florida Sources of Contamination (Number of days)

Total days associated with sources exceeds reported total closing/advisory days because more than one source of contamination was reported for some events.



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Bay Carl Gray Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay Delwood Beach 1 1/wk 26 12% 28

Bay Dupont Bridge 1 1/wk 26 12% 14

Bay East County Line (Mexico Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay El Centro Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Florida Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Gulf Lagoon Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Gulf Resort Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Hollywood Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Laguna Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay Long Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Lullwater Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Magnolia Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Miramar Heights Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Open Sands Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

BayPanama City Beach Pier (Edgewater Beach)

1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay Rivera Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Santa Monica Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Seltzer Park (Silver Sands Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay Shell Island Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Bay Spy Glass Drive (Biltmore Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Bay St. Andrews State Park Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Sunnyside Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Sunset Park 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Bay Suntime Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Bay Tyndall Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Bay West County Line (Carrilon Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Aquarina Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Bicentennial Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Bonsteel Park 1 none 0 NA 0

BrevardCanaveral National Seashore/Playalinda Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Canova Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Cherrie Down Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Cocoa Beach Minuteman Causeway 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Cocoa Beach Pier 1 1/wk 27 4% 8

Brevard Coconut Point Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Fischer Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Hightower Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Indialantic Boardwalk 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Jetty Park (Cape Canaveral) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Brevard Lori Wilson Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Main Entrance Beach (PAFB) 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard NCO Club Beach (PAFB) 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard North Area Beach (PAFB) 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Ocean Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Officers Club Beach (PAFB) 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Paradise Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 0

Brevard Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB) North 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Pelican Beach Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Seagull Park (PAFB) 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Sebastian Inlet North 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Brevard Shepard Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Brevard Spessard Holland Beach Park (North) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Bahia Mar 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Birch State Park 1 1/wk 28 7% 0

Broward Commercial Blvd 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Custer Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Dania Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Deerfield Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Deerfield Beach SE 10th Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward George English Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Broward Hallandale Beach Blvd 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Harrison Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Hillsboro Inlet 1 none 0 NA 0

Broward John Lloyd State Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Minnesota Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward NE 16 Street, Pompano 1 1/wk 28 7% 0

Broward North Beach Park Intercoastal 1 none 0 NA 0

Broward Oakland Park Boulevard 1 1/wk 28 7% 0

Broward Pompano Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Sebastian Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Broward Van Buren Street 1 none 0 NA 0

Charlotte Boca Grande 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Charlotte Dotzler Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Charlotte Englewood Mid Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Charlotte Englewood North 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Charlotte Englewood South 1 1/wk 26 0% 7

Charlotte Palm Island North 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Charlotte Palm Island South 1 1/wk 26 0% 7

Charlotte Ponce de Leon Beach no tier none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Charlotte Port Charlotte Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Charlotte Port Charlotte Beach East 1 1/wk 29 7% 14

Charlotte Port Charlotte Beach West 1 1/wk 30 30% 38

Citrus Fort Island Gulf Beach 1 1/wk 27 22% 84

Collier 10 Thousand Island 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 10th Avenue South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0








Collier 1st Avenue North Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 1st Avenue South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 2nd Avenue North Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 2nd Avenue South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 32nd Avenue Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 3rd Avenue North Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 3rd Avenue South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier 4th Avenue North Beach 1 none 0 NA 0






Collier Admiralty and Shores Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Barefoot Beach State Reserve 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Broad Avenue Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Caxambas Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Central Avenue 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Clam Pass 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Clam Pass Park North 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Clam Pass Park South 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Cutlass Cove Beach and Club 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Denor-Wiggins State Recreation Area 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Doctor’s Pass 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Gordon Pass Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Hideaway Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

CollierHorizon Way Beach (aka Parkshore Beach)

1 1/wk 26 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Collier Keewaydin Island 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Lely Barefoot Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Lowdermilk Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Naples Beach Club 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Naples Lake Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Naples Pier 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Pelican Bay Beach North 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Pelican Bay Beach South 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Pelican Bay Restaurant and Club 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Port Royal Beach and Club 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Residence Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Shore Drive Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier South Marco Beach (aka SMB Access) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier The Moorings 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Tigertail Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Vanderbilt Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Collier Vedado Way Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Villa Mare Ln Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Wiggins Pass North 1 none 0 NA 0

Collier Wiggins Pass State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Dixie Shired Island 1 1/wk 21 0% 8 (131)*

Duval 15th Street Access 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval 19th Street Access 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval 30th Avenue Access 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval Atlantic Blvd Acess 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval Beach Blvd Access 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval Hanna Park 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval Hopkins Street Access 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval Huguenot Park 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Duval North Little Talbot Island 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Duval South Little Talbot Island 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Escambia Bayou Chico 1 1/wk 26 73% 107 (98)*

Escambia Bayview Park 1 1/wk 26 46% 116 (63)*

Escambia Big Lagoon State Park 1 1/wk 26 8% 10

Escambia County Park East 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Escambia County Park West 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Escambia Fort McRee Area 1 none 0 NA 0

Escambia Fort Pickens 1 none 0 NA 0

Escambia Johnson Beach 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Escambia Johnson Beach Sound Side 1 1/wk 25 0% 7

Escambia Navy Point (Bayou Grande) 1 1/wk 25 36% 60 (63)*



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Escambia Navy Point South no tier none 0 NA 0

Escambia Opal Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Escambia Pensacola (Casino) Beach 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Escambia Perdido Key State Park 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Escambia Quietwater Beach (Santa Rosa Sound) 1 1/wk 27 7% 8

Escambia Quietwater Beach Picnic Area 1 none 0 NA 0

Escambia Sabine Yacht and Racquet Club 1 none 0 NA 0

Escambia Sanders Beach 1 1/wk 28 25% 29

Escambia Santa Rosa Island 1 none 0 NA 0

Flagler Gamble Rogers State Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Flagler Hammock 1 none 0 NA 0

Flagler Marineland 1 none 0 NA 0

Flagler North Flagler Pier 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Flagler Picnickers (Beverly Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Flagler South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Flagler South Flagler Pier 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Flagler Varn Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Flagler Washington Oaks State Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Franklin Alligator Point 1 1/wk 24 0% 0 (182)*

Franklin Carrabelle Beach 1 1/wk 23 0% 0 (154)*

Franklin Peninsular Point Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Franklin St. George Island 11th Street East 1 1/wk 50 0% 21

Franklin St. George Island 11th Street West 1 1/wk 0 NA 4

Franklin St. George Island Franklin Street 1 1/wk 25 0% 14

Franklin St. George Island State Park 1 1/wk 25 0% 42

Gulf Beacon Hill Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Gulf Cape San Blas 1 none 0 NA 0

Gulf Dixie Belle Beach 1 1/wk 26 8% 7

Gulf Highway 98 Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Gulf Lookout Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Gulf Monument Beach 1 1/wk 29 41% 43

Gulf St. Joe Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Hernando Pine Island 1 1/wk 22 5% 7

Hillsborough Apollo Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Hillsborough Bahia Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Hillsborough Ben T. Davis North 1 1/wk 30 30% 12

Hillsborough Ben T. Davis South 1 1/wk 27 7% 0

Hillsborough Cypress Point North 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Hillsborough Cypress Point South 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Hillsborough Davis Island 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Hillsborough McDill Air Force Base Beaches no tier none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Hillsborough Picnic Island North 1 1/wk 27 4% 21

Hillsborough Picnic Island South 1 1/wk 27 4% 26

Hillsborough Simmons Park 1 1/wk 28 18% 13

Indian River Amber Sands Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Coconut Point Sebastian Inlet 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Indian River Conn Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Flame Vine Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Golden Sands Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Humiston Beach 1 1/wk 28 4% 0

Indian River Jaycee Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Riomar Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Round Island Beach Park 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Indian River Seagrape Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Seahorse Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Indian River Sebastian Inlet South Side no tier none 0 NA 0

Indian River Sexton Plaza 1 1/wk 28 4% 0

Indian River South Beach Park 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Indian River Tracking Station Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Treasure Shores Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Turtle Trail Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Indian River Wabasso Beach Park 1 1/wk 28 4% 0

LeeBoca Grande Lighthouse/Seagrape Beach

1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Bonita Beach Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Bowditch Point Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Lee Bowman’s Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Lee Cape Coral Yacht Club 1 1/wk 28 4% 0

Lee Cayo Costa State Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Lee Fulgar St Beach Access-Sanibel 1 none 0 NA 0

LeeHoliday Inn Public Beach Access Ft Myers Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Lee Little Hickory Beach Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Lovers Key State Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Lynn Hall Memorial Park 1 1/wk 27 7% 0

Lee North Captiva Island no tier none 0 NA 0

Lee Public Access #34-Ft Myers Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

LeePublic Beach Access #17-Ft Myers Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

LeePublic Beach Access #23-Ft Myers Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Lee Sanibel Beach Access #4 no tier none 0 NA 0

Lee Sanibel Causeway Beach 1 1/wk 28 11% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Lee Sanibel Lighthouse Park Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Lee South Seas Captiva no tier none 0 NA 0

LeeSouth Seas Plantation Captiva - Redfish Pass

1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Southern Tip Access Fort Myers Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lee Tarpon Bay Road Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Lee Turner Beach/Blind Pass Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Levy Cedar Key Beach 1 1/wk 26 15% 50

Levy Yankeetown Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Manatee Bay Front Park North 1 1/wk 30 30% 12

Manatee Bay Front Park South 1 1/wk 27 11% 0

Manatee Bradenton Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

ManateeCity of Anna Maria Access (Anna Maria Island)

1 none 0 NA 0

Manatee Coquina Beach North 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Manatee Coquina Beach South 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Manatee Emerson Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Manatee Longboat Key no tier none 0 NA 0

Manatee Manatee Public Beach North 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Manatee Manatee Public Beach South 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Manatee Palma Sola North 1 1/wk 28 36% 33

Manatee Palma Sola South 1 1/wk 29 55% 54

Manatee Whitney Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin Alex’s Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Bathtub Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Martin Bathtub Reef 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Blowing Rocks no tier none 0 NA 0

Martin Bob Graham Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin Bryn Mawr 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Chastain Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Fletcher Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Glasscock 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Hobe Sound Public Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin House of Refuge 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Jensen Beach Causeway 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Jensen Beach Causeway East 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin Jensen Public Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Martin Roosevelt Bridge 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Martin Saint Lucie Inlet State Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Martin Sandsprint Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Stokes 1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Martin Stuart Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Martin Stuart Causeway 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Martin Tiger Shores Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Martin Virginia Forest 1 none 0 NA 0

Miami-Dade 53rd Street-Miami Beach 1 1/wk 29 10% 1

Miami-Dade Cape Florida Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 4

Miami-Dade Collins Park-21st Street 1 1/wk 31 16% 3

Miami-Dade Crandon Park-Key Biscayne 1 1/wk 29 14% 1

Miami-Dade Golden Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Miami-Dade Haulover Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Miami-Dade Hobie Beach (aka Dog Beach) 1 1/wk 15 7% 7

Miami-Dade Homestead Bay Front Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Miami-Dade Key Biscayne Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 4

Miami-Dade Matheson Hammock 1 1/wk 27 4% 6

Miami-Dade North Shore Ocean Terrace 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Miami-Dade Oleta State Park 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Miami-Dade South Beach Park 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Miami-Dade Sunny Isles Beach-Pier Park 1 1/wk 34 41% 7

Miami-Dade Surfside Beach-93rd Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Miami-Dade Virginia Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 4

Miami-Dade Windsurfer Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe 18 Mile Stretch no tier none 0 NA 0

Monroe Anne’s Beach 1 1/wk 26 12% 16

Monroe Atlanta Shores 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Bahia Honda Bayside 1 1/wk 26 0% 7

Monroe Bahia Honda Oceanside 1 1/wk 26 35% 49

Monroe Bahia Honda Sandspur 1 1/wk 26 19% 35

Monroe Banana Bay Resort-Marathon 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Buccaneer 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Casa Clara 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Casa Marina 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Cheeca Lodge Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Coco Plum Beach 1 1/wk 26 35% 44

Monroe Craig Key Roadside no tier none 0 NA 0

Monroe Curry Hammock 1 1/wk 21 0% 6

Monroe Dog Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Dolphin Research Center 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Fiesta Key Campground 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Founder’s Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 6

Monroe Ft. Zachary Taylor 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Monroe Harry Harris County Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 7



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Monroe Hawks Cay Resort no tier none 0 NA 0

Monroe Higgs Beach 1 1/wk 26 19% 56

Monroe Holiday Inn Beachside 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Islamorada Public Library 1 1/wk 26 4% 14

Monroe John Pennecamp State Park Far Beach 1 none 0 NA 7

MonroeJohn Pennekamp State Park Cannon Beach

1 1/wk 26 4% 0

Monroe Kennedy Dr and N Roosevelt 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Key West Beach Club 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Long Key State Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Monroe Monroe County Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Monroe N Roosevelt/Cow Key 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Reach Resort 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Rest Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Sea Oats Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Simonton Beach 1 1/wk 26 12% 29

Monroe Smathers Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 7

Monroe Smathers Beach East 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Sombrero Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 15

Monroe South Beach 1 1/wk 26 15% 35

Monroe Sunset Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe The Islander Beach Resort 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe The Moorings 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Valhalla Beach Resort 1 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Veteran’s Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Monroe Westin Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Nassau Alachua Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Allen Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

NassauAmelia Island Plantation (AIP) Beach Club

1 1/wk 26 8% 7

Nassau American Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau Bill Melton Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Burney Park Beach Front 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Fort Clinch Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau Fort Clinch Riverside 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Hutchins Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Jasmine Street 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau John Robas Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Kissimmee Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Main Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau Manatee Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Mizell Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Nassau N. Casino Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau New York Beach Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Nassau North Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Ocean Street 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

Nassau Ozello Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Peter’s Point 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Nassau Piper Dunes (AIP Beach) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau S. Casino Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Sadler Road 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Nassau Scott Road Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Simmons Road 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Nassau South End 1 1/wk 26 23% 7

Nassau South End Bridge 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Summer Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Nassau Suwannee Beach Access 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Bay Drive no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Beasley State Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Bluewater Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Brackin Wayside 1 1/wk 26 4% 6

Okaloosa Camp Timpoochee 1 1/wk 26 4% 14

Okaloosa Cinco Food no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Clement-Taylor no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Dana Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa East Pass 1 1/wk 26 0% 2

Okaloosa El Matador 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Eldridge Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Florida Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Garniers 1 1/wk 26 42% 82

Okaloosa Gulf Island National Seashore 1 1/wk 26 12% 20

Okaloosa Henderson State Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Okaloosa Holiday Isle Aegean 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Hurlburt Campground no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Hurlburt Marina no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa James Lee Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Okaloosa Joes Bayou no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Laguna Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Landing no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Lincoln Park 1 1/wk 26 35% 48

Okaloosa Lions Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Liza Jackson Park 1 1/wk 26 15% 47

Okaloosa Longwood Park no tier none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Okaloosa Marlers Park 1 1/wk 26 8% 14

Okaloosa Maxwell-Gunter no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Meigs Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa NCO Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Norreigo Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Okaloosa Island Beach Access #1 1 none 0 NA 0







Okaloosa Parrish Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Pocahontas Drive no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Poquito Park 1 1/wk 26 12% 20

Okaloosa Postal Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Rickey Avenue no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Rocky Bayou (Fred Gannon State Park) 1 1/wk 27 11% 35

Okaloosa Rocky Creek Campground 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Seashore Beachwalk no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Seaview no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Star Drive no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa US Army Rec Center no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Valparaiso Blvd 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Walk Edge no tier none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa Weekley Bayou 1 none 0 NA 0

Okaloosa White Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Boynton Beach Municipal 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Carlin Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Coral Cove 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Delray Beach (aka Sandoway Park) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Dubois Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Gulfstream Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach John D. McArthur 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Juno Beach Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Jupiter Beach Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Lake Worth (aka Kreusler) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Lantana Municipal 1 none 48 0% 0

Palm Beach Loggerhead Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Ocean Inlet Park 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Palm Beach Ocean Reef Park 1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Palm Beach Palm Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Palm Beach Shores 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Peanut Island 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Phil Foster Park 1 1/wk 29 10% 1

Palm Beach Phipps 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Red Reef Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach Riviera Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach South Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Palm Beach South Inlet Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Palm Beach Spanish River 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pasco Anclote River Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pasco Brasher Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 21

Pasco Energy and Marine Center 1 1/wk 26 8% 69

Pasco Gulf Harbors Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 9

Pasco Oelsner Park Beach 1 1/wk 27 37% 50

Pasco Robert J. Strickland 1 1/wk 26 15% 70

Pasco Robert K. Rees Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 19% 51

Pinellas Bay Vista Park no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Belleair Beach-Morgan Drive 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Belleair Causeway-Intercoastal 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Pinellas Bermuda Bay Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Clearwater Beach-Carlouel Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Clearwater Beach-Rockaway 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Clearwater Beach (3rd St) 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Courtney Campbell Causeway 1 1/wk 28 7% 6

Pinellas Crystal Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Dunedin Marina Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Fort Desoto-East Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

PinellasFort Desoto 1⁄2 Way B/N Fort and N. Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Fort Desoto North Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas Fred Howard Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Ft Desoto Park-Pier/Fort 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Gandy Boulevard 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas Gulfport-East Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Gulfport-Osgood Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Gulfport-West Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Honeymoon Island Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Pinellas Honeymoon Island Causeway (South) 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Indian Rocks Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas Indian Rocks Beach-Central Ave 1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Pinellas Indian Shores Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas Lassing Park-19th Ave SE no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Madeira Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas Madeira Beach-129th Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Maximo Park-East Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Maximo Park-West Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Mobbly Bayou Preserve 1 1/wk 27 7% 0

Pinellas North Redington Beach-169th Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas North Shore-North Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas North Shore Beach 1 1/wk 30 17% 0

Pinellas Pass-a-Grille-19th Ave no tier none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Pass-a-Grille Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas R.E. Olds Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Pinellas Redington Beach-158th Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Redington Shores-175th Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Redington Shores-182nd Ave 1 none 26 0% 0

Pinellas Safety Harbor Pier 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Sand Key 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Pinellas St Pete Beach-34th Ave (The Don) 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas St Pete Beach-46th Ave (Park) 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Sunset Beach-Tarpon Springs 1 none 28 11% 5

Pinellas Sunset Beach (TI)-82nd Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Sunset Beach (TI)-89th Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Treasure Island-103rd Ave 1 none 0 NA 0

Pinellas Treasure Island Beach 1 1/wk 27 15% 5

Santa Rosa Floridatown Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Santa Rosa Garcon Point Location 3 1 none 0 NA 0

Santa Rosa Homeport 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Santa Rosa Juana’s Beach 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Santa Rosa Navarre Beach Pier 1 1/wk 25 4% 6

Santa Rosa Navarre Beach West 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Santa Rosa Navarre Park 1 1/wk 27 15% 6

Santa Rosa Redfish Point 1 none 0 NA 0

Santa Rosa Shoreline Park 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Santa Rosa Woodlawn Beach 1 1/wk 24 0% 6

Sarasota Avenida del Mare Access #11 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Avenida Messina Access #2 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Avenida Navarra Access #14 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Blackburn Point Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Blind Pass Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Brohard Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Sarasota Calle de la Siesta, Access #7 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Calle del Inverno Access #10 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Caspersen Public Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Lido Casino Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Sarasota Longboat Access #1 1 none 0 NA 0



Sarasota Longboat Key Access 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Manasota Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Sarasota Nokomis Public Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota North Jetty Park Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota North Lido Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Ocean Blvd Access #5 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Palmer Point Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Plaza de las Palmas #9 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Plaza de las Palmas 1, Access #8 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Point O’Rocks 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Quick Point no tier none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Ringling Causeway 1 1/wk 33 39% 23

Sarasota Service Club Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Shell Road Access #1 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Siesta Key Public Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota South Jetty Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota South Lido Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Stickney Point Access #12 1 none 0 NA 0

Sarasota Turtle Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Venice Fishing Pier 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Sarasota Venice Public Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

St JohnsAnastasia State Park (St. Augustine Beach)

1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns Crescent Beach 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns Matanzas Inlet 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns Mickler’s Landing 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns Solano (Ponte Vedra Beach) 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns St. Augustine Beach A Street 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns St. Augustine Beach Ocean Trace 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Johns Vilano Beach 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

St Lucie Avalon Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Blind Creek 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Blind Creek Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Blue Heron Blvd Access 1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

St Lucie Coconut Drive Access 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie F Douglass Memorial Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

St Lucie Fort Pierce Inlet/North Jetty Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

St Lucie Gulfstream Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Hermans Bay 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Inlet State Park @ Ocean 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Inlet State Park @ River 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Jaycee Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie John Brooks Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie K Bergalis Memorial Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Little Jim Bridge 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Middle Cove 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Normandy Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Pepper Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

St Lucie Porpoise Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie South Beach Boardwalk 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie South Causeway at Boat Ramp 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie South Jetty Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Surfside Park 1 none 0 NA 0

St Lucie Walton Rocks Beach 1 1/wk 25 0% 0

St Lucie Waveland Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Taylor Cedar Island 1 1/wk 16 6% 49 (63)*

Taylor Dark Island 1 none 0 NA 0

Taylor Dekle Beach 1 1/wk 17 18% 26 (113)*

Taylor Hagen’s Cove 1 1/wk 15 47% 35 (84)*

Taylor Keaton Beach 1 1/wk 17 71% 21 (77)*

Volusia 27th Street, New Smryna Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Beach Street 1 none 0 NA 0

Volusia Bicentennial Park, Ormond Beach 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Volusia Dunlawton, Daytona Beach Shores 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Flagler Avenue, New Smryna Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Florida Shores Blvd 1 1/wk 26 4% 30

Volusia Granada, Ormond Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia International Speedway, Daytona Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 7

Volusia Main, Daytona Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia North Jetty, Ponce Inlet 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Oceanview Way, Ponce Inlet 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Seabreeze, Daytona Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Silver Beach, Daytona Beach 1 1/wk 28 14% 10

Volusia South Jetty, New Smryna Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Volusia Torinita, Wilbur by the Sea 1 1/wk 26 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

Volusia Villa Way 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Wakulla Mash Island 1 1/wk 24 4% 7 (84)*

Wakulla Shell Point Beach 1 1/wk 24 8% 7 (77)*

Walton Blue Mountain Beach Access 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Walton Cessna Park (Class II) no tier none 0 NA 0

Walton Choctaw Beach County Park 1 1/wk 30 17% 0

Walton County Park 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Walton Dune Allen Beach Access 1 1/wk 27 4% 0

Walton Eastern Lake Beach Access 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Walton Eastern Lake Outfall 1 none 0 NA 0

Walton Grayton Beach Access 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Walton Grayton Beach State Recreation Area 1 none 0 NA 0

Walton Holly Street Beach Access 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Walton Inlet Beach Access (TDC Beach Access) 1 1/wk 26 0% 0

Walton Legion Park (Class II) no tier none 0 NA 0

Walton Rosemary Beach no tier none 0 NA 0

Walton Santa Rosa Beach Access no tier none 0 NA 0

Walton South Wall Street Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Walton Western Lake Outfall no tier none 0 NA 0

Walton Wheeler Point 1 1/wk 30 10% 0


NoTES1 NOAA, Current Participation Patterns in Marine Recreation, November 2001.

2 David Polk, Florida Department of Health, personal communication, June 2010.

GA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

GeorGiA11th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Kings Ferry in Chatham County (33%) • St. Andrews Picnic Area in Glynn County (Jekyll) (20%) • Jekyll Clam Creek (18%) in Glynn County

Georgia has 41 public beaches along 118 miles of Atlantic Coast and barrier islands. The Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources administers Georgia’s beach monitoring and notification program.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Most of the monitored beaches are sampled year-round. Beaches that are not monitored year-round are sampled from April through November.

The Coastal Resources Division determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are taken in about three feet of water (from wavetop) at a depth of 15–30 centi meters. Beaches that are monitored the most fre quently often are easily accessible and often have large popu lations nearby, tourist accommodations, and the most amenities.

The monitoring frequency for a beach increases when an exceedance occurs. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, Georgia reported 41 coastal beaches, 17 (41%) of which were monitored once a week, 9 (22%) once a month, and 1 (2%) less than once a month; 14 (34%) were not moni tored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken out side the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 4% of all reported beach moni toring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Kings Ferry in Chatham County (33%) and St. Andrews Picnic Area (Jekyll) (20%) and Jekyll Clam Creek (18%) in Glynn County.

Glynn County had the highest exceedance rate (6%) in 2009, followed by Chatham (1%); there were no exceedances in McIntosh County.

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 27 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 4% in 2009 from 2% in 2008 and 4% in 2007 and 2006.

AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Georgia’s beachwater monitoring program issues advisories only. Georgia applies the EPA standard for enterococcus of a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml.

When either the single-sample or geometric mean standard is exceeded, the Coastal Resources Division notifies the Georgia Department of Health and the local beach management entity, which issues an advisory. There is no protocol

0

1

2

3

4

5

2009200820072006


4% 4%

2%

4%

Georgia Percent exceedance for 27 Beaches reported 2006–2009


for forgoing an advisory when an exceedance is found, and resampling to con-firm an exceedance is not done before an advisory is issued.

The state’s beachwater quality does not appear to correlate strongly with any measured parameters, including rainfall.1 Thus, Georgia has no preemptive rainfall advisory standards and does not make use of predictive models for issuing beach advisories. However, permanent advisories are issued for beaches that have ongoing water quality issues. For example, Kings Ferry has been under permanent advisory since 2006.1 The Health Department can issue a closing in the case of an immediate threat to public health, such as a sewage spill.

Number of Advisories: Total advisory days for 26 events lasting six consecu-tive weeks or less were nearly threefold higher in 2009 than in 2008, increasing to 209 days in 2009 from 72 days in 2008, 181 days in 2007, 203 days in 2006, and 528 days in 2005. In addi tion, there were no extended events and 2 permanent events (484 days total) in 2009, compared with no extended events and 1 permanent event (365 days total) in 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 con secu-tive weeks.

Causes of Advisories: All advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination (most likely nonhuman sources of contamination).1

Georgia 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Camden Cumberland 3 none 0 NA 0

Camden Little Cumberland 3 none 0 NA 0

Chatham Bradley (Ossabaw) 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Chatham Kings Ferry 2 4/yr 3 33% 0 (365)*

Chatham Little Tybee Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Chatham Middle Ossabaw 3 none 0 NA 0

Chatham Skidaway Narrows 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Chatham South Ossabaw 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Chatham Tybee Island Middle 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Chatham Tybee Island North 1 1/wk 53 2% 2

Chatham Tybee Island Polk St. 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Chatham Tybee Island South 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Chatham Tybee Island Strand 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Chatham Wassaw Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Chatham Williamson Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Glynn 12 St. Goulds Inlet (SSI) 1 1/wk 55 5% 6

Glynn 4H Camp (Jekyll) 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Glynn 5th St. Crossover (SSI) 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Glynn Blythe Island Regional Park Sandbar 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Glynn Capt. Wylly (Jekyll) Near Beachview 1 1/wk 53 2% 2


Georgia Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Glynn Convention Center (Jekyll) 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Glynn East Beach Old Coast Guard (SSI) 1 1/wk 54 4% 4

Glynn Jekyll Clam Creek 1 1/wk 66 18% 106

Glynn Jekyll North at Dexter Lane 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Glynn Little St. Simons 3 none 0 NA 0

Glynn Massengale (Ssi) 1 1/wk 55 5% 6

Glynn Pelican Spit (Off Sea Island) 3 none 0 NA 0

Glynn Rainbow Bar (Little SSI) 3 none 0 NA 0

Glynn Reimolds Pasture (Little SSI) 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Glynn Sea Island North 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Glynn Sea Island South 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

Glynn South Dunes (Jekyll) 1 1/wk 53 2% 2

Glynn St. Andrews Picnic Area (Jekyll) 1 1/wk 70 20% 66 (120)*

Glynn St. Simons Island Lighthouse 1 1/wk 57 9% 15

Liberty St. Catherines Island 3 none 0 NA 0

McIntosh Blackbeard Island 3 none 0 NA 0

McIntosh Cabretta (Sapelo) 3 none 0 NA 0

McIntosh Contentment Bluff Sandbar 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

McIntosh Dallas Bluff Sandbar 2 1/mo 7 0% 0

McIntosh Nanny Goat (Sapelo) 3 none 0 NA 0

McIntosh Wolf Island 3 none 0 NA 0


NoTeS1 Elizabeth Cheney, Beach Water Quality Manager, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, personal communication, June 2010.

HI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

HaWaII5th in Beachwater Quality

3% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Kuli’ou’ou in Oahu County (58%) • Hanalei Beach Co. Park-End of Weke Road in Kauai County (40%) • Ke’ehi Lagoon in Oahu County (29%)

Hawaii has more than 400 public beaches stretching along nearly 300 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Its beachwater monitoring program is administered by the Clean Water Branch of the Hawaii Department of Health.

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season in this tropical state is year-round.

Sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices are uniform throughout the state. Samples are taken one foot below the surface in water that is knee-to-waist deep. Hawaii’s beach monitoring program prioritizes sampling efforts based on the risk of illness to swimmers and the frequency of use.

If a warning is posted, daily monitoring is performed until bac terial levels no longer exceed action levels and the beach is reopened.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total warning/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Hawaii reported 462 coastal beaches, 51 (11%) of which were monitored more than once a week, 57 (12%) once a week, 21 (5%) every other week, 13 (3%) once a month, and 104 (23%) less than once a month; and 192 (42%) were not moni tored, and there was no monitoring information for 24 (5%) beaches. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 3% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Kuli’ou’ou (58%) on Oahu; Hanalei Beach Co. Park-End of Weke Road (40%) on Kauai; Ke’ehi Lagoon (29%) on Oahu; and Hanama’ulu Beach Co. Park (24%), Kalihiwai Bay (18%), and Hanalei Beach Co. Park-Hanalei Bay Landing (16%) on Kauai.

The Island of Kauai had the highest exceedance rate (8%) in 2009 followed by Oahu (3%), Maui (2%), and the Big Island (2%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 45 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 4% in 2009, from 2% in 2008, 9% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.

Hawaii reports that although beaches are set to be sampled at a specified frequency, circumstances such as lab closure, sampler illness or vacation, or beach inaccessibility may prevent those frequencies from being maintained.

0.00

2.25

4.50

6.75

9.00

11.25

2009200820072006


4%

9%

2%

4%

Hawaii Percent Exceedance for 45 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Warnings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: Hawaii’s Department of Health does not have the authority to close beaches; instead, it posts warnings and issue advisories. Hawaii recently revised its water quality standards to match the national standard, and the enterococcus standards used during the 2009 season are a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100ml (for beaches that are not sampled at least five times a month) and a geometric mean standard of 35 cfu/100ml (for beaches that are sampled at least five times a month).2

At beaches that are monitored at least five times a month, a warning is posted when the enterococcus geometric mean is exceeded.2 There is no pro-tocol for forgoing a warning when the standard is exceeded. For beaches that are monitored less frequently than five times a month, a beach is resampled before posting a warning based on the single-sample maximum standard, unless the cause of the exceedance was noted by the sampler.

Hawaii tests for human health pharmaceuticals, wastewater compounds, and isotopes of nitrogen that are found in sewage sludge if the source of elevated bacteria levels cannot be found. The pharmaceuticals cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine), carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant and mood stabil-izing drug used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder), and sulfamethoxazole (an antibiotic) have been detected in Hawaii’s ocean waters. Wastewater chemicals that have been detected are 4-nonylphenol, 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, bisphenol, triphenyl phosphate, and tri(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate. Nitrogen isotopes associated with sewage have also been detected.2

Preemptive rainfall advisories are issued when a flood warning, sent out by the National Weather Service, indicates that there will be a discharge of significant quantities of turbid stormwaters into coastal areas. When there is a storm event that does not generate a flood warning but that creates turbid waters with debris and possible dead animals in the near shore waters, a preemptive rainfall advisory may be issued. These pre-emptive rainfall advisories, called Brown Water Advisories, can be issued statewide, island-wide, or on a local level. If a sewage spill is suspected or if there are indications of human fecal contamination, the beach is posted immediately and a sample is taken.1

Number of Warnings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 223 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 15% to 2,352 days in 2009 from 2,766 days in 2008, 4,134 days in 2007, 6,507 days in 2006, and 2,228 days in 2005. In addition, there was one permanent event (359 days) but no extended events in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. In 2008, there was one extended event (44 days total) and no permanent events.

Causes of Warnings and advisories: For events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 99% (2,340) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, and 1% (12) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks.

Reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 99% (2,340) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff and 1% (12) were from sewage spills/leaks.

Hawaii Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Big Island 2nd Beach (Next to Mahaiula) 3 2/mo 5 0% 0

Big Island Anaeho’omalu Bay 1 6/mo 59 0% 0

Big Island Analani Pond (Puala’a) 1 2/wk 90 2% 0

Big Island Apua 3 none 0 NA 0


Hawaii Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Big Island Banyan’s Surfing Area 2 none 1 0% 0

Big Island Cape Kumukahi 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Coconut Island Park 2 no data 42 0% 0

Big Island Green Sand Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Hakalau Co. Pk. 3 2/yr 10 10% 0

Big Island Halape Shelter 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Hapuna Beach St. Rec. Area 3 3/mo 15 0% 0

Big Island Hawaiian Beaches Co. Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Hawaiian Paradise Co. Pk. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Heeia 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Hilo Bay (Boat Landing) no data no data 11 0% 0

Big Island Hilo Bayfront 1 2/wk 112 6% 0

Big Island Ho’okena 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Holoholokai Beach Park no data no data 3 0% 0

Big Island Honaunau Bay - 2 Step no data no data 1 0% 0

Big Island Honokane Iki 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honokane Nui 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honokea 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honokohau Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honoli’i Beach Co. Park 1 no data 90 6% 0

Big Island Honolulu Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honomalino Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Honopue 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Ice Pond (single point) 2 2/mo 47 0% 0

Big Island Isaac Hale Beach Co. Pk. 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island James Kealoha Park 1 2/wk 90 2% 0

Big Island Ka Lae (South Point) 3 2/yr 0 NA 0

Big Island Ka’alu’alu Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Ka’iliki’i 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Ka’upulehu 3 2/mo 0 NA 0

Big Island Kahalu’u Beach Co. Pk. 3 6/mo 67 1% 0

Big Island Kahuwai Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kalahiki Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big IslandKalapana Beach (new) (Harry K. Brown Beach Co. Pk.)

3 2/yr 4 0% 0

Big Island Kalu’e Pt. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kaluhika’a Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kamakaokahonu 2 6/mo 69 1% 0

Big Island Kamehame Hill 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kamoa Pt. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kapa’a Beach Co. Pk. 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Big Island Kapoho Bay 2 none 47 4% 0

Big Island Kapoho Beach Lots no data no data 4 0% 0

Big Island Kapoho Tidepools (Vacationland) 2 1/wk 51 0% 0

Big Island Kapu’a Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kauhako Bay - Hookena no data no data 1 0% 0

Big Island Kauna’oa Beach 3 2/mo 3 0% 0

Big Island Kawa Bay 3 2/yr 1 0% 0

Big Island Kawaihae Harbor 2 2/mo 3 0% 0

Big Island Ke’ei 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kea’au 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Keahou Bay (Kona) 3 2/mo 8 0% 0

Big Island Kealakekua Bay no data no data 0 NA 0

Big Island Kealia Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Keaukaha Beach Park 5 2/mo 46 2% 0

Big Island Keawaiki 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kehena 3 2/yr 4 0% 0

Big Island Keokea Beach Co. Pk. 3 none 1 0% 0

Big Island Kiholo Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Kolekole Beach Co. Park 3 2/yr 10 10% 0

Big Island Kuki’o 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Lapakahi St. Hist. Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Laupahoehoe Beach Co. Park 3 6/yr 8 0% 0

Big Island Lehia Beach Co. Pk. 3 2/yr 14 0% 0

Big Island Leleiwi Beach Co. Pk. 1 2/mo 152 1% 0

Big Island MacKenzie State Rec. Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Mahai’ula Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Mahukona Beach Co. Pk. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Makalawena 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Makole’a Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Manini Point Co. Pk. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Manini’owali 2 2/mo 12 0% 0

Big Island Manuka Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Mau’umae Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Mauna Lani (Kalahuipua’a) 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Miloli’i Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Milolii no data no data 1 0% 0

Big Island Nanawale Co. Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Napo’apo’o Beach Co. Pk. 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Ninole 3 2/yr 2 0% 0

Big Island Ohai’ula Beach 2 2/mo 0 NA 0

Big Island Old Kona Airport (Pawai) 2 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Big Island Old Kona Airport St. Rec. Area 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Onekahakaha Beach Co. Pk. 1 2/wk 130 0% 0

Big Island Onomea 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Pahoehoe Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Paiahaa 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Papa’i (King’s Landing) 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Pine Trees 2 2/wk 8 0% 0

Big Island Pohoiki Beach 2 2/mo 21 0% 0

Big Island Pohue Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Pololu Valley 3 none 1 0% 0

Big Island Pu’u Hou 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Pu’uhonua Pt. (Pu’u o Honaunau) 3 none 1 0% 0

Big Island Puako 3 6/mo 58 0% 0

Big Island Pueo Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Punalu’u 3 2/mo 2 0% 0

Big Island Radio Bay 3 2/yr 18 6% 0

Big Island Reeds Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Road to the Sea 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Spencer Beach Co. Pk. 2 none 5 0% 0

Big Island Wai’ahukini 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Waialea Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Waimanu Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Big Island Waipi’o Bay 3 2/yr 2 0% 0

Big Island Waiulaula no data no data 5 40% 0

Big Island Wawaloli Beach 2 no data 0 NA 0

Big Island White Sands Beach Co. Pk. (Magic Sands) 2 none 10 0% 0

Big Island Whittington Beach Co. Pk. 3 2/mo 3 0% 0

Kauai (Honopuwaiakua) Honopu Valley 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Ahukini Rec. Pier St. Pk. 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Aliomanu Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Anahola Beach 2 2/mo 0 NA 32

Kauai Anahola Beach Co. Park 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Anini Beach 2 1/yr 18 6% 32

Kauai Anini Beach Park 2 no data 0 NA 32

Kauai Barking Sands 2 2/mo 0 NA 32

Kauai Beach House Beach 2 none 25 8% 32

Kauai Black Pot Beach Park 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Brennecke Beach 2 2/mo 0 NA 32

Kauai Donkey Park 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Gillin’s Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Glass Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Kauai Ha’ena Beach Co. Park 2 none 25 4% 32

Kauai Hanakapi’ai Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

KauaiHanalei Beach Co. Park-End of Weke Road

1 2/wk 42 40% 32

KauaiHanalei Beach Co. Park-Hanalei Bay Landing

1 2/wk 43 16% 32

KauaiHanalei Beach Co. Park-Hanalei Bay Pavilion

1 2/wk 88 6% 32

Kauai Hanama’ulu Beach Co. Park 2 none 25 24% 32

Kauai Haula Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Kahili Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Kalalau Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Kalapaki Beach 1 2/wk 89 4% 32

Kauai Kalihiwai Bay 2 none 17 18% 32

Kauai Kapa’a Beach Co. Park 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Kaupea Beach (Secret Beach) 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Kawailoa Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Ke’e Beach 2 none 25 0% 32

Kauai Kealia 2 none 17 0% 32

Kauai Kekaha Beach Co. Pk. 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Kepuhi Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Kikiaola Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Kilauea Pt. Nat. Wildlife Ref. 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Kipu Kai 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Koloa Landing 2 2/mo 0 NA 32

Kauai Kukui’ula Bay 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Larsens Beach 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Lawa’i Kai 3 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Lucy Wright Beach Co. Park 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Lumaha’i Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Lydgate State Park 1 2/wk 89 8% 32

Kauai Maha’ulepu Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Milolii 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Moloa’a Bay 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Na Pali Coast State Park 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Ninini Pt. 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Niumalu Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Nu’alolo 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Nukolii Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Pacific Missile Range Facility 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Pakala (Makaweli) 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Palama Beach (Nomilu) 3 1/yr 0 NA 32



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Kauai Papa’a Bay 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Pila’a Beach 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Po’ipu Beach Co. Park 1 2/wk 89 1% 32

Kauai Polihale State Park 2 none 25 0% 32

Kauai Port Allen 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Prince Kuhio Park 2 no data 0 NA 32

Kauai Princeville 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Salt Pond Beach Co. Park 1 2/wk 89 1% 32

Kauai Sheraton Beach 2 2/wk 0 NA 32

Kauai Shipwreck Beach 2 1/yr 17 0% 32

Kauai Spouting Horn Beach Co. Park 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Tunnels Beach 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Wahiawa Bay 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Wai’ohai Beach 2 1/yr 1 0% 32

Kauai Wai’oli Beach Park 2 none 42 10% 32

Kauai Waiakalua Iki Beach 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Waiakalua Nui Beach 3 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Waikoko Bay 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Wailua Beach 2 none 0 NA 32

Kauai Waimea Rec. Pier St. Pk. 2 2/mo 0 NA 32

Kauai Wainiha Bay 2 1/yr 0 NA 32

Kauai Waipouli 2 none 0 NA 32

Lanai Halepalaoa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Hulopo’e Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Kahemano Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Kaunolu Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Keomuku Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Lopa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Manele Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Naha Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Polihua Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Pu’u Pehe Cove 2 none 0 NA 0

Lanai Shipwreck Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Ahihi-kina’u Natural Area Reserve 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Alaeloa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Awalua Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Father Jules Papa 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Fleming Beach North 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui H-Poko Papa 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui H.P. Baldwin Beach Co. Pk. 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Hamoa 2 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Maui Hana Bay 2 none 1 0% 0

Maui Hanaka’o’o Beach Co. Pk. 1 2/wk 83 7% 0

Maui Ho’okipa Beach Co. Pk. 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Honokeana Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Honokohau Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Honokowai Beach Co. Pk. 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Honolua Bay 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Honomanu Bay 2 none 1 0% 0

Maui Huakini Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Ka’anapali 2 2/yr 10 10% 0

Maui Ka’ili’ili Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Kahalui Harbor 2 2/wk 84 2% 0

Maui Kahana 2 3/mo 10 0% 0

Maui Kaihalulu Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Kalama Beach Co. Park 2 2/yr 12 0% 0

Maui Kalepolepo Beach 2 2/yr 6 0% 0

Maui Kama’ole Beach 1 1 2/wk 81 2% 0

Maui Kama’ole Beach 2 (Ili’iliholo Beach) 2 2/yr 6 0% 0

Maui Kama’ole Beach 3 1 2/wk 82 1% 0

Maui Kanaha Beach Co. Park 1 2/wk 93 3% 0

Maui Kanaio Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Kapalua (Fleming’s) Beach 2 1/wk 5 0% 0

Maui Kapoli Beach Co. Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Ke’anae 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Kea’a Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Keawakapu Beach 2 2/yr 12 0% 0

Maui Keonenui Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Kihei (South) no data 82 1% 0

Maui Koki Beach Park (VFW) 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Ku’au Bay 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Kuiaha Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui La Perouse Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Lahaina Town no data no data 5 0% 0

Maui Launiupoko St. Wayside 1 2/wk 83 0% 0

Maui Leho’ula Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Lower Pa’ia 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Ma’alaea Beach 1 2/yr 90 0% 0

Maui Mai Poina Oe lau Beach Co. Pk. 2 2/mo 18 0% 0

Maui Maka’alae Pt. 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Makena Landing Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Maliko Bay 2 2/yr 5 40% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Maui Malu’aka Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Mantokuji Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui McGregor Pt. 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Mokapu Beach Park 2 2/yr 6 0% 0

Maui Mokulau 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Mokule’ia Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Nahiku 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Napili Bay 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Nu’u Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Olowalu 2 2/yr 9 0% 0

Maui Oneloa no data no data 5 0% 0

Maui Oneloa Beach (Big Beach) 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Oneuli Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Palauea Beach Park 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Papalaua 2 no data 5 0% 0

Maui Paukukalo Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Pepeiaolepo Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Po’olenalena Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Po’olenalena Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Polo Beach Park 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Pu’u Ola’i (Small Beach) 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Pu’unoa Beach 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Puamana Beach Co. Park 2 2/yr 5 40% 0

Maui Punalau 3 none 0 NA 0

Maui Spreckelsville 1 2/wk 89 2% 0

Maui Ukumehame Beach Co. Pk. 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Ulua Beach Park 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Wahikuli State Wayside Park 2 2/yr 5 0% 0

Maui Wai’anapanapa State Park 2 none 1 0% 0

Maui Waiehu Beach Co. Park 2 no data 10 0% 0

Maui Waihe’e Beach Co. Park 2 2/yr 3 0% 0

Maui Waikoloa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Wailea Beach Park 1 2/wk 78 1% 0

Maui Wailuku Breakwater no data no data 5 0% 0

Maui Waimaha’ihai Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Maui Waipulani no data no data 6 17% 0

Molokai Awahua Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Fagans Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Halawa Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Halena Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Honouli Malo’o 2 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Molokai Honouli Wai 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Iliopi’i Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kahalepohaku Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kakahai’a Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai “Kalae, South Point” no data no data 1 0% 0

Molokai Kamaka’ipo Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kanalukaha Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kapukahehu Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kapukuwahine Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kaunala Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kaupoa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kawa’aloa Bay 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kawakiu Bay (Nui) 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kepuhi Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

MolokaiKiowea Park (Kamehameha Coconut Grove)

2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Kolo Wharf 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Lighthouse Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Mo’omomi Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Murphy Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Oneali’I Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Papaloa Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Papohaku Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Pelekunu 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Po’olau Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Pohaku Mauliuli Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Puko’o 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Sandy Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Molokai Wailau 2 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Ala Moana Beach Co. Park 1 3/wk 222 5% 0

Oahu Aukai Beach Co. Park 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Banzai 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Barbers Point Beach Co. Pk. 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Bellows Field Beach Co. Pk. 3 1/mo 2 0% 0

Oahu Camp Harold Erdman 2 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Chun’s Reef 1 3/wk 84 1% 0

Oahu Diamond Head 2 1/mo 5 0% 0

Oahu Diving area east of Reef Runway no data none 0 NA 7

Oahu Ehukai Beach Co. Pk. 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Ewa Beach 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Ewa Beach Co. Park 2 2/wk 88 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Oahu Ewa Plantation Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Fort DeRussy Beach 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Oahu Fort DeRussy Beach Park 2 1/wk 11 9% 0

Oahu Fort Hase Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Fort Kamehameha Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Gray’s Beach 3 1/wk 11 9% 0

Oahu Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Co. Pk. 3 1/wk 5 20% 0

Oahu Hale’iwa Beach Co. Pk. 2 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Halona Blowhole 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Oahu Hanaka’ilio Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Hanauma Bay 1 3/wk 114 2% 0

Oahu Hau’ula Beach Co. Park 2 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Hawaiian Electric Beach Park 3 6/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu He’eia 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Oahu Hickam Harbor Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Ihilani Honu 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Ihilani Kohola 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Ihilani Naia 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Ihilani Ulua 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Iroquois Pt. 3 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Ka’a’awa Beach Co. Park 2 4/yr 4 0% 0

Oahu Ka’alawai Beach 2 1/wk 8 13% 0

Oahu Ka’ena Pt. 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Oahu Kahala 2 1/wk 5 0% 0

Oahu Kahala Hilton Beach 2 1/mo 9 22% 0

Oahu Kahana Bay 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Kahanamoku Beach 1 3/wk 111 5% 0

Oahu Kahanamoku Lagoon no data no data 1 0% 0

Oahu Kahe Pt. Beach Co. Pk. 2 6/yr 11 0% 0

Oahu Kahuku Golf Course 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Kaiaka 2 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Kaihalulu Beach 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Oahu Kailua Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Kailua Beach Pk. 2 3/wk 114 5% 0

Oahu Kailua Pier no data 74 3% 0

Oahu Kaiona Beach Co. Park 2 1/mo 3 0% 0

Oahu Kaipapa’u Beach 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Oahu Kakaako Waterfront 3 1/mo 6 0% 2

Oahu Kalae’o’io Beach Co. Park 2 4/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Kalama Beach 2 1/mo 10 0% 0

Oahu Kalaniana’ole Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Oahu Kaloko (Queens) Beach 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

Oahu Kaluahole Beach 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Kaluanui Beach 2 4/yr 4 25% 0

Oahu Kane’ohe Bay 2 1/wk 4 50% 0

Oahu Kanenelu Beach 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Kapaeloa Beach 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Kapi’olani Park 2 3/wk 4 0% 0

Oahu Kaunala Beach 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Kaupo Beach Co. Park 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

Oahu Kawaiku’i Beach Park 2 1/mo 11 9% 0

Oahu Kawailoa Beach 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Kawela Bay 2 1/wk 3 0% 0

Oahu Ke’ehi Lagoon 2 1/wk 14 29% 0

Oahu Kea’au Beach Co. Park 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Kealia Beach 2 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Koke’e Beach Park 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Oahu Koko Kai Beach Park 2 1/wk 5 0% 0

Oahu Kokololio Beach 2 4/yr 4 0% 0

Oahu Kualoa Co. Regional Park 1 3/wk 101 6% 0

Oahu Kualoa Sugar Mill Beach 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Kuhio Beach Park 1 3/wk 114 10% 0

Oahu Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park 3 1/wk 3 33% 0

Oahu Kuilima Cove 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Kuli’ou’ou 2 1/wk 12 58% 0

Oahu Laenani Beach Co. Park 2 1/wk 11 18% 0

Oahu Laie Beach Co. Park 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Laniakea Beach 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Lanikai 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Oahu Laniloa Peninsula (Beach) 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Laukinui Beach 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Lualualei Beach Co. Park 3 6/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Ma’ili Beach Co. Park 3 3/wk 9 0% 0

Oahu Magic Island Beach 1 3/wk 111 1% 3

Oahu Magic Island East 3 no data 0 NA 0

Oahu Maipalaoa Beach 2 6/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Makaha Beach Co. Park 1 3/wk 101 1% 0

Oahu Makao Beach 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Makapu’u Beach Co. Park 1 3/wk 95 0% 0

Oahu Makaua Beach Co. Park 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Makua Beach 3 6/yr 0 NA 0

Oahu Malaekahana Bay 1 3/wk 84 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Oahu Manner’s Beach 3 1/wk 6 0% 0

Oahu Mauna Lahilahi Beach Co. Pk. 3 6/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Maunalua Bay 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Oahu Maunalua Bay Beach Park 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Oahu Mokule’ia Beach 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Mokule’ia Beach Park 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Nanaikapono Beach 3 6/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Nanakuli Beach Co. Pk. 1 3/wk 97 0% 0

Oahu Nimitz Beach 3 none 2 0% 0

Oahu Niu 2 1/wk 9 22% 0

Oahu North Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Ohikilolo Beach (Barking Sands) 3 6/yr 0 NA 0

Oahu One’ula Beach Co. Park 3 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Oneawa Beach 2 1/mo 8 0% 0

Oahu Outrigger Canoe Club Beach 3 1/wk 5 0% 0

Oahu Pahipahi’alua Beach 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Paiko Lagoon 2 1/wk 10 10% 0

Oahu Papa’iloa Beach 2 4/yr 4 0% 0

Oahu Papaoneone Beach 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Pearl Harbor - Middle Loch 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Pelekane no data no data 6 0% 0

Oahu Piliokahe Beach no data no data 2 0% 0

Oahu “Pipeline, The” 2 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Point Panic Beach Park 3 1/wk 6 0% 0

Oahu Poka’i Bay Beach Co. Pk. 1 3/wk 101 2% 0

Oahu Pounders Beach 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Pu’uiki 2 4/yr 1 0% 0

Oahu Pu’uohulu Beach 3 1/wk 4 25% 0

Oahu Punalu’u Beach Co. Park 2 4/yr 5 20% 0

Oahu Pupukea Beach Co. Pk. 3 1/wk 2 0% 0

Oahu Queen’s Surf Beach Park 1 2/wk 96 1% 0

Oahu Royal-Moana Beach 1 3/wk 109 2% 0

Oahu Sand Island 1 3/wk 92 0% 0 (359)*

Oahu Sandy Beach Co. Park 1 2/wk 96 0% 0

Oahu Sans Souci St. Rec. Area 1 3/wk 114 0% 0

Oahu Sunset Beach 1 3/wk 100 0% 0

Oahu Swanzy Beach Co. Park 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Tongg’s Beach 2 1/mo 5 0% 0

Oahu Turtle Bay 3 1/wk 1 0% 0

Oahu Ulehawa Beach Co. Park 2 6/yr 10 10% 0

Oahu Wai’alae Beach Co. Park 1 3/wk 95 5% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Oahu Wai’anae Kai Military Reservation Beach 3 6/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Wai’anae Regional Park 3 6/yr 3 0% 0

Oahu Waiahole Beach Co. Park 2 4/yr 6 67% 0

Oahu Waiale’e 2 4/yr 2 0% 0

Oahu Waikiki Beach Center 3 1/wk 8 0% 0

Oahu Wailupe Beach Park 2 1/mo 5 40% 0

Oahu Waimanalo Bay St. Rec. Area 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Oahu Waimanalo Beach 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Oahu Waimanalo Beach Co. Park 1 3/wk 117 3% 0

Oahu Waimea Bay Beach Co. Pk. 1 3/wk 101 6% 0

Oahu War Memorial Natatorium 3 none 0 NA 0

Oahu Wawamalu Beach Park 3 1/wk 6 0% 0

Oahu White Plains Beach 1 2/wk 87 2% 0

Oahu Yokohama Bay 3 6/yr 0 NA 0


NoTES1 Hawaii Department of Health Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act 2009 Notification Report to EPA. Not dated.

2 Watson Okubo, Hawaii Department of Health, personal communication, June 2010.

IL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

ILLInoIs28th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Jackson Park Beach (63rd Street Beach) in Cook County (66%) • North Point Marina North Beach in Lake County (55%) • Winnetka Elder Park Beach in Cook County (50%)

Illinois has 52 public Great Lakes swimming beaches along approximately 60 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) administers the state’s coastal beach monitoring program.

Monitoringsampling Practices: The monitoring season extends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Samples are taken in water that is knee to waist deep. The managing entity for each beach determines when to issue closings and advisories, depending upon EPA guidance and their own policies.1

Most coastal swimming beaches in Illinois are sampled seven days a week, since Illinois believes that daily monitoring is most protective of public health. Areas of shoreline that are not used for swimming because they are rocky or otherwise unsuitable are not monitored.3 Monitoring on a daily basis continues when a beach is closed.

Results: In 2009, Illinois reported 67 coastal beach segments, of which 7 (10%) were monitored twice a day, 12 (18%) daily, 30 (45%) more than once a week, and 3 (4%) once a week; 15 (22%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceed ance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 16% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maxi mum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceed ance rates in 2009 were Jackson Park Beach (63rd Street Beach) in Cook County (66%); North Point Marina North Beach in Lake County (55%); Winnetka Elder Park Beach (50%), 57th Street Beach (49%), Calumet South Beach (38%), Winnetka Centennial Dog Beach (35%), Rainbow Beach (34%), Montrose Beach (31%), South Shore in Cook County (26%); and Great Lakes Naval Nunn Beach in Lake County (25%).

Lake County had the highest percent exceedance rate in 2009 (17%), followed by Cook (16%).Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and

reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 46 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 16% in 2009 from 15% in 2008, 24% in 2007, and 15% in 2006.

Closings and Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Depending on the managing authority for coastal beaches, both advisories and closings are issued. The water quality standard in Illinois is an E. coli single-sample maximum of 235 cfu/100 ml. The BEACH Act’s freshwater beach E. coli standard for the geometric mean of five samples taken over a 30-day period of 126 cfu/100 ml is not applied when making closing and advisory decisions.

In all jurisdictions, if a sample exceeds the single-sample standard, action is taken.2 Two samples are taken daily by the Wilmette Health Department and the Winnetka Park District, both in Cook County. If one sample exceeds the

0

6

12

18

24

30

2009200820072006


15%

24%

15% 16%

Illinois Percent Exceedance for 46 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


standard, they resample before closing, but if both exceed it, then they close the beach. The Chicago Park District posts an advisory at its beaches when sample results are between 235 cfu/100 ml and 1000 cfu/100 ml, and a ban when sample results exceed 1,000 cfu/100ml.3

Beach managers may preemptively close beaches because of rain or other factors.Several coastal beach managers use predictive models to make closing and advisory decisions. The motivation to use

predictive models is that health warnings are not issued until at least 24 hours after samples are taken due to the time that it takes sampling results to be known. A study of the reliability of one pre-dictive model, SwimCast, indicates that it correctly predicts whether E. coli concentrations are above or below the 235 cfu/100 ml standard 85% and 86% of the time, respectively.2 SwimCast predictions can be made on a real-time basis. At a minimum, predictions are generally made at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and whenever hydrometeorological conditions change at beaches where SwimCast is used. For each beach where the SwimCast system exists, similar but slightly different predictive models are utilized.

In addition to predicting the bacterial concentration at the beach, the model predicts with a 99% confidence interval, or a lower and upper bound of bac terial concentrations between which the actual bacteria concentration is expected to lie. For beach managers in Lake County that use the SwimCast predictive model, the determination of swim bans and risk advisories is the same at all locations: 1) A swim ban occurs when the lower bound of the 99% confidence interval prediction is above 235 cfu/100 ml, and the beach is posted with a red flag. This is the highest-risk condition. 2) An advisory is posted for a moderate- to high-risk condition when the average prediction and upper bound of the 99% con fi dence interval pre diction is above 235 cfu/100 ml, but the lower bound of the 99% confidence interval prediction is below 235 cfu/100 ml. 3) An advisory is posted for a moderate-risk condition when the upper bound of the 99% confidence interval prediction is above 235 cfu/100 ml, but the average prediction and the lower bound of the 99% confidence interval prediction are below 235 cfu/100 ml. 4) When the upper bound of the 99% confidence interval prediction is below 235 cfu/100 ml, this is considered to be a low-risk condition and posted as a green flag condition.

Chicago is in the proving stage of using a predictive model to issue advisories at 63rd Street, but the city is not yet relying on this model for decision making.

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 350 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 8% to 576 days in 2009 from 534 days in 2008, 793 days in 2007, 591 days in 2006, and 585 days in 2005. In addition, there was one extended event (51 days) and no permanent events in 2009; in 2008, there were no extended or permanent events. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but less than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All events lasting six consecutive weeks or less were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels.

Reported sources of Beachwater Contamination: 1% (7) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 81% (465) were from unknown sources of contamination, 8% (46) were from sewage spills/leaks, 7% (40) were from wildlife, and 3% (18) were from other sources of contamination.

Illinois 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Cook 12th Street 1 5/wk 73 19% 12

Cook 31st Street Beach 1 5/wk 72 21% 11


Illinois sources of Contamination



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Cook 57th Street Beach 1 5/wk 73 49% 23

Cook Albion 1 5/wk 71 3% 3

Cook Calumet South Beach 1 5/wk 73 38% 16

Cook Chase Ave Park and Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Evanston Church Dog Beach 3 2 daily 167 10% 12

Cook Evanston Clark Beach 1 2 daily 167 9% 8

Cook Evanston Greenwood Beach 1 2 daily 167 7% 5

Cook Evanston Lee Beach 1 2 daily 167 12% 8

Cook Evanston Lighthouse Beach 1 2 daily 167 10% 9

Cook Evanston South Beach 1 2 daily 168 15% 10

Cook Foster Avenue Beach 1 5/wk 72 14% 8

Cook Glencoe Park Beach 1 daily 87 21% 13

Cook Howard Street Park Beach 1 5/wk 72 4% 4

Cook Jackson Park Beach (63rd Street Beach) 1 5/wk 76 66% 45

Cook Jarvis Avenue Park Beach 1 5/wk 71 6% 3

Cook Juneway Terrace Park Beach 1 5/wk 71 8% 4

Cook Kathy Osterman Beach 1 5/wk 73 19% 11

Cook Kenilworth Beach 1 daily 93 6% 7

Cook Loyola Beach 1 5/wk 71 11% 8

Cook Montrose Beach 1 5/wk 71 31% 19

Cook North Avenue Beach 1 5/wk 72 10% 6

Cook North Shore Avenue Beach 1 5/wk 71 3% 3

Cook Northwestern University Beach 1 2 daily 38 18% 8

Cook Oak Street Beach 1 5/wk 72 4% 5

Cook Ohio Street Beach 1 5/wk 72 21% 10

Cook Pratt Blvd and Park Beach 1 5/wk 71 10% 7

Cook Rainbow Beach 1 5/wk 74 34% 21

Cook Rogers Avenue Park Beach 1 5/wk 71 10% 4

Cook Sherwin Ave. Park and Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook South Shore 1 5/wk 73 26% 14

Cook Thorndale 1 5/wk 72 17% 7

Cook Wilmette Gillson Park Beach 1 daily 227 5% 3

Cook Wilmette Gillson Park Dog Beach 1 1/wk 21 19% 3

Cook Wilmette Langdon Beach 1 daily 114 4% 7

Cook Winnetka Centennial Dog Beach 2 daily 79 35% 17

Cook Winnetka Elder Park Beach 1 daily 78 50% 2

Cook Winnetka Lloyd Park Beach 1 daily 78 10% 4

Cook Winnetka Maple Park Beach 1 daily 78 14% 1

Cook Winnetka Tower Beach 1 daily 79 13% 2

Lake Fort Sheridan North Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Fort Sheridan South Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Lake Great Lakes Naval Nunn Beach 1 4/wk 53 25% 17

Lake Highland Park Avenue Boating Beach 1 4/wk 56 5% 8

Lake Highland Park Moraine Park Dog Beach 2 1/wk 16 13% 28

Lake Highland Park Rosewood Beach 1 daily 99 7% 8

Lake IL Beach State Park Camp Logan Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake IL Beach State Park North Beach 1 4/wk 111 11% 14

Lake IL Beach State Park Sailing Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake IL Beach State Park South Beach 1 4/wk 119 18% 20

Lake IL State Park Resort Beach 1 4/wk 116 21% 26

Lake Lake Bluff Dog Beach 2 1/wk 12 17% 15

Lake Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach 1 4/wk 59 2% 12

Lake Lake Forest Forest Park Beach 1 daily 91 7% 11

Lake North Chicago Foss Park Beach 3 None 0 NA 0

Lake North Point Marina North Beach 1 4/wk 115 55% 37 (51)*

Lake Waukegan North Beach 1 4/wk 62 6% 3

Lake Waukegan South Beach 1 daily 93 10% 14

Lake Zion Hosah Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0


notes1 United States Environmental Protection Agency, Implementing the BEACH Act of 2000 (Report to Congress), October 2006.

2 Justin DeWitt, Illinois Department of Health, personal communication, June 2010.

3 Cathy Breitenbach, Chicago Park District, personal communication, June 2010.

IN.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

INdIaNa25th in Beachwater Quality

13% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Jeorse Park Beach I in Lake County (76%) • Jeorse Park Beach II in Lake County (63%) • Buffington Harbor Beach in Lake County (31%)

Indiana has 30 Great Lakes beaches stretching along 64 miles in three counties that have Lake Michigan shoreline. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) administers the state’s beach monitoring and notification program.

MonitoringSampling Practices: Generally, the monitoring season is from late May through the first week of September, but at some beaches sampling may begin and end a week earlier or later.

Sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols are set by the state or in consultation with the state. Specific monitoring locations are used each year to ensure consistency and representativeness of data. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Monitoring frequencies are based on a prioritized ranking of the beaches, with higher-priority beaches receiving more frequent sampling. The rankings are based on many variables, which include, but are not limited to, bather use, the proximity to known point and non-point sources, and likely effects from heavy rainfall events.1 Seven Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore beach sites (Kemil, Lake View, Mount Baldy, Dunbar, West, Central, and Porter) are monitored and voluntarily post monitoring and notification data to the Indiana BeachGuard website, even though they are not eligible for BEACH Act funding.1

Some beaches are routinely sampled seven days a week, and their monitoring schedules do not change when they are closed or under advisory. At some of the beaches that are not sampled seven days a week, additional samples may be collected during a closing or advisory; at other beaches, the monitoring frequency is not changed.

Results: In 2009, Indiana reported 28 Great Lakes beaches, 6 (21%) of which were monitored daily, 15 (54%) more than once a week, and 7 (25%) once a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 13% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Jeorse Park Beach I (76%), Jeorse Park Beach II (63%), and Buffington Harbor Beach in Lake County (31%), and Washington Park Beach in La Porte County (19%).

Lake County had the highest exceedance rate (16%) in 2009, followed by La Porte (9%), and Porter (8%).Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and

reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 23 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 8% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 15% in 2007, and 13% in 2006.

0.00

3.75

7.50

11.25

15.00

18.75

2009200820072006


13%15%

13%

8%

Indiana Percent Exceedance for 23 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Closings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: Both closings and advisories are issued in Indiana. The state has an E. coli single-sample maximum standard of 235 cfu/100 ml. The BEACH Act’s freshwater beach E. coli standard for the geometric mean of five samples taken over a 30-day period of 126 cfu/100 ml is not applied when making closing and advisory decisions.

Beach managers issue an advisory or closing if monitoring results indicate the presence of E. coli in concentrations greater than 235 cfu/100ml.1 There is no protocol for forgoing a closing or advisory when a single-sample exceed ance occurs, and resampling to confirm an exceedance is not done before a closing or advisory is issued.

BEACH Act grants have been used to partially fund the development of models that predict beachwater quality. These models make predictions based on current conditions, turbidity, chlorophyll content, and color. A model called Project SAFE was used in 2009 for Ogden Dunes, Wells Street, Marquette, and Lake Street beaches. Each morning, Monday through Friday, beach managers were given the model’s predicted likelihood that the E. coli count would exceed safe limits. On that basis, the beach manager chose whether to issue an advisory or closing. Physical bacterial monitoring con-tinued at these beaches to complement the predictive modeling information.

Beach managers have the discretion to preemptively issue advisories or closings if conditions that may result in elevated E. coli levels exist, such as heavy rainfall or combined sewer overflow events.1 La Porte County issues an advisory if excessive debris, such as oil globules or algae, are found in the lake or on the beach. Beach managers can also close a beach for weather and current conditions, such as a rip current.

Number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 184 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 16% to 387 days in 2009 from 333 days in 2008, 213 days in 2007, 111 days in 2006, and 131 days in 2005. There were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and advisories: For the 184 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 97% (377) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 3% (10) were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall.

Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 14% (55) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, and 86% (332) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Indiana 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

La Porte Duneland Beach Stop 31 3 3/wk 44 9% 8

La Porte Duneland Beach Stop 34 3 3/wk 44 9% 8

La PorteIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Central Avenue Beach

2 1/wk 16 6% 0

La PorteIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Dunbar Beach

3 1/wk 16 6% 0

La PorteIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Mount Baldy

1 1/wk 16 6% 0

La PorteIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore-State Park Road/Kemil Avenue Beach

2 1/wk 16 6% 0

La Porte Long Beach Stop 20 3 3/wk 42 5% 5


Indiana Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

days

La Porte Long Beach Stop 24 3 3/wk 43 9% 7

La Porte Michiana Shores Stop 37 2 3/wk 44 9% 8

La Porte Sheridan Beach Stop 2 3 3/wk 132 3% 6

La Porte Sheridan Beach Stop 7 3 3/wk 42 2% 6

La Porte Washington Park Beach 1 3/wk 145 19% 27

Lake Buffington Harbor Beach 2 5/wk 78 31% 41

Lake Hammond Marina East Beach 2 Daily 104 15% 16

Lake Hammond Marina West Beach 2 Daily 104 5% 2

Lake Jeorse Park Beach I 2 5/wk 78 76% 85

Lake Jeorse Park Beach II 2 5/wk 78 63% 76

Lake Lake Street Beach 2 5/wk 162 5% 11

Lake Marquette Park Beach 2 5/wk 323 3% 10

Lake Wells Street Beach 2 5/wk 80 3% 2

Lake Whihala Beach East 1 Daily 112 11% 12

Lake Whihala Beach West 1 Daily 108 15% 16

PorterIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Porter Beach

2 1/wk 16 6% 0

Porter Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach 1 Daily 112 13% 15

Porter Indiana Dunes State Park West Beach 1 Daily 112 15% 17

Porter Ogden Dunes Beach 3 3/wk 195 3% 9

Porter Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Lakeview Beach

2 1/wk 15 0% 0

Porter Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-West Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

NoTES1 Michelle Caldwell, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, personal communication, June 2010.

LA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

LouisiAnA30th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Cypremort Point State Park in St. Mary Parish (46%) • South Beach & Rabbit Island in Calcasieu Parish (43%) • Holly Beach 5 in Cameron Parish (42%)

Most of Louisiana’s coastline is wetlands. However, there are at least 19 coastal beaches lining nearly 30 miles of Gulf of Mexico and estuarine shoreline, including the barrier island Grand Isle, as well as some beaches near the Texas border and on the shore of the estuary of Lake Pontchartrain. The state’s coastal monitoring program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH).

Monitoringsampling Practices: Monitoring is conducted from April 1 through October 31.

The LDHH determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices at Louisiana beaches monitored through the BEACH Act. Samples are collected 12 inches below the surface in water that is approximately three feet deep. Levels of beach use and perceptions of water quality determine monitoring priorities. Monitoring frequency does not increase after a beach is placed under advisory unless the contamination source has been identified and corrected, in which case more intensive sampling may be conducted.

In addition to beaches monitored by LDHH under the BEACH Act, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, a nonprofit, membership-based citizens’ organization, has monitored additional beaches and sites around Lake Pont-chartrain since 2000, but because NRDC was unable to retrieve those monitoring results from the U.S. EPA, those beaches are not included in this summary.

Results: In 2009, Louisiana reported 29 coastal beach segments, 27 (93%) of which were monitored once a week and 1 (3%) once a month; 1 (3%) was not monitored due to access constraints resulting from previous hurricanes. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 25% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Cypremort Point State Park in St. Mary Parish (46%); South Beach & Rabbit Island in Calcasieu Parish (43%), Holly Beach 5 (42%), Holly Beach 6 (41%), and Rutherford Beach (36%) in Cameron Parish).

St. Mary Parish had the highest exceedance rate (46%) in 2009 followed by Calcasieu (39%), Cameron (32%), Orleans (21%), Lafourche (13%), Jefferson (12%), and St. Tammany (7%).


Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: LDHH issues beach advisories, but it is state policy not to issue closings.1 Water quality standards are not met if any of the following are exceeded: 1) an enterococcus single-sample maximum standard of

0.00

7.75

15.50

23.25

31.00

38.75

2009200820072006

Set highest value on data axis to 125% of highest excedance value8%

16%

31%

25%

Louisiana Percent Exceedance for 21 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


104 cfu/100 ml, 2) an enterococcus geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml for five samples taken over a 30-day period, or 3) a fecal coliform geometric mean of 200 cfu/100 ml based on a minimum of five samples taken over no more than a 30-day period.2 When multiple samples are taken, the results are aver-aged to determine whether standards are being exceeded. An exceedance of any of these three standards can trigger an advisory, but the fecal coliform standard is rarely exceeded.

Other than taking a resample to verify exceedances when the results are in doubt, which rarely happens, there is no protocol for forgoing an advisory when an exceedance is found. It is noteworthy that the majority of advisories in Louisiana result from exceedance of the enterococcus geometric mean criterion. If Louisiana issued beach advisories based only on the enterococcus single-sample maximum criterion, as many states do, close to half of the observed exceedances during 2009 would not have resulted in an advisory.

Preemptive rainfall advisories are not issued. Louisiana’s BEACH Program has examined data collected over many years to assess the relationship between indicator organism densities and environmental conditions (including water temperature, salinity, tide conditions, weather conditions, and wind direction and speed) at its beaches. The models that have been developed for each beach explain only a small fraction of the total variability in indicator organism density and, thus, cannot be used to issue precautionary advisories.

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 35 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less more than doubled to 472 in 2009 from 221 days in 2008, 459 days in 2007, 5 days in 2006, and 406 days in 2005. In addition, there were 25 extended events (1,494 days total) and 5 permanent events (631 days total) in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 con secu tive weeks. There were 11 extended events (672 days total) and 17 permanent events (2,282 days total) in 2008. More beaches monitored in Louisiana contributed to the increase in closing/advisory days in 2009.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All closing and advisory days for 35 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Louisiana 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

Parish Beach Tier Monitoring Frequency

Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Calcasieu North Beach-Lake Charles 1 1/wk 36 36% 0 (160)*

Calcasieu South Beach & Rabbit Island 1 1/wk 30 43% 12 (99)*

Cameron Constance Beach 2 1/wk 33 27% 22 (68)*

Cameron Gulf Breeze 2 1/wk 33 30% 44 (68)*

Cameron Hackberry Beach 3 None 0 NA 0

Cameron Holly Beach 1 1 1/wk 33 33% 0 (143)*






Cameron Little Florida 2 1/wk 33 27% 28 (54)*


Louisiana sources of Contamination


Parish Beach Tier Monitoring Frequency

Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Cameron Long Beach 2 1/wk 34 29% 22 (98)*

Cameron Martin Beach 2 1/wk 33 24% 53 (45)*

Cameron Rutherford Beach 2 1/wk 33 36% 0 (144)*

Jefferson Grand Isle Beach 1 2 1/wk 32 0% 34



Jefferson Grand Isle State Park 1 1 1/wk 24 17% 33 (45)*




Lafourche Fourchon 1 1 1/wk 29 17% 6 (49)*

Lafourche Fourchon 2 1 1/wk 28 11% 0 (43)*

Lafourche Fourchon 3 1 None 31 13% 6 (43)*

Lafourche Fourchon 4 3 1/mo 8 0% 0

Orleans Pontchartrain Beach no tier None 28 21% 0

St. Mary Cypremort Point State Park 1 1/wk 35 46% 13 (157)*

St. Tammany Fontainebleau State Park 1 1/wk 28 7% 14


noTEs1 Jerry Freedman, Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals, personal communication, March 2008.

2 Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Louisiana BEACH Grant Report 2009 Swimming Season. March 2010.

ME.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MainE24th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Goodies Beach in Knox County (37%) • Ducktrap River in Waldo County (28%) • Riverside (Ogunquit) in York County (27%)

Maine’s public access beaches stretch along more than 30 miles of Atlantic waters, including bays, sounds, and estuaries. The coastal beachwater quality monitoring program, Maine Healthy Beaches, is managed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and coordinated by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Maine Sea Grant.

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season lasts three months, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Monitoring is extended to include spring wet-weather monitoring and special studies for targeted areas.1

Monitoring coastal water quality for swimming and other water contact usage is the responsibility of local juris-dictions, munici palities, or state parks and is not mandated by state law. Samples are taken in approximately three feet of water. The Maine Healthy Beaches Program is a voluntary program, and in order to participate in it, a beach must have a beach manage ment entity that can meet the program’s protocols and conditions.

Monitoring sites for each beach are selected where swimmers are found as well as at sources of freshwater inputs to the beach including storm drains and at sites where local knowledge of any conditions affecting water quality at that beach exists.2 For areas experiencing chronic bacterial pollution, additional monitoring sites are added throughout the watershed, and/or wet-weather monitoring is conducted to help determine the source(s) of pollution.1 Once a beach is closed or placed under advisory, Maine Healthy Beaches recommends that the monitoring frequency increase until the beach is reopened. However, not all localities have the ability to conduct increased moni-toring, and as a result the beaches in these towns cannot be reopened until the next routine sample is analyzed.1

Results: In 2009, Maine reported 60 coastal beaches, 3 (5%) of which were monitored more than once a week, 53 (88%) once a week, 2 (3%) every other week, and 2 (3%) once a month. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 11% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Goodies Beach in Knox County (37%); Ducktrap River in Waldo County (28%); Riverside (Ogunquit) (27%), Cape Neddick Beach (26%), York Harbor Beach (26%), Gooches Beach (23%), Libby Cove Beach (22%), Middle Beach (22%), and Sea Point Beach (21%) in York County; and Willard Beach in Cumberland County (21%).

Knox County had the highest exceedance rate (22%) in 2009, followed by Waldo (16%), York (11%), Cumberland (11%), Hancock (8%), Sagadahoc (5%), and Lincoln (0%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 39 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the

0

3

6

9

12

15

2009200820072006


12%

9%

7%

11%

Maine Percent Exceedance for 39 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


standard increased to 11% in 2009 from 7% in 2008, 9% in 2007, and 12% in 2006. Maine experienced much higher than normal rainfall in the summer of 2009 and this may have contributed to the increase in the percent exceedance rate at its beaches.

Closings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: Both closings and advisories are issued in Maine, but closings are rare and occur only when beaches experience chronic high bacteria levels or known safety or public health threats, and in municipalities where closing ordinances are in place.1 When determining whether to recommend issuing a beach advisory, the Maine Healthy Beaches Program applies a single-sample standard for entero coccus of 104 MPN/100 ml.

Results of all monitoring samples are transmitted to the Maine Health Beaches database, and automatic e-mail alerts are issued to beach managers, local officials and other entities as soon as an exceedance is found. However, advisories are not issued based solely on monitoring results; other factors that are taken into account include the risk of pollution, water quality history, rainfall levels, and known sewage malfunctions.1 Each decision is made on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the conditions, the Maine Healthy Beaches program will recommend an advisory or closing when the standards are exceeded, and the decision to post an advisory or closing for a beach is the responsibility of the town or state park.1 The only beach managers who automatically post an advisory or closing after one sample exceeds standards are the state park beach managers who manage Popham, Ferry-Saco, Kettle Cove, Crescent State Park, Reid-East, Lagoon, and Half Mile Beaches). For areas with historically good water quality and a low risk of pollution, an advisory may not be posted until resample results are available. Scarborough Beach is a state park beach but is privately managed and advisories at this beach may not be issued until resampling confirms an exceedance. Whether to resample before issuing an advisory also depends on the magnitude of the exceedance and if there is a known pollution event. Program staff follow up with each exceedance to ensure that state protocols were followed correctly and in a timely manner.

The program recommends that precautionary rainfall advisories be posted at urban beaches with a history of elevated bacteria levels and stormwater issues. There are a few communities in Maine that, depending on conditions, may post an advisory after a specified amount of rainfall.1 Local officials are notified when there is a known sewage spill.

number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 79 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 47% to 250 days in 2009 from 170 days in 2008, 176 days in 2007, 134 days in 2006, and 92 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. The increase in 2009 is due primarily to heavy rainfall.

Causes of Closings and advisories: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Maine 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Cumberland Crescent Beach State Park 1 1/wk 29 3% 3

Cumberland East End Beach 1 3/wk 42 12% 24

Cumberland Ferry Beach (Scarborough) 1 1/wk 14 0% 0


Maine Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Cumberland Higgins Beach 1 1/wk 33 9% 4

Cumberland Kettle Cove Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Cumberland Pine Point 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Cumberland Scarborough Beach 1 1/wk 44 7% 1

Cumberland Willard Beach 1 2/wk 87 21% 23

Cumberland Winslow Park 2 2/mo 7 0% 0

Hancock Hadley Point 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Hancock Hulls Cove 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Hancock Sand Beach 1 1/wk 31 6% 0

Hancock Town Beach 1 1/wk 32 16% 10

Knox Goodies Beach 1 1/wk 19 37% 23

Knox Laite Beach 1 1/wk 17 18% 2

Knox Sandy Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 2

Lincoln Pemaquid Beach 2 2/mo 14 0% 0

Sagadahoc Half Mile Beach 2 1/mo 13 0% 0

Sagadahoc Lagoon Beach 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Sagadahoc Mile Beach 1 1/wk 26 4% 2

Sagadahoc Popham-Center Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 2

Sagadahoc Popham-East Beach 1 1/wk 30 7% 2

Sagadahoc Popham-West Beach/Morse River 1 1/wk 26 8% 4

Sagadahoc Reid-East Beach 2 1/mo 4 0% 0

Waldo Ducktrap River 1 2/wk 18 28% 21

Waldo Lincolnville Beach Area 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

York Bay View 1 1/wk 15 7% 0

York Cape Neddick Beach 1 1/wk 19 26% 9

York Casino Square 1 1/wk 28 18% 2

York Colony Beach 1 1/wk 15 13% 7

York Crescent Beach (Kittery) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

York Crescent Beach (Wells) 1 1/wk 17 18% 2

York Drakes Isl. Beach 1 1/wk 29 3% 0

York Ferry Beach (Saco) 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

York Footbridge (Ogunquit) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

York Fort Foster 1 1/wk 50 8% 13

York Fortunes Rocks Beach 1 1/wk 16 13% 4

York Gil Bouche Park/Biddeford Pool 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

York Gooches Beach 1 1/wk 39 23% 12

York Goose Rocks 1 1/wk 63 17% 11

York Hills Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 2

York Kennebunk Beach 1 1/wk 16 19% 6

York Kinney Shores 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

York Laudholm Beach 1 1/wk 30 7% 3



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

York Libby Cove Beach 1 1/wk 18 22% 8

York Little Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

York Long Sands Beach 1 1/wk 96 10% 5

York Main (Ogunquit) 1 1/wk 17 12% 2

York Middle Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

York Middle Beach 1 1/wk 18 22% 8

York Moody (Ogunquit) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

York Old Orchard Beach-Central 1 1/wk 60 7% 2

York Old Orchard Beach-North End 1 1/wk 31 6% 0

York Old Orchard Beach-Ocean Park 1 1/wk 31 13% 0

York Riverside (Ogunquit) 1 1/wk 22 27% 8

York Sea Point Beach 1 1/wk 19 21% 9

York Short Sands Beach 1 1/wk 16 13% 1

York Wells Beach 1 1/wk 44 5% 2

York Wells Harbor 1 1/wk 15 7% 2

York York Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 19 26% 9

noTES1 Keri Lindberg, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant, personal communication, May 2010.


MD.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MarylanD7th in Beachwater Quality

4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Tolchester Estates Beach in Kent County (36%) • Red Point Beach in Cecil County (27%) • West View Shores in Cecil County (17%)

There are 72 coastal beaches in Maryland lining 20 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, and other bays and sounds. Beachwater quality is monitored in a program administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Sampling and notification activities are delegated to local health departments. Current guidance and regulation practices remain consistent across the board and apply to all beaches in Maryland. Samples are taken in knee-deep water, 12 inches below the water’s surface. Priority for monitoring Maryland’s coastal beaches is based on bather use level, historical water quality, proximity of potential or actual pollution sources, human and animal fecal contamination sources, beach structure, ecological factors, and any other factors that may contribute to beachwater quality.1

Maryland’s beach monitoring program recommends that local health departments sample the following day after a beach is closed or placed under advisory.

results: In 2009, Maryland reported 72 coastal beaches, 28 (39%) of which were monitored once a week, 26 (36%) every other week, and 18 (25%) once a month. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including samples taken in triplicate and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 3% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Tolchester Estates Beach in Kent County (36%), Red Point Beach (27%) and West View Shores (17%) in Cecil County; Tolchester Marina and Beach in Kent County (16%); and Bayside Beach in Anne Arundel County (16%).

Kent County had the highest exceedance rate (9%) in 2009 followed by Queen Anne’s (9%), Cecil (5%), Baltimore (5%), Calvert (4%), St. Mary’s (2%), Anne Arundel (2%), Worcester (1%), and Somerset (0%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 56 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 3% in 2009 from 2% in 2008, 4% in 2007 and 9% in 2006.

Closings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: In Maryland, closings are issued for known pollution events or other unsafe conditions, while advisories are issued when bacteria standards are exceeded and no known pollution source is present. At its coastal beaches, Maryland applies a 30-day geometric mean standard of 35 cfu/100 ml and a single-sample maximum

0.00

2.25

4.50

6.75

9.00

11.25

2009200820072006


9%

4%

2%3%

Maryland Percent Exceedance for 56 Beaches reported 2006–2009




standard for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml at Tier 1 and Tier 2 beaches and 158 cfu/100 ml at Tier 3 beaches. Three samples are taken per sampling event, and the average of the sampling results is used to determine whether the single-sample standard is being met.2 The average of three samples taken per sampling event is used when calculating the geometric mean.

If the local health department determines that sampling results indicating an exceedance of either the single-sample maximum or geometric mean standards are valid, a notification can be issued without resampling.1 If the validity of the sample is in doubt, local health departments may resample before issuing an advisory.

Maryland does not have preemptive rainfall advisory standards, but the MDE is working with local health depart ments to develop a tool to document precipita tion at their beaches so that they can analyze water quality data versus precipi tation.1

If a known pollution source exists (e.g., a combined sewer overflow, failing sewer infrastructure, or wastewater treat-ment discharge), the county must close the beach.3 Also, if there is any dangerous contaminant or condition, the local health department or the MDE may issue an immediate closing.3

number of Closings and advisories: Although the total closing/advisory days for 15 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less more than doubled to 133 days in 2009 from 61 days in 2008, the number was less than each of the three years before that (243 days in 2007, 317 days in 2006, and 209 days in 2005). In addition, there were no extended or perma-nent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.


Maryland 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Anne Arundel Annapolis Sailing 1 1/wk 28 7% 0

Anne Arundel Arundel on the Bay 2 2/mo 16 0% 0

Anne Arundel Atlantic Marina Resort 2 2/mo 13 0% 0

Anne Arundel Bay Ridge at Bay Dr. 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Anne Arundel Bay Ridge at River Dr. 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Anne Arundel Bayside Beach 3 1/mo 19 16% 0

Anne Arundel Beverly Beach 2 2/mo 15 0% 0

Anne Arundel Cape Anne 3 1/mo 10 0% 0

Anne Arundel Cape St. Claire at Persimmon Point 2 2/mo 17 0% 0

Anne Arundel Cedarhurst 2 2/mo 10 0% 0

Anne Arundel Deale Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Anne Arundel Fairhaven 2 2/mo 20 0% 0

Anne Arundel Fort Smallwood at Pond Drive 3 1/mo 12 0% 0

Anne Arundel Fort Smallwood Park 3 1/mo 16 0% 0

Anne Arundel Franklin Manor 2 2/mo 15 0% 0

Anne Arundel Highland Beach 2 2/mo 19 0% 0


Maryland Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Anne Arundel Idlewilde on the Bay 3 1/mo 7 0% 0

Anne Arundel Kurtz Beach 3 1/mo 0 NA 0

Anne Arundel Mason’s Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Anne Arundel Mayo Beach Park 1 1/wk 35 6% 0

Anne Arundel Mountain Point at Gibson Island 2 2/mo 15 7% 0

Anne Arundel Oyster Harbor 2 2/mo 15 0% 0

Anne Arundel Rose Haven 2 2/mo 22 9% 0

Anne Arundel Round Bay Main Beach 1 1/wk 23 0% 0

Anne Arundel Sandy Point State Park East Beach 1 1/wk 160 0% 0

Anne Arundel Sandy Point State Park South Beach 1 1/wk 86 1% 0

Anne Arundel Saunders Point 2 2/mo 22 9% 0

Anne Arundel Town Point at Arkhaven 3 1/mo 7 0% 0

Anne Arundel Turkey Point at Cloud Beach 2 2/mo 22 9% 0

Anne Arundel Venice on the Bay 2 2/mo 15 7% 0

Baltimore GunPowderSPHammerman 2 2/mo 150 7% 23

Baltimore Hart Miller Island 2 2/mo 59 2% 0

Baltimore Miami Beach 2 2/mo 65 9% 4

Baltimore Rocky Point Park 2 2/mo 60 2% 0

Calvert Breezy Point 1 1/wk 60 3% 0

Calvert Brownie’s Beach 1 1/wk 53 8% 8

Calvert Chesapeake Station 2 2/mo 17 0% 0

Calvert Driftwood 2 2/mo 38 0% 0

Calvert Flag Harbor 2 2/mo 34 0% 0

Calvert Flag Ponds 2 2/mo 16 6% 0

Calvert North Beach 1 1/wk 106 8% 13

Calvert Scientists Cliffs 3 1/mo 10 0% 0

Calvert Seahorse 2 2/mo 90 0% 4

Cecil Crystal Beach Manor 2 2/mo 24 4% 0

Cecil Elk Neck State Park North East River 1 1/wk 84 0% 0

Cecil Grove Point Camp 3 1/mo 30 0% 0

Cecil Red Point Beach 3 1/mo 15 27% 0

Cecil West View Shores 3 1/mo 18 17% 6

Kent Bay Country Campground and Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Kent Boy Scout Beach (Eliason) 3 1/mo 14 7% 0

Kent Echo Hill Camp (Youth Camp) 1 1/wk 88 1% 0

Kent Ferry Park 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Kent Great Oak 3 1/mo 27 0% 0

Kent Tolchester Estates Beach 2 2/mo 39 36% 36

Kent Tolchester Marina and Beach 2 2/mo 25 16% 16

Kent YMCA Camp Tockwogh (Youth Camp) 1 1/wk 98 8% 23

Queen Anne’s Camp Wright 3 1/mo 32 9% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Somerset Janes Island 3 1/mo 2 0% 0

Somerset Wellington 3 1/mo 8 0% 0

St Mary’s Cedar Cove Community Beach 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

St Mary’s Elm’s Beach-Public Beach 1 1/wk 60 7% 0

St Mary’s Point Lookout State Park 1 1/wk 28 0% 0

Worcester Assateague State Park 1 1/wk 110 0% 0

WorcesterNorth Beach Site #1 (State Park Boundary)

1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Worcester North Beach Site #2 (Ranger Station) 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Worcester Ocean City Beach 1 1 1/wk 64 0% 0






Worcester Oceanside #3 1 1/wk 23 0% 0

noTES1 Heather Morehead, Maryland Department of the Environment, personal communication, June 2010.

2 Maryland Department of the Environment, Guidance for County Recreational Water Quality Monitoring and Notification Programs, December 2003.

3 Code of Maryland. Subtitle 09 Water Pollution. 26.08.09 Public Bathing Beaches.

MA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MAssAchuseTTs17th in Beachwater Quality

7% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Kings At Stacy Brook in Essex County (71%) • Cockle Cove Creek-Parking Lot in Barnstable County (70%) • Smith Beach in Norfolk County (50%)

Massachusetts has 525 public and semipublic marine beaches along 204 miles of sandy beach that line Atlantic waters. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) administers the state’s monitoring program.

Monitoringsampling Practices: The monitoring season starts as early as Memorial Day at some beaches and lasts through Labor Day for most beaches.

MDPH coordinates the efforts of a range of collaborators including local boards of health, the Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environment, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. MDPH determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are col lected in three feet of water, one foot below the surface of the water.1 State water quality regulations require that all public and semi public freshwater and marine bathing beaches in Massa chu setts be monitored during the bathing season for bacterial con tamination.2 The sampling frequency for Massachusetts’ beaches is based on use and the potential for pollution problems. If a beach has been moni tored weekly for two years with no exceedance being found, and a sanitary survey reveals no potential sources of pollu tion at that beach, the beach managing entity may be allowed to sample less frequently.

Beachwater quality samples are required to be taken at the areas of greatest bather load. However, beach operators are encouraged to sample where outfalls and other sources of contamination are present as well as the area of greatest bather load.1 When an exceedance is found, sampling is generally conducted every day until the standards are met and the beach is reopened.1 Also, beaches that utilize rainfall advisories generally sample the day of or the day after the rainfall.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found or after rainfall will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Massachusetts reported 603 coastal beach segments, of which 12 (2%) were monitored daily, 536 (89%) once a week, 7 (1%) every other week, and 48 (8%) once a month. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 7% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maxi mum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Kings at Stacy Brook in Essex County (71%), Cockle Cove CreekParking Lot in Barnstable County (70%), Smith Beach in Norfolk County (50%), Willow Avenue (38%), Independence Park (33%), and Gas House in Essex County (33%), and A Street Ocean (33%), XYZ in Plymouth County (31%), Crocker’s Neck in Barnstable County (30%), and Grace Oliver in Essex County (30%).

0

2

4

6

8

10

2009200820072006


5%

3%

5%

8%

Massachusetts Percent exceedance for 482 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Norfolk County had the highest exceedance rate (17%) in 2009 followed by Suffolk (11%), Nantucket (11%), Essex (10%), Plymouth (9%), Bristol (6%), Barnstable (4%), and Dukes (1%). In some counties, such as Nantucket County, most of the beaches have a sampling variance and are not sampled frequently because they have no potential sources of contamination and went two years without an exceedance.1 In these counties, the exceedance rate is high in part because the cleanest beaches in the county are not sampled frequently.

Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 482 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 8% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 3% in 2007, and 5% in 2006. Rainfall was significantly above normal in Massachusetts during the 2009 beach season, which likely had a major impact on beach water quality. Over thirteen inches of rain fell in the Boston and Cape Cod areas, which is more than 35% above the historical average.

closingsstandards and Procedures: Beaches are closed to swimming when either the singlesample maximum or the geometric mean standard standards are exceeded. Whether beach action days are reported to the EPA as closings or advisories, restrictions and notifications are the same. For marine beaches, the standard is a singlesample maximum of enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml or a 5sample geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml.

There is no protocol for allowing a beach to remain open after an exceedance is found, and resampling to confirm an exceedance is not done before issuing a closure.

In addition to fecal indicator bacteria monitoring, beaches must also be tested for oil, hazardous materials, and heavy metals if there is information indicating possible contamination.2

Preemptive rainfall standards are in use at several beaches in Boston Harbor, and preemptive rainfall closings are issued after any significant rainstorm at a bathing beach where there has been a history of violations of water quality standards. In addition to preemptive rainfall closings and closings due to bacterial exceedances, the local board of health and/or the MDPH can close a beach if they determine there is a threat to human health for any other reason, such as an oil spill.1 Local boards of health can also preemptively close beaches that have consistently elevated bacterial indicator levels.

Number of closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 582 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 34% to 1,478 days in 2009 from 1,102 days in 2008, 567 days in 2007, 1,092 days in 2006, and 680 days in 2005. In addition, there were 2 extended events (134 days total) and 3 permanent events (315 days total) in 2009 com pared to 2 extended events (117 days total) and 2 permanent events (188 days total) in 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks and not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

causes of closings and Advisories: For the 582 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 81% (1,199) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 6% (88) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, and 13% (191) were preemptive due to other reasons.

Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 6% (88) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff and 94% (1390) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Massachusetts 2009 Monitoring Results and closing or Advisory Days

county Beach Tier Monitoring Frequency

Total samples

% of samples exceeding

state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable 29 Commercial Street 2 1/wk 16 13% 2



Massachusetts sources of contamination



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable 451 Commerical Street 2 1/wk 15 7% 3



Barnstable Acapesket Improvement Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Allen Harbor 3 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Andrew Harding Lane Beach 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Barnstable Atkins Lane 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Atlantic Avenue 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Atlantic Avenue 2 1/wk 18 28% 16

Barnstable Ballston 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Bank Street-Bayview Rd 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Barlows Landing 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Bass River-East 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Bass River-West 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Baxter Avenue 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Barnstable Bay Road 2 1/wk 16 6% 1

Barnstable Bayview 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Bayview Street 2 1/wk 18 11% 3

Barnstable Bikepath Beach (Trunk River) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Bikepath Beach (Trunk River) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Boat Meadow 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Bone Hill 2 1/wk 16 13% 3

Barnstable Bowerman Beach Club no data 1/wk 0 NA 0

Barnstable Breakwater Landing 2 1/wk 16 13% 3

Barnstable Brewster Dunes 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Briarwood Marine and Science 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Bridge Street 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Bristol-East 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Bristol-West 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Brooks 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Bucks Creek 2 1/wk 11 0% 0 (105)*

Barnstable Burton Baker 3 1/mo 5 20% 0

Barnstable Cahoon Hollow 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Callies Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Campground 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Cape Cod Sea Camps (Bay) 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Cataumet Harbor 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Cedar Point Association 2 1/wk 13 8% 0

Barnstable Chapin Memorial 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Barnstable Chapoquoit 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Chapoquoit Associates-Front Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable Chapoquoit Associates-Little Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Chatham Bars Inn 2 1/wk 10 10% 1

Barnstable Chequesset Yacht and Country Club 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Clipper Lane no data 1/wk 0 NA 0

Barnstable Coast Guard-1 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Coast Guar -2 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Coast Guard Town 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Cockle Cove 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Cockle Cove Creek 2 1/wk 10 10% 0 (105)*

Barnstable Cockle Cove Creek 2 1/wk 10 70% 0 (105)*

Barnstable Cold Storage 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Cold Storage/Pond Village 3 1/mo 14 0% 0

Barnstable Cole Road 2 1/wk 15 7% 4

Barnstable Colonial Acres 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Colonial Acres-East 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Columbus Avenue 2 1/wk 16 6% 1

Barnstable Cook’s Brook 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Cordwood Road 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Corn Hill 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Corporation 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Barnstable Cotuit Bay Shores Association 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Barnstable Court Street 2 1/wk 15 0% 1

Barnstable Covell’s 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Craigville 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Craigville Beach Club 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Crocker’s Neck 2 1/wk 20 30% 6

Barnstable Crosby Landing 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Cross Street 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Crow’s Nest (496 Shore Rd) 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Dowses 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Duck Harbor 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Dune’s Colony (648 Shore Rd) 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Dyer Prince 2 1/wk 17 12% 4

Barnstable Earle Road 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable East (Town) Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable East Sandwich 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Electric Avenue 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Ellis Landing 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Ellis Landing Park Condominiums 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Englewood 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Estey Avenue 2 1/wk 14 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable Falmouth Associates-564 Surf Drive 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Falmouth Heights-East 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Falmouth Heights-West 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Falmouth Yacht Club 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Fifth Ave (boat launch) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable First Encounter-Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable First Encounter-Spit River 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Fisher 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Follins Pond 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Follins Pond 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Forest Street Beach 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Glendon Road 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Gray Gables 2 1/wk 16 13% 3

Barnstable Gray’s Beach 2 1/wk 16 6% 1

Barnstable Great Hollow 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Grey Neck 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Haigis 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Halliday Acres no data 1/wk 0 NA 0

Barnstable Harborview 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Hardings-East 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Hardings-West 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Hawthorne 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Head of the Meadow (National) 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Head of the Meadow (Town) 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Herring Cove (National) 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Hideaway Village Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Howes Street 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Barnstable Indian Neck 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Indian Trail 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Barnstable Inman Road 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Jacknife Harbor 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Barnstable Jetty Lane 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Johnson Street 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Kalmus Ocean 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Kalmus Yacht 2 1/wk 16 0% 3

Barnstable Kellers Corner 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Kendal Lane 2 1/wk 16 13% 3

Barnstable Kennedy Memorial 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Kent’s Point 3 1/wk 7 0% 0

Barnstable Keyes Beach 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Kingsbury 2 1/wk 14 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable Lighthouse 2 1/wk 10 0% 6

Barnstable Linnell Landing 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Little Inn at Pleasant Bay 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Little Island Beach Preserve 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Little River Road 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Longnook 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Loops 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Maguires Landing 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Mants 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Marconi-Sampling Point 1 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Marconi-Sampling Point 3 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Mashpee Neck Road (Town Landing) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Maushup Village 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Mayflower 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Mayo 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Meeting House Pond 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Megansett 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Menauhant-East 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Menauhant-West 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Merkel Beach (Snow Inn Road) 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Mill Road 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Millway 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Barnstable Monument 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Nauset 2 1/mo 12 8% 2

Barnstable Nauset Light-1 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Nauset Light-3 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Barnstable Neel Road 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable New Seabury Inn 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

BarnstableNew Silver (Silver Beach Improvement Association)

2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Newcomb Hollow 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Nobska Beach Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Noon’s Landing 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Ocean Edge-1 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Old Mill Point Association-Left of Jetty 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Old Mill Point Association-Right of Jetty 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Old Silver 1-Central 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Old Silver 2-North 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Old Silver 2-South 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Old Silver Beach Estates Assoc. 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Omaha Road 3 1/mo 4 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable Oregon 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Oyster Harbors Club 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Oyster Place 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Oyster Pond 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Paines Creek 2 1/wk 15 7% 3

Barnstable Pamet Harbor 2 1/wk 16 13% 4

Barnstable Parkers River East 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Parkers River West 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Patiusset Beach 2 1/wk 17 18% 4

Barnstable Paw Wah Pond 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Pilgrim Pine Acres 2 1/wk 8 0% 0

Barnstable Pinelands Park 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Pleasant Bay 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Pleasant Bay 2 1/wk 15 13% 3

Barnstable Pleasant Road 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Pleasant Street 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

BarnstablePocasset Beach Improvement Association

2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Point of Rocks 2 1/wk 5 0% 0

Barnstable Popponesset 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Popponesset Beach Association 2 1/wk 0 NA 4

Barnstable Popponesset Spit 2 1/wk 12 8% 0

Barnstable Powers Landing 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Priscilla’s Landing 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Provincetown Inn Rotary 2 1/wk 14 0% 1

Barnstable Quanset Harbor Club Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Quisset Beach Association 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Barnstable Race Point (National)-Sampling Point 3 2 1/wk 12 17% 0

Barnstable Race Point (National)-Sampling Point 4 2 1/wk 11 18% 7

Barnstable Race Point (National) 2 1/wk 11 18% 7

Barnstable Racing Beach Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Raycroft 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Red River 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Red River 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Red River-East 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Ridgevale 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Barnstable Robbins Hill 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Rock Harbor 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Ropes 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Ryder 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Ryder Street 2 1/wk 15 7% 1



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days



Barnstable S. Sunken Meadow 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Saconessett Hills Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Sagamore 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Sandy Neck 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Scatteree Town Landing 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Barnstable Scraggy Neck Recreation Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Scudder Lane 2 1/wk 17 18% 3

Barnstable Scusset (DCR-DSPR) 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Barnstable Sea Pines 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Sea Street (Dennisport) 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Sea Street (East Dennis) 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Barnstable Seabreeze 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Seacoast Shores Associates, Inc. 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Seagull (Center) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Seagull (Left) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Seagull (Right) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Seaside Park Improvement Association 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Barnstable Seaview Ave. Beach 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Seconsett Island Causeway 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Shorewood Beach Association 2 1/wk 14 21% 18

Barnstable Silver Springs Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Sippewissett Highlands Trust 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Barnstable Skaket Beach 3 1/wk 7 0% 0

Barnstable Skaket Beach Condominiums 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Barnstable South Cape Beach (DCR-DSPR) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable South Cape Civic Association 2 1/wk 0 NA 0

Barnstable South Middle 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable South Village 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Stoney Beach (MBL) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Sullivan (Depot St.) 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Sunset 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Sunset Village (379 Shore Rd) 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Surf Drive-1 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Surf Drive-East 2 1/wk 15 7% 0

Barnstable Surf Drive-Pool 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Tahanto Associates, Inc. 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Thatcher Town Park 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable The Belmont 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Thumpertown 2 1/wk 14 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Barnstable Torrey Beach Community Association 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Town Cove 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Town Cove 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Barnstable Town Landing-Breakwater 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Town Landing-Snail Road 2 1/wk 16 13% 4

Barnstable Town Landing Beach Point 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Town Landing West of Coast Guard 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable Town Neck 2 1/wk 14 0% 1

Barnstable Town Neck 2 1/wk 17 18% 5

Barnstable Town Neck (Horizons) 3 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Trotting Park 2 1/wk 15 7% 1

Barnstable Veterans 2 1/wk 16 0% 3

Barnstable Wah Wah Taysee Road 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Barnstable Wequasett Inn Resort 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Barnstable West Dennis-Residential 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable West Dennis-Snack Bar 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable West Dennis-West 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable West End Lot 2 1/wk 15 7% 2

Barnstable White Crest 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Barnstable Wianno Avenue 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Wianno Club (Salt-107 Seaview) 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Barnstable Wilbur Park 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Barnstable Wild Harbour Estates 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Windmill 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

BarnstableWings Neck Trust Association (North Beach)

2 1/wk 12 0% 0

BarnstableWings Neck Trust Association (South Beach)

2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Barnstable Wood Neck Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Wood Neck River 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Barnstable Zylpha 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Bristol 400 North 2 1/wk 76 11% 4

Bristol 400 South 2 1/wk 84 19% 6

Bristol Anthony’s 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Bristol Apponagansett Town Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol Baker’s Beach 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Bayview 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol C & K Club 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Cedar Cove 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Bristol Cherry & Webb 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Bristol Coles River Club off Harbor Rd 2 1/wk 12 8% 2

Bristol Davy’s Locker 2 1/wk 16 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Bristol Demarest Lloyd (DCR-DSPR) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Bristol East Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Bristol Elephant Rock 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Fort Phoenix (DC -DSPR) 2 1/wk 21 19% 15

Bristol Hidden Bay 2 1/wk 12 25% 21

Bristol Horseneck (DCR-DSPR) 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Bristol J. Beach 2 1/wk 80 20% 5

Bristol Jones Town Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol Kids Beach 2 1/wk 80 15% 5

Bristol Leeside 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Manhattan Avenue 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol Moses Smith Creek 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol Nonquitt 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Bristol O’Tools 2 1/wk 64 0% 0

Bristol Oak Hill Shores 2 1/wk 12 17% 13

Bristol Pearse 2 1/wk 18 17% 16

Bristol Raymond Street 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Bristol Round Hill 3 2/mo 6 0% 0

Bristol Salter’s Point East 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol Salter’s Point South 2 1/wk 12 8% 7

Bristol Sandy Beach 2 1/wk 12 17% 14

Bristol Seaview 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Bristol Spindle Rock 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Squid 2 1/wk 76 16% 8

Bristol Tabor Park South 2 1/wk 68 6% 1

Bristol Tower 1 2 1/wk 68 6% 1

Bristol Tower 4 2 1/wk 68 6% 1

Bristol Town Beach 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Bristol Town Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Bristol West Island Causeway 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Bristol West Island Town Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Dukes Bend in the Road 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Chappy Beach Club 2 1/wk 5 0% 0

Dukes Chappy Point Beach 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes East Beach (Chappy) 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Eastville Town Beach-Drawbridge 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Eastville Town Beach-Harbor 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Fuller Street 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Great Pond @ Long Point 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Great Rock Bight 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Dukes Joseph Sylvia State Beach 3 1/wk 13 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Dukes Joseph Sylvia State Beach-Little Bridge 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Joseph Sylvia State Beach-Sound 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Katama Point no data 1/wk 0 NA 0

Dukes Lambert’s Cove Beach-North 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Lambert’s Cove Beach-South 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Lobsterville 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Dukes Madera Cove 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Dukes Marinelli (Jetty) Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Menemsha 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Mink Meadows 2 1/wk 0 NA 0 (71)*

Dukes Moshup Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Dukes Norton Point Beach 2 1/wk 7 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Chilmark Pond Preserve 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Edgartown Great Pond 3 1/wk 5 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Long Point-East 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Long Point-West 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Lucy Vincent Beach 3 1/wk 3 0% 0

Dukes Ocean @ Squibnocket Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Dukes Owen Little Way 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Owen Park 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Pay Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Pay Beach-Inkwell 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Dukes Pecoy Point Preserve Beach 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Philbin Beach 2 1/wk 14 7% 0

Dukes Pond @ Lucy Vincent Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Dukes Red Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Dukes Sepiessa Point 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes Sound @ Wilfred’s Pond Reserve 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes South Beach State Park 3 1/wk 4 0% 2

Dukes South Beach State Park-Middle 3 1/wk 13 0% 0

Dukes South Beach State Park-West 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Tashmoo Beach 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Dukes Tashmoo Cut 3 1/mo 11 9% 1

Dukes Vineyard Harbor Motel 2 1/wk 16 19% 5

Dukes Wasque Swim Beach 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Back 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Essex Black 2 1/wk 18 11% 1

Essex Black Rock 2 1/wk 12 8% 7

Essex Brackenbury 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Essex Canoe 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Essex Cape Hedge 3 1/mo 3 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Essex Children’s Island-Back 2 1/wk 9 11% 15

Essex Children’s Island-Dock 2 1/wk 9 11% 14

Essex Children’s Island-Wally 2 1/wk 8 0% 15

Essex Clammer’s Beach 2 1/wk 7 0% 0

Essex Clark 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Collins Cove 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Essex Crane 3 1/mo 7 0% 0

Essex Cressy’s 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Crocker Park 2 1/wk 17 12% 6

Essex Dane Street 2 1/wk 15 27% 4

Essex Dead Horse 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Devereux 2 1/wk 18 11% 5

Essex Eisman’s 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Essex Fisherman’s 2 1/wk 14 21% 9

Essex Forest River Point 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Front Beach 2 1/wk 3 0% 0

Essex Front Beach 3 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Gas House 2 1/wk 18 33% 12

Essex Goat Hill 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Essex Good Harbor 2 1/wk 13 8% 0

Essex Good Harbor Creek 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Grace Oliver 2 1/wk 20 30% 24

Essex Half Moon 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Independence Park 2 1/wk 15 33% 6

Essex Juniper Point 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Essex Kings 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Essex Kings (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 24 25% 25



Essex Little Neck 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Essex Long-Gloucester 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Essex Long-North 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Essex Lynch Park 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Essex Mackey 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Magnolia 2 1/wk 18 17% 8

Essex Magnolia-Right of Bath & Tennis 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Mingo 2 1/wk 16 25% 10

Essex Nahant Beach-South 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Nahant Beach (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 15 0% 0





Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Essex Niles 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Obear Park 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Essex Ocean Avenue 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Old Garden 2 1/wk 3 0% 0

Essex Osgood 2 1/wk 13 15% 8

Essex Pavillion 3 1/wk 7 0% 0

Essex Pavillion Beach 2 1/wk 4 0% 0

Essex Pebble 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Essex Phillips 3 2/mo 6 0% 0

Essex Pioneer 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Plum Cove 2 1/wk 10 10% 0

Essex Plum Island 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Essex Plum Island-End of Island 1 3 2/mo 7 0% 0

Essex Plum Island-End of Island 2 3 2/mo 7 0% 0

Essex Plum Island @ 55th St 3 2/mo 11 9% 0

Essex Plum Island @ Point 3 2/mo 7 0% 0

Essex Preston 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Essex Rice 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Essex Salisbury-North Beach 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Salisbury (DCR-DSPR) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Sandy Beach 2 1/wk 12 17% 6

Essex Sandy Point 2 1/wk 15 27% 4

Essex Short 2 1/wk 14 14% 2

Essex Singing-1 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Singing-Right of Parking 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Essex Steep Hill 2 1/wk 15 0% 0

Essex Steps 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Stramski 2 1/wk 18 11% 11

Essex Sunset Road 2 1/wk 16 6% 0

Essex Tuck’s Point 2 1/wk 18 11% 3

Essex Tudor 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Village Street 2 1/wk 15 7% 4

Essex West 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Essex West Manchester 2 1/wk 17 24% 22

Essex Whales 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Essex White 2 1/wk 17 6% 0

Essex Willow Avenue 2 1/wk 13 38% 31

Essex Willows Pier 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Essex Wingearsheek 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Winter Island (Waikiki) 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Essex Woodbury 2 1/wk 13 15% 3



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Nantucket 40th Pole 1 2 1/wk 12 8% 4

Nantucket Children’s 2 1/wk 11 0% 2

Nantucket Cisco 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Cliffside 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Nantucket Dionis 2 1/wk 13 15% 7

Nantucket Jetties 2 1/wk 12 8% 4

Nantucket Madaket 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Miacomet 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Sconset 1 2 1/wk 3 0% 3

Nantucket Sewerbeds 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Surfside 1 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Surfside 2 3 1/mo 3 0% 3

Nantucket Warren’s Landing 3 1/mo 0 NA 4

Nantucket Washing Pond 2 1/wk 13 23% 11

Nantucket Washington Street 2 1/wk 12 25% 12

Norfolk Avalon 2 1/wk 15 20% 3

Norfolk Bassing’s (Sailing Club) 2 1/wk 15 13% 2

Norfolk Black Rock 2 1/wk 16 19% 5

Norfolk Broady (Baker) 2 1/wk 14 7% 2

Norfolk Chikatawbot 2 1/wk 15 27% 10

Norfolk Delano Ave. 2 1/wk 15 27% 8

Norfolk Edgewater 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Norfolk George E. Lane 2 1/mo 13 0% 0

Norfolk Germantown Firestation 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Norfolk Heron 2 1/wk 14 14% 2

Norfolk Merrymount 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Norfolk Mound 2 1/wk 14 14% 2

Norfolk Nickerson 2 1/wk 14 21% 7

Norfolk Orchard Street 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Norfolk Parkhurst 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Norfolk Rhoda 2 1/wk 16 19% 19

Norfolk Sandy 2 1/wk 17 24% 8

Norfolk Sandy Cove 2 1/wk 14 7% 1

Norfolk Smith Beach 2 1/wk 22 50% 37

Norfolk Wessagusett (Old Wessagussett) 3 2/mo 7 0% 0

Norfolk Wollaston (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 82 11% 37




Norfolk Yacht Club 2 1/wk 14 7% 1

Plymouth A Street Bay Side 2 1/wk 12 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Plymouth A Street Ocean 2 1/wk 15 33% 15

Plymouth Antasawomak-1 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Antasawomak-2 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Aucoot 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Belair 2 1/wk 11 9% 1

Plymouth Beverly Yacht 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Brant Beach 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Brant Rock 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth Briarwood 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Center Hill Road 2 1/wk 0 NA 2

Plymouth Converse Point 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Crescent 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Darcy’s 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth Dexter Lane 2 1/wk 11 9% 7

Plymouth Duxbury Beach @ Bath House 2 1/wk 13 0% 6

Plymouth East Boulevard 3 1/wk 6 0% 0

Plymouth Edgewater 2 1/wk 14 14% 4

Plymouth Egypt 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Fieldston 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth Fieldston 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth Forbes 2 1/wk 0 NA 36

Plymouth Gray’s 2 1/wk 17 12% 1

Plymouth Green Harbor 2 1/wk 15 20% 6

Plymouth Gunrock 2 1/wk 14 14% 4

Plymouth Hamilton Beach 2 1/wk 13 23% 8

Plymouth Harbor 1 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Harbor 2 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Hollywoods-1 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Hollywoods-2 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Humarock 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Indian Mound Beach no data 1/wk 0 NA 0

Plymouth Island Wharf 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth James Ave. 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Kenburma 2 1/wk 8 0% 0

Plymouth Kimball 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Land Trust Reservation 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Landing Road 2 1/wk 16 25% 12

Plymouth Leisure Shores 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Little Harbor 2 1/wk 13 15% 14

Plymouth Mattapoisett Shores Association 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Minot 2 1/wk 13 8% 0 (63)*



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Plymouth Nantasket (DCR - DUPR) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Plymouth Nantasket (DCR - DUPR) 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Plymouth Nantasket @ Park St. 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Plymouth Nantasket @ Water St. 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Plymouth Ned’s Point 2 1/mo 11 0% 0

Plymouth Nelson Street 2 1/wk 14 14% 4

Plymouth Newport 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth North 2 1/wk 13 15% 2

Plymouth North Boulevard 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Oakdale Avenue 2 1/wk 11 18% 14

Plymouth Onset 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Otis 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Parkwood 2 1/wk 14 14% 2

Plymouth Peases Point 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Peggotty 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Pinehurst 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Piney Point 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Planting Island 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Plymouth 2 1/wk 13 0% 4



Plymouth Point Connett 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth Point Independence 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Plymouth Residents Beach (Duxbury Beach) 2 1/wk 15 13% 1

Plymouth Rexhame 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Plymouth Riverside Avenue 3 1/wk 8 0% 0

Plymouth Rocky Nook 2 1/wk 17 12% 1

Plymouth Sand Hills 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Scituate Lighthouse 2 1/wk 13 8% 1

Plymouth Seal Cove 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Plymouth Shell Point 3 1/wk 6 0% 0

Plymouth Shipyard Lane 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Plymouth Silver Shell 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Silver Shell-South Jetty 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Squid 2 1/wk 76 16% 8

Plymouth Standish Shores 2 1/wk 13 23% 9

Plymouth Swift’s 2 1/wk 14 21% 8

Plymouth Swift’s Neck 2 1/wk 14 14% 2

Plymouth Tabor Academy 2 1/wk 11 0% 7

Plymouth Tabor Academy-1 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Plymouth Town Beach 2 1/wk 13 8% 1



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Plymouth Town Beach 2 1/wk 12 8% 1

Plymouth Wampatuck 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Plymouth West End 2 1/wk 13 0% 0

Plymouth White Horse 2 1/wk 13 8% 2

Plymouth White Horse 2 1/wk 15 20% 5

Plymouth XYZ 2 1/wk 13 31% 11

Plymouth Yacht Club 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Suffolk Carson Beach (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 82 13% 26

Suffolk Carson Beach (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 82 15% 29

Suffolk City Point Beach (DCR) 1 daily 82 6% 8

Suffolk Constitution (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 82 10% 18



Suffolk Donovans 2 1/wk 10 10% 13

Suffolk Grandview 2 1/wk 9 0% 11

Suffolk Halford 2 1/wk 36 11% 18

Suffolk Lovell’s Island (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Suffolk M Street Beach @ M Street (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 82 2% 6

Suffolk Malibu (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Suffolk Pico 2 1/wk 36 11% 19

Suffolk Pleasure Bay @ Broadway (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 18 6% 4

Suffolk Revere Beach (DCR) 2 1/wk 68 0% 3




Suffolk Savin Hill (DC -DUPR) 2 1/wk 17 6% 1

Suffolk Short (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 76 16% 12

Suffolk Spectacle Island 2 1/wk 11 0% 0

Suffolk Tenean (DCR-DUPR) 1 daily 84 19% 38

Suffolk Winthrop (DCR-DUPR) 2 1/wk 72 11% 4

Suffolk Yerrill 2 1/wk 56 29% 20


NoTes1 Chris Huskey, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, personal communication, June 2010.

2 Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Marine and Freshwater Beach Testing in Massachusetts Annual Report 2008 Season. July 2009.

MI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MIchIgan26th in Beachwater Quality

13% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• St. Clair Shores Blossom Heath Beach in Macomb County (50%) • St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach in Macomb County (34%) • Chrysler Park Beach in St. Clair County (19%)

Michigan has more than 600 public beaches stretching along more than 500 miles of Great Lakes coastline. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) administers the state’s BEACH Act grant.

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season runs from April to October.

Sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices are uniform throughout the state.1 Samples are taken one foot below the surface in water that is three to six feet deep. Beaches are selected for monitoring based on location and frequency of beach use, history of bacterial contamination, and proximity of the beach to a known bacterial contamination source.2

Depending on the local health department, the monitoring frequency of a beach that has been closed or placed under advisory can be increased. In most cases, resampling is conducted the day a beach is closed or placed under advisory. Please note that states that monitor more frequently after an advisory is issued will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not change after an advisory or closing was issued.

Results: In 2009, Michigan reported 635 coastal beaches (including 35 National Park Service beaches), 13 (2%) of which were monitored more than once a week, 210 (33%) once a week, and 1 (<1%) less than once a month, 381 (60%) were not monitored, and for 30 (5%) which there was no monitoring information. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standard. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were St. Clair Shores Blossom Heath Beach in Macomb County (50%), Singing Bridge Beach in Arenac County (43%), St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach in Macomb County (34%), Blair Street Park in Alpena County (20%), and Chrysler Park Beach in St. Clair County (19%).

Macomb County had the highest exceedance rate (24%) in 2009 followed by Alpena (20%), Arenac (15%), Emmet (11%), Charlevoix (10%), Cheboygan (8%), Schoolcraft (8%), Chippewa (7%), Leelanau (5%), Grand Traverse (5%), Bay (5%), Iosco (5%), Muskegon (4%), St. Clair (3%), Ottawa (3%), Wayne (3%), Benzie (2%), Alcona (2%), Huron (2%), Berrien (1%), and Manistee (1%). Allegan, Antrim, Baraga, Delta, Houghton, Keweenaw, Mackinac, Marquette, Mason, Menominee, Monroe, Oceana, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, Sanilac, and Van Buren reported no exceedances. Beaches in Alger, Gogebic, Luce, and Montmorency Counties are not monitored.

0.00

1.25

2.50

3.75

5.00

6.25

2009200820072006


4% 4%

5% 5%

Michigan Percent Exceedance for 132 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 132 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard remained steady at 5% in 2009 and 2008, from 4% in 2007 and 2006.

closings and advisoriesStandards and Procedures: Both advisories and closings are issued. The standards in use in Michigan are a geometric mean of E. coli of 130 cfu/100 ml for at least five representatively spaced sampling events over 30 days and a single-sample maximum for one sampling event of 300 cfu/100 ml.2 At each sampling event, three or more samples are taken and the geometric mean of the sampling results is used when comparing with the standards.2 Resamples to confirm an exceedance are sometimes conducted at Michigan’s Great Lakes beaches before an advisory or closing is issued.

Some health departments issue preemptive rainfall advisories, with standards based on rainfall amount.1 Known sewage spills trigger a preemptive advisory, as do rip tides and strong winds.

number of closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 58 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 29% to 342 days in 2009 from 265 days in 2008, 198 days in 2007, 124 days in 2006, and 234 days in 2005. In addition, there were 3 extended events (205 days total) and 1 permanent event (114 days) in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. There were 2 extended events (122 days total) and no permanent events in 2008.

causes of closings and advisories: For the 58 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 95% (326) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 2% (8) were preemptive (i.e., with-out waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, and 2% (8) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks.

Reported Sources of Beachwater contamination: 6% (19) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 75% (257) were from unknown sources of contamination, 2% (8) were from sewage spills/leaks, 17% (57) were from wildlife, and <1% (1) was from agricultural runoff.

Michigan 2009 Monitoring Results and closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Alcona Black River Public Access 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Alcona Greenbush Township 1 1/wk 24 13% 2

Alcona Harrisville Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Alcona Harrisville State Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Alcona Negwegon State Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Alcona Sturgeon Point State Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Alcona Trask Lake Road Beach 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Alger Au Train Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Bay Furnace Recreation Area Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Christmas Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Grand Marais Harbor Beach 3 none 0 NA 0


Michigan Sources of contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Alger Grand Marais Township Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Grand Portal Point-Public Shoreline no data no data 0 NA 0

Alger Munising Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Chapel Beach

no data none 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Hurricane Campground Beach

no data no data 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Miners Beach

no data none 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Mosquito Beach

no data none 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Sand Point

no data none 0 NA 0

AlgerPictured Rocks National Lakeshore-Twelvemile Beach

no data none 0 NA 0

Alger Public Shoreline Beach-Au Train Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

AlgerPublic Shoreline Beach-Au Train to Five Mile Pts

3 none 0 NA 0

AlgerPublic Shoreline Beach-East County Border area

3 none 0 NA 0

AlgerPublic Shoreline Beach-Grand Sable Dunes

3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Rathfoot Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alger Roadside Park 3 none 0 NA 0

AlgerSand Point to Miners Castle Point-Public Shoreline


Alger Sullivans Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Allegan Castle Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Allegan Douglas Beach 1 1/wk 47 0% 0

Allegan Oval Beach 1 1/wk 48 0% 0

Allegan Pier Cove Beach 1 1/wk 48 0% 0

AlleganSaugatuck Dunes State Park Shoreline Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Allegan West Side County Park Beach 1 1/wk 48 0% 0

Alpena Bay View Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Blair Street Park 1 1/wk 15 20% 1

Alpena El Cajon Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Michekewis Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

AlpenaNegwegon State Park-Ossineke South Point

3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Ossineke Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Alpena Ossineke Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Ossineke Hardwood Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Ossineke State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Partridge Point 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Alpena Rock Port Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Alpena Starlite Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Alpena Thompson Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Alpena Whitefish Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Antrim County Day Park North 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Antrim County Day Park South 1 1/wk 9 0% 0

Antrim Antrim Creek Natural Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Banks Township. Park 1 1/wk 10 0% 0

Antrim Barnes Park 1 1/wk 9 0% 0

Antrim Elk Rapids 1 1/wk 9 0% 0

Antrim Elk Rapids Park 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Antrim Erickson Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Lore Road End Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Michigan Trail 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Nature Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim North Bay Shore (Conservancy) 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim O’Dell Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Petobego Pond Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Road Crossing near Winters Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Antrim Veterans Memorial Park 1 1/wk 9 0% 0

Arenac Arenac County Park 1 1/wk 15 7% 6

Arenac Au Sable State Forest-Greens Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Augres Township Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Bessinger Road Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Arenac Booth Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac City of Augres Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Dyer Road Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Arenac Foster Road Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Arenac Gordon Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Hammel Beach Road Access 1 1/wk 14 7% 9

Arenac Pump Station 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Singing Bridge Beach 1 1/wk 14 43% 28 (114)*

Arenac Terrace Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Arenac Twining Road Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 13

Arenac Whites Beach 1 1/wk 14 14% 23

Baraga Arvon Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga Baraga State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga First Sand Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

BaragaKeweenaw Bay Village Public Roadside Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga L’Anse Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Baraga L’Anse Waterfront Park 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Baraga Mouth of the Huron River 3 none 0 NA 0

BaragaPublic Shoreline Beach-Cooper Country Huron Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

BaragaPublic Shoreline Beach-Northwest Abbaye Peninsula

3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga Public Shoreline Beach-Point Abbaye 3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga Public Shoreline Beach-Sand Point 3 none 0 NA 0

BaragaPublic Shoreline Beach-SE End of Huron Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

Baraga Second Sands Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bay Bay City State Recreation Area 1 3/wk 51 6% 4

Bay Brissette Beach Township Park 1 3/wk 48 4% 5

Bay Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Bay North Linwood Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bay North Pinconning Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bay Pinconning Park 1 3/wk 48 2% 5

BaySouth Linwood Beach Township Park

1 3/wk 51 10% 6

Bay South Pinconning Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bay Wenona Beach 1 3/wk 49 2% 1

Benzie Alberta Village Beach & Bluffs 3 none 0 NA 0

Benzie County Road # 669 3 none 0 NA 0

Benzie Esch Road/Otter Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Benzie Frankfort: Anchor Road Beach 1 1/wk 42 2% 0

Benzie Platte River Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Benzie Point Betsie Lighthouse Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Benzie Zettenberg Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Bethany Beach area 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Cherry Beach 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Galien River Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Gordon Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Grand Beach 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

BerrienGrand Mere State Park-Rosemary Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

BerrienGrand Mere State Park-Shoreline Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

BerrienGrand Mere State Park-Waverland Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Hagar Township Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Harbert Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Berrien Jean Klock Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Lincoln Township Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Berrien Lions Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Michiana Village 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Mizpah Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien New Buffalo City 1 1/wk 51 12% 6

Berrien Rocky Gap 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Silver Beach 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Tiscornia Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Berrien Warren Dunes Beach 1 1/wk 48 4% 0

Berrien Warren Dunes State Park North 3 none 0 NA 0

Berrien Weko Beach 1 1/wk 45 2% 0

Charlevoix Beaver Island Public Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

CharlevoixBill Wagner Memorial Campground Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Depot Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Donegal Bay 1 none 0 NA 0

Charlevoix East Jordan Tourist Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Elm Point Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Ferry Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Fisherman’s Island State Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Glenwood Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Hayes Township Park 1 1/wk 10 10% 1

Charlevoix Iron Ore Bay Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Lake Michigan Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Mt. McSauba Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Norwood Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Peninsula Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Tannery Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Washington Street Beach 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Whiting Park Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Charlevoix Young State Park Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Alexander Henry Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Cheboygan City Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Cheboygan State Park Duncan Bay 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

CheboyganCheboygen State Park-Lighthouse Point

3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Ditta Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Huron Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Mackinaw City Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Mackinaw City Lighthouse Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Mill Creek Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Pinewood Circle Road End Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Cheboygan Roadside Park MDOT, US-23 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Stoney Point Road End Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cheboygan Wawatam City Park 1 1/wk 12 8% 8

Chippewa Bass Cove Beach-Drummond Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Bayview Campground 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

ChippewaBetsey Seaman Memorial Park-Drummond Island

3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Big Pines Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Chippewa Big Shoal Cove Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Brimley State Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Chippewa De Tour State Park Shoreline Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Detour Albany Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Drummond Island Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Dunbar Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Four Mile Beach 1 1/wk 14 7% 4

ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Nodoway Point Area


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-North of Big Pine Picnic


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-North Pond


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Pendills Bay


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Pendills Lake


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Point Iroquois Light


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Tahquamenon Bay


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Waiska Bay


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-West of Salt Point


ChippewaHiawatha National Forest-Government Island


ChippewaLake Superior State Forest-Munuscong Lake

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Browns Creek Area

3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Public Shoreline Beach-Brush Point 3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Marsh Lake Area

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Northwest of Two Mile Lake

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Point Aux Frenes

3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Raber Bay stretch

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Weatherhog Lake East Area

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-Weatherhog Lake West

3 none 0 NA 0

ChippewaPublic Shoreline Beach-West of Whitefish Point

3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Sand Bay Beach-Drummond Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Sherman Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Chippewa Sugar Island Township Park 1 1/wk 15 7% 44

ChippewaTahquamenon Falls State Park-River Mouth Unit

3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Whitefish Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Chippewa Wilderness Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaBig Bay De Noc/ Fishdam River Public Access

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Camp Harstad 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Escanaba Bathing Beach 1 1/wk 3 0% 0

Delta Fayette State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Fuller Park 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaGladstone Bathing Beach/Van Cleve Park

1 1/wk 3 0% 0

DeltaIndian Town Lake USFS-Public Shoreline Beach


DeltaLittle Bay De Noc Public Beach Access

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Portage Bay Forest Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-Charboneau Point

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-County Road 481

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-East Wilsey Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-Fishdam River

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Gilnet Haven 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Indian Point 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-Indian Town Lake USFS

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Jacks Bluff 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Martin Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Nahma 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-North End of Kregg Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-North of Stonington

3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Ogontz Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-Peninsula Point

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Point Detour 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Portage Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-Portage Peninsula

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-St. Vital’s Island

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-USFS West Wilsey Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaPublic Shoreline Beach-West Side of Kregg Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Sac Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Delta Sac Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaTwin Springs Campground and Bathing Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

DeltaUSFS West Wilsey Bay-Public Shoreline Beach


Emmet Bliss Township Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Church Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Colonial Michilimackinac State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Cross Village Beach 1 1/wk 9 11% 0

Emmet Forest Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Mackinaw City Beach #1 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Mackinaw City Beach #2 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Magnus Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Middle Village Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Petoskey Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Petoskey State Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Readmond Township Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Sturgeon Bay Township Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet The Headlands County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Thorne Swift Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Wilderness State Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

EmmetWilderness State Park-East of the Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Wilderness State Park-Sturgeon Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

EmmetWilderness State Park-West of Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Emmet Zoll Street Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Emmet Zorn Park-Harbor Springs 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Gogebic Black River Harbor Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Gogebic Little Girls Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Gogebic Mouth of the Montreal River 3 none 0 NA 0

Gogebic Porcupine Mountain State Park-North 3 none 0 NA 0

Gogebic Presque Isle Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Gogebic Presque Isle State Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

GogebicPublic Shoreline Beach-West of Black River

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Acme Roadside Park (DNR) 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseAcme Roadside Park and Beach MDOT

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Archie Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Bayside Acme Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Bowers Harbor Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Bryant Park Beach 1 1/wk 52 2% 1

Grand Traverse Clinch Park 1 1/wk 42 5% 0

Grand Traverse Deep Water Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse DNR Launch/Beach Center Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse East Bay Park (Milliken Park) 1 1/wk 49 10% 1

Grand Traverse East Bay Township Four Mile Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Haserot Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseKroupa Road Access M-22 South of Crain Hill Road

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Leffingwell Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Mouth of Boardman River 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseOld Mission-Center Road Natural Area

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseOld Mission-MDOT Right of Way-South of M-37

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseOld Mission-Old Mission Point State Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Old Mission Lighthouse 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseOld Mission Peninsula Twp Park-East of Lighthouse

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseOld Mission Peninsula Twp Park-West of Lighthouse

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Old Mission Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraversePeninsula Volunteer Fire Station Point #2

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Power Island Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand TraverseRose Street Access at Peninsula Drive

3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Sayler Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Senior Center 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Sunset Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grand Traverse Swaney Road 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Grand Traverse Traverse City State Park 1 1/wk 46 0% 0

Grand Traverse West End Beach 1 1/wk 45 9% 1

Grand Traverse Yuba Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Houghton Agate Beach 1 1/wk 27 0% 0

Houghton Calumet Waterworks Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Houghton Chassell Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton Hancock City Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton Houghton City Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton Hubbell Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Houghton Lake Linden Campground Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton McLain State Park Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton Mink Farm 3 none 0 NA 0

HoughtonPublic Shoreline Beach-Le Chance Creek

3 none 0 NA 0

HoughtonPublic Shoreline Beach-McLain State Park

3 none 0 NA 0

HoughtonPublic Shoreline Beach-S. of Portage Entry

3 none 0 NA 0

HoughtonPublic Shoreline Beach-Southwest County Border

3 none 0 NA 0

Houghton Sandy Bottom Beach/Dollar Bay 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Houghton White City 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Bird Creek County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Caseville County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron County Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Geiger Road Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Grindstone Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Harbor Beach City Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Harbor Beach Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Helena Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Jenks County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Kinch Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Larned Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Lighthouse County Park 1 1/wk 33 6% 2

Huron Lighthouse County Park-South 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron McGraw County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Mud Creek Public Acess 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Oak Beach County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Philp County Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

HuronPort Crescent State Park-Camping Area

1 1/wk 33 9% 1

Huron Port Crescent State Park-Day Use 1 1/wk 30 3% 0

Huron Sleeper State Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Huron Stafford County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Huron Thompson Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Huron Veterans Park 1 1/wk 33 9% 3

Huron Wagener County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Iosco Alabaster Township 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

IoscoAlabaster Township Douglas Drive Beach Use Area


Iosco Au Sable Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Iosco Au Sable Township Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Iosco County Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Iosco East Tawas City Park 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Iosco Gateway Park 3 none 0 NA 0

IoscoHuron National Forest North-Public Shoreline Beach


IoscoHuron National Forest South-Public Shoreline Beach


Iosco Lake to Lake Road 1 1/wk 24 13% 4

Iosco MDOT Roadside Park 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Iosco Oscoda Township Beach 1 1/wk 22 0% 0

Iosco Tawas City Park 1 1/wk 24 13% 2

IoscoTawas Point State Park Campground

1 1/wk 22 0% 0

Iosco Tawas Point State Park-Central 3 none 0 NA 0

Iosco Tawas Point State Park-Day Use 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Iosco Tawas Point State Park-North 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Bete de Gris Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Brunette Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Cat Harbor Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Cooper Harbor Lighthouse Complex 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Eagle Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Keweenaw Eagle River Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Fort Wilkins State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Fort Wilkins State Park-East 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Fort Wilkins State Park-West 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Great Sands Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Mouth of the Gratiot River Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Point Isabelle Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

KeweenawPublic Shoreline Beach-Big Traverse Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

Keweenaw Public Shoreline Beach-Gay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Bay Front Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Boughy Park & Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Cathead Bay, Leelanau State Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Leelanau Cedar Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Christmas Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Elmwood/Greilikville Park & Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Empire Municipal Beach 1 1/wk 45 4% 1

Leelanau G. Marsten Dame Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Gils Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

LeelanauGlen Arbor/Manitou Boulevard Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Graham Greene Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Hendryx County Roadside Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Lake Street Beach, Glen Arbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Leelanau State Park, Lighthouse 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Leland Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau M-22 at M-72 Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau MDOT Roadside Park and Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

LeelanauMDOT Roadside Park & Beach M-22 N of Cherry Bend D

3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau North Bar 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau North Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Northport 4th Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Leelanau Northport Bay Marina 1 1/wk 42 5% 0

LeelanauNorthport Haserot Beach, Rose Street

3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Omena Beach and Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Peterson Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Reynolds Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-CR 651 Good Harbor Bay


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-CR 669 Good Harbor Bay


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-DH Day Campground


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-Esch Road Beach


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-Glen Haven Beach


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-North Bar Lake MI Beach


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-Peterson Road Beach


LeelanauSleeping Bear Dunes-Platte Point Bay


Leelanau Smith Street Beach Northport 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Leelanau Stoney Point County Roadside Park 3 none 0 NA 0

LeelanauSuttons Bay Marina Park & Beach South

3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Suttons Bay Park 1 1/wk 45 7% 1

Leelanau Suttons Bay Public Launch and Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Suttons Bay South Shore Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Leelanau Thompson Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Blind Sucker River # 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Blind Sucker River # 2 3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Crisp Point Lighthouse 3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Lake Superior Campground Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

LuceMouth of the Two Hearted River Campground

3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Muskallonge Lake State Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-Blind Sucker Flooding Area

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-Coast Guard Line Road

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-County Rd 407

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-County Rd 412 and Crisp Pt

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-Little Sucker/Two Hearted River

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-Three Mile Creek Area

3 none 0 NA 0

LucePublic Shoreline Beach-West County Border Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Luce Unnamed Road End #1 3 none 0 NA 0



Mackinac American Legion Memorial Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Antoine Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Best Western Lakefront 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Big Knob State Forest Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Black River State Forest Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Boot Island 3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacCoast Guard Pier Boat Launch and City Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Epoufette Bay Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Foley Creek Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Harbour Light 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Hazelton Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacHiawatha National Forest-Carp River Access




Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Mackinac Hog Island Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Horseshoe Bay Wilderness-North 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Horseshoe Bay Wilderness-South 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac K Royale 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Kewadin Inn 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Kiwanis Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Mackinac MDOT Overlook 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac MDOT Roadside Park on US 2 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Miller’s Hog Island Subdivision Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Mouth of Cut River Roadside Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Naubinway Bay Access 3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach #2-Little Hog Island area

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach #2-Manitou Paymen Highbanks

3 none 0 NA 0


3 none 0 NA 0


3 none 0 NA 0


3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Epoufette Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Fox Point Area

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Little Hog Island area

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Manitou Paymen Highbanks

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-MDNR Matrix Point Area

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Morean Township, Section 25

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Naubinway Area

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Pointe Aux Chenes Bay

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-Seiners Point

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-South of Brevort River

3 none 0 NA 0

MackinacPublic Shoreline Beach-State Forest Matrix Point

3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Sand Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac State Roadside Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac State Street Road End 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Mackinac Straits State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac US 2 Roadside East of Brevort 1 3/wk 9 0% 0

Mackinac US 2 Roadside/Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Mackinac Wetland Shoreline-St. Martin Point 3 none 0 NA 0

MacombH.C.M.A.-Metropolitan Beach Metropark

1 2/wk 312 15% 20

Macomb H.C.M.A.-Huron Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Macomb New Baltimore Park Beach 1 2/wk 135 7% 40

MacombSt. Clair Shores Blossom Heath Beach

1 2/wk 141 50% 0 (154)*

MacombSt. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach

1 2/wk 124 34% 26 (51)*

Manistee Arcadia Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Bar Lake Outlet 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Fifth Avenue Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee First Street Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Magoon Creek 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Onekama Township Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Orchard Beach State Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Pierport Township Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Manistee Portage Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Manistee Sundling Park 1 1/wk 39 5% 1

Marquette Marquette South Beach 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Marquette McCarty’s Cove 1 1/wk 22 0% 0

Marquette North Beach 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Marquette North of Picnic Rocks 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

Marquette Picnic Rocks 1 1/wk 24 0% 0

MarquettePublic Shoreline Beach-Big Huron River

3 none 0 NA 0

MarquettePublic Shoreline Beach-Little Presque Isle

3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Bass Lake Outlet Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Mason Buttersville Park Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

MasonLudington State Park Campground Beach

1 1/wk 36 0% 0

MasonLudington State Park Public Shoreline Beach North

3 none 0 NA 0

MasonLudington State Park Public Shoreline Beach South

3 none 0 NA 0

MasonManistee National Forest Campground Beach


MasonManistee National Forest-Public Shoreline Beach N


MasonManistee National Forest-Public Shoreline Beach S




Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Mason Pere Marquette Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason South Pier Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

MasonSouth Summit Beach-Sunset Boulevard Beach

1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Mason Sterns Park Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Mason Summit Township Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Menominee Airport Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Menominee Fox Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Menominee Henes Park 1 1/wk 54 0% 0

Menominee Klienke Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Menominee Memorial Beach 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Menominee Public Shoreline Beach-Cedar River 3 none 0 NA 0

Menominee Public Shoreline Beach-Fox Village 3 none 0 NA 0

Menominee Wells State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Avalon Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Bolles Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Detroit Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Estral Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Monroe LaSalle Township-Toledo Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Lost Peninsula 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Luna Pier City Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Monroe North Cape Yacht Club 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Monroe Point Aux Peaux 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Sterling State Park 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Monroe Stoney Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Monroe Woodland Beach 2 1/wk 0 NA 0

MontmorencyEast Twin Beach/Albert Township Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Muskegon Bronson/Kruse Park 1 1/wk 15 7% 0

Muskegon Duck Lake Channel Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Muskegon Lake Harbor Park 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Muskegon Lighthouse/Sylvan Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Muskegon Medbury Park Beach 1 1/wk 15 13% 0

Muskegon Meinert County Park 1 1/wk 51 8% 1

Muskegon Muskegon State Park 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

MuskegonMuskegon State Park-Shoreline Beach North

3 none 0 NA 0

Muskegon Old Channel Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 0

MuskegonP.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Campground

1 1/wk 15 7% 0

MuskegonP.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Public Beach Area

1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Muskegon Pere Marquette Park 1 1/wk 31 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Muskegon Pioneer County Park 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Oceana Cedar Point County Park 2 1/yr 3 0% 0

Oceana Claybanks Township Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

OceanaLighthouse Beach at Silver Lake State Park

1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Oceana Mears State Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Oceana Silver Creek Channel 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Oceana Silver Lake State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Oceana Stony Lake Channel 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Oceana Whiskey Creek 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Ontonagon Green Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Gull Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Mouth of the Big Iron River Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

OntonagonOntonagon Township Park and Campground

1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Ontonagon Porcupine Mountain State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

OntonagonPorcupine Mountain State Park-Union Bay

1 1/wk 29 0% 0

OntonagonPorcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park-West

3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Public Shoreline Beach-Misery Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Public Shoreline Beach-Sleeping Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Public Shoreline Beach-Wolf Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Ontonagon Union Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ottawa Grand Haven City Beach 1 1/wk 45 4% 0

Ottawa Grand Haven State Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

OttawaHolland State Park-Lake Michigan Beach

1 1/wk 48 2% 0

Ottawa Kirk Park 1 1/wk 45 4% 0

Ottawa Kouw Park 1 1/wk 42 0% 0

Ottawa Mountain Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ottawa North Beach Park 1 1/wk 42 0% 0

OttawaP.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Shoreline Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Ottawa Rosy Mound Recreation Area 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Ottawa Tunnel Park 1 1/wk 56 16% 3

Ottawa Windsnest Park 1 1/wk 45 0% 0

Presque Isle 40 Mile Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Ball Diamond Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Bell Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Evergreen Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Golden Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

Presque Isle Grace Access Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Hammond Bay Access Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Hammond Bay Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Hoeft State Park-North 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

Presque Isle Hoeft State Park-South 1 1/wk 3 0% 0

Presque Isle Lakeside Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Lakeside Park in Rogers City 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Presque Isle Lakeview Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Manitou Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle New Lighthouse Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Presque Isle Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Presque Isle Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 12 0% 0

Presque IslePublic Shoreline Beach-False Presque Isle Harbor

3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Seagull Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle Thompson’s Harbor State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle US 23 Hammond Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Presque Isle US 23 Roger City 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Birch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Birch Beach Middle #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Birch Beach North #3 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Delaware Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Forester County Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sanilac Forestville Beach 1 1/wk 48 0% 0

Sanilac Great Lakes Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Lexington Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sanilac Lexington County Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sanilac Port Sanilac Park 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sanilac Sanilac County Park #4 3 none 0 NA 0

Sanilac Sanilac County Roadside Park #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Doyle Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Lakeview Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Manistique Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

SchoolcraftPublic Shoreline Beach-Goudreau’s Harbor

3 none 0 NA 0

SchoolcraftPublic Shoreline Beach-S. of McDonald Lake

3 none 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Public Shoreline Beach-Thompson 3 none 0 NA 0

SchoolcraftPublic Shoreline Beach-Thompson Village

3 none 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Roadside Park Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Schoolcraft Rogers Beach 1 1/wk 13 8% 8



Total Samples


State Standards

closing or advisory

Days

St Clair Burtchville Township Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Chrysler Park Beach 1 1/wk 81 19% 29

St Clair Conger-Lighthouse Beach 1 1/wk 51 2% 0

St Clair Fort Gratiot County Park 1 1/wk 54 4% 1

St Clair Holland Road Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Jeddo Road Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Keewadhin Road Beach 1 1/wk 54 6% 2

St Clair Krafft Road Beach 1 1/wk 54 6% 1

St Clair Lakeport State Campground 1 1/wk 54 6% 1

St Clair Lakeport State Park 1 1/wk 51 2% 0

St Clair Lakeside Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Marine City Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Marine City Diving Area 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Metcalf Road Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

St Clair Washington Street Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

Van Buren Covert Township Park Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Van Buren South Haven North Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Van Buren South Haven South Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Van Buren Van Buren State Park Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Wayne Belle Isle Beach 1 2/wk 208 3% 0

Wayne Crescent Sail Yacht Club 1 2/wk 0 NA 28

Wayne Elizabeth Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Wayne Pier Park 1 2/wk 0 NA 0

Wayne Southern Wayne County Border 3 none 0 NA 0


noTES1 Shannon Briggs, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, personal communication, May 2010.

2 Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Michigan Beach Monitoring Year 2009 Annual Report. April 2010.

MN.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MiNNesoTa12th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Clyde Avenue Boat Landing Beach in St. Louis County (44%) • Park Point 20th Street/Hearding Island Canal Beach in St. Louis County (20%) • Burlington Bay Beach in Lake County (14%)

Minnesota has 79 public beaches lining approximately 58 miles along the Lake Superior coastline. The Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program is administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Monitoringsampling Practices: Beaches are monitored from the week before Memorial Day to the week after Labor Day, with some beaches monitored in May and October as well because of use by kayakers, surfers, and sailboarders.

The MPCA determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices at the beaches monitored under the program. Grand Portage Reservation, located on the north shore of Lake Superior near the Canadian border, has swim ming beaches on Lake Superior, and the water at these beaches is moni tored in a program separate from the MPCA. This summary describes the MPCA’s standards and practices, but beaches in the Grand Portage Reservation are included in the monitoring and notification data.

Samples are collected at a depth of 6 to 12 inches in water that is knee deep. In Minnesota, beaches are assigned high, medium, and low priority based on the potential for impacts from stormwater runoff, bather and waterfowl loads, and the location of wastewater treatment outfalls and farms.

When a beach is placed under advisory, monitoring occurs daily (Monday through Thursday) until the site meets the water quality standards. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Minnesota reported 89 coastal beaches, 8 (9%) of which were monitored more than once a week and 41 (46%) once a week; and 40 (45%) that were not monitored. For the fourth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Clyde Avenue Boat Landing Beach (44%) and Park Point 20th Street/Hearding Island Canal Beach (20%) in St. Louis County, Burlington Bay Beach in Lake County (14%), and French River Beach in St. Louis County (10%).

St. Louis County had the highest exceedance rate (8%) in 2009, followed by Lake (2%) and Cook (1%).Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches moni

tored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 38 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 5% in 2009 from 4%in 2008, 9% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.

0.00

2.25

4.50

6.75

9.00

11.25

2009200820072006


4%

9%

4%5%

Minnesota Percent exceedance for 38 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


Closings and advisoriesstandards and Procedures: The MPCA does not issue beach closings; its policy is to issue advisories only (the Grand Portage Tribe, however, does issue closings).1 Minnesota applies a singlesample maximum E. coli standard of 235 cfu/100ml and a geometric mean E. coli standard of 126 cfu/100ml for a minimum of five samples collected during a 30day period. When a sample exceeds either the singlesample or geometric mean bacteria standard, an advisory is issued. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory when a sample exceeds standards.

Minnesota has no preemptive standards but does post advisories after known sewage overflows or other events that are considered likely to result in high bacteria levels. In addition, the public is advised to wait 24 hours before going swimming after rainfall in urban areas.2

Number of Closings and advisories: Total advisory days for 30 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 61% to 99 days in 2009 from 257 days in 2008, 195 days in 2007, 73 days in 2006, and 143 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecu tive weeks; permanent events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks. Part of the decrease may be due to 10 beaches managed by the Grand Portage Reservation that were not included in EPA’s 2009 beach season database.


Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 45% (45) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, and 55% (54) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Minnesota 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Cook Butterwort Cliffs Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Cascade State Park Campground Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Cascade State Park West Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Chicago Bay Boat Launch Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Coville Creek Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Croftville Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Cutface Creek Wayside Rest Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cook Durfee Creek Area Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Grand Marais Campground Beach 2 1/wk 16 0% 0

Cook Grand Marais Downtown Beach 2 1/wk 37 5% 1

Cook Grand Portage Bay Monitoring Location 1 1 1/wk 17 6% 0







Minnesota sources of Contamination



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days



Cook Hollow Rock Resort Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Horseshoe Bay Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Judge C.R. Magney State Park East Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Judge C.R. Magney State Park West Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Kadunce Creek Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Old Shore Road Beach Area 2 1/wk 19 0% 1

Cook Paradise Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Ray Berglund Wayside Rest Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Red Cliff Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Cook Red Rock Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Cook Schroeder Town Park Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cook Sugarloaf Cove Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cook Temperance River State Park Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cook Temperance River State Park East Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Agate Bay Beach 2 1/wk 20 0% 0

Lake Blueberry Hill Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Burlington Bay Beach 2 1/wk 22 14% 6

Lake Flood Bay Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Lake Gooseberry Falls State Park Beach 2 1/wk 21 5% 1

Lake Knife River Marina Beach 2 1/wk 20 0% 0

Lake Manitou River Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Palisade Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Silver Bay Marina Beach 2 1/wk 20 5% 1

Lake Silver Cliff Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Silver Creek Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

LakeSplit Rock Lighthouse State Park/Corundum Point Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

LakeSplit Rock Lighthouse State Park/Crazy Bay Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

LakeSplit Rock Lighthouse State Park/Gold Rock Point Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

LakeSplit Rock Lighthouse State Park/Split Rock Point Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Beach 2 1/wk 19 0% 0

Lake Split Rock River Beach 2 1/wk 19 0% 0

Lake Stewart River Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Lake Tettegouche State Park/Baptism River Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Tettegouche State Park/Crystal Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Lake Tettegouche State Park Beach 2 1/wk 20 0% 0

Lake Twin Points Public Access Beach 2 1/wk 20 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Lake Two Harbors City Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis 42nd Avenue East Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

St Louis Bayfront Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Blatnik Fishing Pier Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Bluebird Landing Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

St Louis Boy Scout Landing Beach 2 1/wk 19 5% 1

St Louis Brighton Beach 1 2/wk 52 0% 0

St Louis Clyde Avenue Boat Landing Beach 2 1/wk 43 44% 38

St Louis French River Beach 2 1/wk 20 10% 4

St Louis Glensheen Cemetery Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Indian Point Campground Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Lakewalk Beach 1 2/wk 38 5% 2

St Louis Lakewalk East/16th Avenue East Beach 2 1/wk 17 0% 0

St Louis Lakewalk East/26th Avenue East Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Lakewood Pump Station Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Leif Erikson Park Beach 2 1/wk 18 6% 1

St Louis Lester River Beach 2 1/wk 18 6% 1

St Louis McQuade Road Safe Harbor Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Minnesota Point Harbor Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Morgan Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St LouisNorth Shore Drive Wayside Rest/72nd Avenue East Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

St LouisNorth Shore Drive Wayside Rest/Cant Road Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

St LouisPark Point 20th Street/Hearding Island Canal Beach

1 2/wk 46 20% 25

St Louis Park Point Beach House 1 2/wk 39 8% 3

St LouisPark Point Franklin Park/13th Street South Beach

1 2/wk 72 0% 0

St Louis Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach 1 2/wk 36 0% 0

St LouisPark Point New Duluth Boat Club/14th Street Beach

1 2/wk 39 8% 7

St Louis Park Point Sky Harbor Parking Lot Beach 2 2/wk 39 8% 7

St Louis Park Point Southworth Marsh Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Smithville Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Stony Point Beach 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

St Louis Stony Point Wayside Rest Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Waterfront Trail / Interlake Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Waterfront Trail / Radio Towers Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

St Louis Waterfront Trail / Riverside Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

NoTes1 Pat Carey, Manager of the Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, personal communication, May 2010.

2 Minnesota Lake Superior Beach Monitoring Program. Minimizing Risk. Accessed at http://mnbeaches.org, May 2008.

MS.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

MiSSiSSippi22nd in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Gulfport East Beach in Harrison County (24%) • Courthouse Road Beach in Harrison County (20%) • Waveland Beach in Hancock County (17%)

Mississippi has 22 beaches stretching along 43 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) conducts Mississippi’s beachwater quality monitoring program in conjunction with the State Beach Monitoring Task Force.

MonitoringSampling practices: Mississippi’s beaches are monitored yearround, but more frequent monitoring is conducted during the peak recreational season, which extends from May to October.

The MDEQ determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are taken midwater column at wading depth (approximately 0.5 m). Monitoring frequency is based on the period of recreational use, the nature and extent of use during each period, and the water quality history for the beach.

Once a beach is placed under advisory, the monitoring frequency increases until two consecutive samples meet standards and the beach is reopened.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Mississippi reported 22 coastal beaches, all of which were monitored once a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 10% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Gulfport East Beach (24%) and Courthouse Road Beach (20%) in Harrison County, Waveland Beach (17%) and Bay St. Louis Beach (16%) in Hancock County, and Long Beach (16%) and Pass Christian Central Beach (15%) in Harrison County.

Hancock County had the highest exceedance rate (17%) in 2009, followed by Harrison (10%), and Jackson (6%).Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and

reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 19 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 10% in 2009 from 14% in 2008, 11% in 2007, and 9% in 2006.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and procedures: Advisories are issued due to bacterial exceedances or anticipated bacterial exceedances due to rainfall; all other notifications are called closings. Mississippi applies an enterococcus singlesample maximum standard of 104 cfu/100 ml. No geometric mean standard is applied when determining whether a beachwater sample exceeds bacterial standards.

0.0

3.5

7.0

10.5

14.0

17.5

2009200820072006


9%11%

14%

10%

Mississippi percent Exceedance for 19 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


When a sample exceedance is discovered, a resample is required. When two consecutive exceedances are discovered, Mississippi issues an advisory.

In addition to bacteria samples, the MDEQ collects monthly nutrient and chlorophyll data. This information is not used to inform issuance of beach advisories or closings, but rather is used, along with the bacteria data, to assess the quality of coastal waters along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.1

Mississippi has a standing preemptive rainfall advisory that warns against swimming at beaches for 24 hours following significant rainfall (characterized by noticeable runoff ). Swimmers are particularly advised to avoid swimming near storm drains, which are present at nearly all of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast beaches. Beaches are preemptively closed if there is a known sewage spill or when events such as hurricanes or beach recovery projects make conditions unsafe for swimming.

Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 32 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 77% to 331 days in 2009 from 187 days in 2008, 249 days in 2007, 0 days in 2006, and 41 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect between 7 and 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels.

Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 71% (235) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 23% (76) were from unknown sources of contamination, and 6% (20) were from sewage spills/leaks.

Mississippi 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Hancock Bay St. Louis Beach 1 1/wk 68 16% 24

Hancock Buccaneer State Park Beach 2 1/wk 0 NA 0

Hancock Waveland Beach 2 1/wk 131 17% 26

Harrison Biloxi East Beach 1 1/wk 55 4% 12

Harrison Biloxi East Central Beach 1 1/wk 59 2% 12

Harrison Biloxi West Central Beach 1 1/wk 59 3% 12

Harrison Courthouse Road Beach 1 1/wk 61 20% 32

Harrison Edgewater Beach 1 1/wk 62 8% 0

Harrison Gulfport Central Beach 1 1/wk 62 10% 21

Harrison Gulfport East Beach 1 1/wk 76 24% 42

Harrison Gulfport Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 62 8% 14

Harrison Gulfport West Beach 1 1/wk 63 5% 13

Harrison Long Beach 1 1/wk 63 16% 23

Harrison Pass Christian Central Beach 2 1/wk 61 15% 14

Harrison Pass Christian East Beach 1 1/wk 60 5% 0

Harrison Pass Christian West Beach 2 1/wk 65 11% 18

Jackson Front Beach 1 1/wk 66 9% 12

Jackson Gulf Park Estates Beach 2 1/wk 0 NA 0


Mississippi Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Jackson Pascagoula Beach East 1 1/wk 54 2% 10

Jackson Pascagoula Beach West 1 1/wk 70 7% 22

Jackson Shearwater Beach 1 1/wk 63 10% 12

Jackson St. Andrews Beach 2 1/wk 103 5% 12

NoTES1 Emily Cotton, Regional Biologist, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, personal communication, June 2010.

NH.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

NeW HampsHire1st in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• New Castle TB in Rockingham County (5%) • Seabrook Harbor Beach in Rockingham County (4%) • State Beach in Rockingham County (3%)

New Hampshire has 16 coastal and estuarine beaches lining 18 miles of Atlantic waters. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) administers the state’s beachwater quality monitoring program.

monitoringsampling practices: The monitoring season extends from the end of May through most of September. In 2009, the program continued to partner with a local Surfrider Foundation chapter to monitor two beaches (North Beach in Hampton1 and Jenness Beach State Park in Rye)2 during both the season and parts of the off-season.

DES determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices at coastal beaches throughout the state. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Sampling frequencies at beaches in New Hampshire are based on beach history, microbial pathogen sources, and beach use.

The DES Beach Inspection Program monitors all known and suspected discharge sources at designated coastal beaches.3 When a sample exceeds water quality standards, the DES resamples water daily from the beach to determine when bacteria levels have decreased below state standards. Extra storm event sampling may be conducted at beaches where watershed runoff resulting from rainfall is expected to impact beachwater quality.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found or after rainfall events will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, New Hampshire reported 17 coastal beaches in Rockingham County, of which 10 (59%) were moni-tored more than once a week, 5 (29%) once a week, 1 (6%) every other week, and 1 (6%) less than once a month. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 1% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were New Castle TB (5%), Seabrook Harbor Beach (4%), and State Beach (3%) in Rockingham County.

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 15 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard was 1% in 2009, the same as in 2008 and in 2007, and 3% in 2006.

advisoriesstandards and procedures: New Hampshire’s policy is to issue advisories, rather than closings, at its beaches. New Hampshire applies an enterococcus single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml. At beaches that are sampled in three locations, when either two or more samples collected at a beach

0.00

0.75

1.50

2.25

3.00

3.75

2009200820072006


3%

1% 1% 1%

New Hampshire percent exceedance for 15 Beaches reported 2006–2009

NH.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

exceed the standard or when one sample exceeds 174 count/100 ml a beach advisory is issued.The geometric mean is calculated from at least three samples collected over a 60-day period.4 There is no protocol for foregoing or delaying an advisory when an exceedance is found.

In addition to monitoring results, the state is guided in its advisory issuance by illness complaints, which are solicited on its website. Preemptive advisories are issued due to known sewage spills at some beaches. Other beaches, which are far from and upcurrent of sewage outfalls, have never been impacted by a sewage spill. They are sampled when a spill is reported, but a preemptive advisory is not issued. Preemptive rain advisories are not issued at beaches in New Hampshire.

Number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 7 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 8% to 12 days in 2009 from 13 days in 2008, 2 days in 2007, 23 days in 2006, and 1 day in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.


New Hampshire 2009 monitoring results and Closing or advisory Days

County Beach Tier monitoring Frequency

Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Rockingham Bass Beach 1 2/wk 100 0% 0

Rockingham Foss Beach 2 1/wk 56 0% 0

Rockingham Hampton Beach SP 1 2/wk 182 0% 0

Rockingham Hampton Harbor Beach 2 4/yr 53 0% 0

Rockingham Jenness Beach at Cable Road 1 2/wk 105 1% 1

Rockingham Jenness Beach SP 1 2/wk 186 0% 0

Rockingham New Castle TB 1 2/wk 113 5% 3

Rockingham North Beach 2 1/wk 189 0% 0

Rockingham Northside Park 2 1/wk 54 0% 0

Rockingham Sawyer Beach 1 2/wk 103 0% 0

Rockingham Seabrook Harbor Beach 1 2/wk 104 4% 5

Rockingham Seabrook TB 1 2/wk 99 0% 0

Rockingham Star Island Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Rockingham State Beach 1 2/wk 120 3% 2

Rockingham Sun Valley Beach 2 1/wk 53 0% 0

Rockingham Wallis Sands Beach at Wallis Road 1 2/wk 130 1% 1

Rockingham Wallis Sands SP 2 1/wk 55 0% 0

NoTes1 NH Department of Environmental Services. North Beach Water Quality Report Summer 2009. January 2010.

2 NH Department of Environmental Services. Jenness Beach State Park Water Quality Report Summer 2009. January 2010.

3 Jody Connor, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, personal communication, June 2009.

4 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Beach Inspection Program, accessed at http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/beaches/samples.htm, July 2010.


New Hampshire sources of Contamination

NJ.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

NeW Jersey14th in Beachwater Quality

5% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Beachwood Beach West (Beachwood) (51%) • Maxson Avenue (Pointt Pleasant) (35%) • Central (Island Heights), River Ave (Point Pleasant), and West Beach (Pine Beach) (33%)

New Jersey has 700 public coastal beaches lining 127 miles of Atlantic waters.1 Coastal water quality monitoring is conducted through the Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP), which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Sewer systems in and around the New York/New Jersey Harbor are designed so that during periods of wet weather, excess flows are discharged to the harbor waters. These excess flows contain floating debris comprised of litter and toilet generated waste such as hygiene products. When discharged to the New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex, the floating debris tends to collect into slicks that can exit the harbor and wash up on beaches.2 The multiagency Floatables Action Plan, which has been in place for 19 years,1 involves several means of controlling floating debris, such as helicopter surveillance to locate slicks, skimmer vessels fitted with nets that collect floating debris, floating booms that trap debris near sewer-system discharge points for later col lec tion, and sewer-system improvements intended to maximize the ability to retain floating debris. These methods have prevented tons of floating debris from reaching the harbor and New Jersey beaches. The NJDEP’s Clean Shores Program, in which state inmates remove floatable debris from the shorelines of the Hudson, Raritan, and Delaware estuaries and barrier island bays, removes approximately 2,500 tons of trash and debris from New Jersey shorelines each year as part of the Floatables Action Plan.1

Monitoringsampling Practices: The sampling season runs from mid-May to mid-September. In addition to regular beachwater monitoring for bacteria concentrations, the NJDEP conducts aerial surveillance of near-shore coastal waters six days a week during the summer and routinely inspects the 17 wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to the ocean.

NJDEP determines sampling practices, standards, and notification protocols and practices at coastal beaches throughout the state. Samples are taken 12 to 18 inches below the surface in water that is between knee and chest deep. Local and county health departments determine which areas to monitor and establish ocean beach sampling stations based on proximity to a potential pollution source. When there is no pollution source nearby, ocean sampling locations are chosen to represent water quality at several nearby beaches. Every recreational bay beach is sampled.3

Once an exceedance of bacterial standards is found, daily monitoring is conducted until the beachwater meets standards. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, there were 700 lifeguarded, recreational ocean and bay beaches in New Jersey. Currently, NRDC’s report contains information on 218 monitored recreational beach sites and 27 monitored nonbathing beach sites (which

0.00

1.25

2.50

3.75

5.00

6.25

2009200820072006


4%

5%

3%

4%

New Jersey Percent exceedance for 209 Beaches reported 2006–2009




are monitored once a week), but not the remaining unmonitored beaches, which are not yet in EPA’s beach database. For those lifeguarded recreational beaches that are not monitored and do not have sources of pollution, such as storm drains, the monitoring station nearest them is considered representative of their water quality. New Jersey is in the process of entering all unmonitored recreational beaches into the EPA’s beach data system.

For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi mum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including dupli cate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Beachwood Beach West (Beachwood) (51%), Maxson Avenue (Pt Pleasant) (35%), Central (Island Heights) (33%), River Avenue (Pt Pleasant) (33%), and West Beach (Pine Beach) (33%) in Ocean County; Wreck Pond Outfall (Spring Lake) in Monmouth County (30%); and Anglesea Avenue (Ocean Gate) in Ocean County (30%).

Ocean County had the highest exceedance rate (11%) in 2009, followed by Monmouth (5%), Atlantic (1%), and Cape May (0%). The Ocean County Health Department conducted additional wet-weather sampling at seven river and back-bay beaches during the 2009 beach season, most likely because of the high rate of exceedance in the county.

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 209 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 4% in 2009 from 3% in 2008, and 5% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.

Closingsstandards and Procedures: New Jersey’s policy is to issue closings when bacteria levels exceed standards. The state’s standard for marine beachwater quality is a single-sample maximum for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml. A geometric mean standard is not applied when making beach closing decisions.

If bacteria levels exceed the single-sample standard, the beach is resampled immediately. If the second sample exceeds the standard, the beach is closed. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing a closing when resampling confirms an exceedance. Resampling is conducted in conjunction with a sanitary survey of the beach. County and local health departments are allowed, at their discretion, to issue swimming advisories after one exceedance of the bathing standard. If high bacteria concentrations are found at an ocean or bay station, sampling is conducted linearly along the beach to determine the extent of the affected area. This “bracket sampling” can result in an extension of a beach closing to contiguous lifeguarded beaches.3

Four ocean beaches around the Wreck Pond Outfall (Brown Avenue and York Avenue in Spring Lake and the Terrace and Beacon Boulevard in Sea Girt) are automatically closed for 24 hours after the end of all rainfall events greater than 0.1 inch or that cause an increased flow in storm drains; when events are greater than 2.8 inches within a 24-hour period, beaches are closed for 48 hours from the end of all rainfalls. Lifeguards prohibit swimming near any parts of these beaches where the stormwater plume is observed to be mixing within the swimming area.3 L Street Bay Beach in Belmar and the Shark River Beach and Yacht Club also have preemptive rainfall standards.

Beaches in New Jersey are closed if there is a known sewage spill that is suspected of contaminating the beachwater.1 Health and enforcement agencies in New Jersey can close a beach to protect public health at any time.3

Algae samples are collected when remote sensing data indicate an increase in chlorophyll levels in a specific area. If a harmful algal bloom is identified, county and local health officials are notified and closing information is posted on the DEP web page and phone line; in the case of such an event, local beach managers close beaches as necessary.

Number of Closings: Only those beach closings ordered by local health officials are included here because these are the only closings that are recorded by CCMP. Data are not available for other types of closings, such as those due to rough seas, beach maintenance projects, shark sightings, and fish and clam wash-ups.3 The CCMP also does not include those closings that are briefly in effect during the assessment of water conditions by local officials.3


New Jersey sources of Contamination


Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days decreased 13% to 180 days in 2009 from 208 days in 2008, 142 days in 2007, 134 days in 2006, and 79 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 180 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 23% (41) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 71% (128) were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, 2% (3) were preemptive due to known sewage spills, and 4% (8) were preemptive due to other reasons.

reported sources of beachwater contamination: 93% (168) of closing/advisory days were from unknown sources of contamination, 3% (6) were from sewage spills/leaks, and 3% (6) were from other sources of contamination.

New Jersey 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Atlantic 1075 Albany Ave. (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Atlantic 10th St. South (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic 11th St. (Longport) 3 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic 15th St South (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0


Atlantic 26th St (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 19 5% 0


Atlantic 26th St. South (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Atlantic 33rd St. (Longport) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Atlantic 33rd St. South (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic 43rd St. South (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic 4th St. North (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Adriatic (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Albany Ave. Bridge (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 11% 0

Atlantic Arkansas (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Bartram (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Chelsea (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic City Island STP (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Atlantic Dorset (Ventnor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Granville (Margate) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Harrah Pond (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Atlantic Harrah’s Marina (Atlantic City) 3 1/wk 19 11% 0

Atlantic Illinois (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 22 5% 0

Atlantic Kennedy Bridge (Egg Harbor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Kentucky (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 22 0% 0

Atlantic Lincoln (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Maryland (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 11% 0

Atlantic Michigan (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Atlantic Missouri (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Murray & Riverside (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Atlantic New Hampshire (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic New Haven (Ventnor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic New Jersey Ave. (Somers Point) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic North Beach (Brigantine) 3 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic North Carolina (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Oakland (Ventnor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Osborne (Margate) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Pennsylvania (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Rt. 52 (Somers Point) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Seaside (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic South Beach (Brigantine) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Atlantic South Carolina (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic St. James (Atlantic City) 3 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic States (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 21 0% 0

Atlantic Texas (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 22 5% 0

Atlantic Washington (Margate) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic Washington (Ventnor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Atlantic West End Bader Field (Atlantic City) 1 1/wk 19 5% 0

Cape May 103rd (Stone Harbor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 108th (Stone Harbor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 10th & JFK (North Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0


Cape May 15th (Avalon) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Cape May 16th (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 18th (North Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 21st St (Avalon) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 24th (North Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0



Cape May 29th (Sea Isle City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 2nd (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 2nd & JFK (North Wildwood) 1 1/wk 19 5% 0


Cape May 34th St (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 34th St (Sea Isle City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 40th St (Avalon) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May 40th St (Sea Isle City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0





Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days









Cape May 83rd St (Stone Harbor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0



Cape May 90th (Yacht Club) (Stone Harbor) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0



Cape May 9th St (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Beesley’s Point (Upper Township) 1 1/wk 20 10% 0

Cape May Bennett (Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Brainard (Cape May Point) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Broadway (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Congress (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Corinthian YC (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Decatur St. (Cape May City) 1 none 0 NA 2

Cape May Forgetmenot (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Grant (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Guerney St. (Cape May City) 1 none 0 NA 2

Cape May Hollywood (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Jefferson (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Lavender (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Maple (Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Miami (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Montgomery (Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May North (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Ocean (Cape May Point) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Ocean Ave. (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 20 0% 2

Cape May Ocean City Yacht Club (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Orchid (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Park (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Philadelphia (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Poverty (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Queen North (Cape May City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Richmond Ave (Lower Township) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Cape May Schellenger (Wildwood) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May SIC Yacht Club (Sea Isle City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Surf (Ocean City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Webster (Upper Township) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Whildin (Cape May Point) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Williard (Upper Township) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May WW Crest Yacht Club (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May WW Gables Yacht Club (Wildwood Crest) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Cape May Yacht Club (Avalon) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Monmouth 12th (Belmar) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth 1st Avenue (Asbury Park) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth 20th Avenue (Belmar) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth 3rd (Asbury Park) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth 7th (Asbury Park) 1 1/wk 22 9% 1

Monmouth 7th Avenue (Belmar) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Area C-Surf Beach (Sandy Hook) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Area E-Visitor Center (Sandy Hook) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Army Rec. Beach (Sandy Hook) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Baltimore (Sea Girt) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Beachway (Keansburg) 3 1/wk 20 10% 0

Monmouth Beacon (Sea Girt) 1 1/wk 22 9% 28

Monmouth Broad (Keyport) 3 1/wk 20 20% 0

Monmouth Broadway (Ocean Grove) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Brown South (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 0% 27

Monmouth Cedar (Allenhurst) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Conner’s Beach (Highlands) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Deal Casino (Deal) 1 1/wk 22 9% 1

Monmouth East Main (Manasquan) 1 1/wk 20 0% 1

Monmouth Elberon Beach Club (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Essex (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Monmouth Evergreen South (Bradley Beach) 1 1/wk 22 9% 1

Monmouth Fisherman’s Cove (Manasquan) 3 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Fort Hancock (Sandy Hook) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Monmouth Front (Union Beach) 3 1/wk 20 15% 0

Monmouth Horseshoe Cove (Sandy Hook) 3 1/wk 20 5% 0

Monmouth Ideal Beach (Middletown) 1 1/wk 24 17% 0

Monmouth Imperial Beach (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 19 11% 1

Monmouth Joline (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth L Street Beach (Belmar) 1 1/wk 25 24% 22

Monmouth Laird (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Main (Ocean Grove) 1 1/wk 22 9% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Monmouth Memorial Park (Neptune) 3 1/wk 20 5% 0

Monmouth Miller Beach (Highlands) 1 1/wk 22 5% 0

Monmouth Monmouth Beach Club (Monmouth Beach) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Neptune (Sea Girt) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth New York (Sea Girt) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth North Bath (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Ocean Beach Club (Long Branch) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Ocean Park (Bradley Beach) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Pt Monmouth & Wilson (Middletown) 3 1/wk 20 10% 0

Monmouth Public Beach (Sea Bright) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Rec Center (Highlands) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Rt 71 Bridge (Belmar) 3 1/wk 20 5% 0

Monmouth Seven Presidents Park (Monmouth Beach) 1 1/wk 11 0% 0

MonmouthShark River Beach & Yacht Club (Neptune Township)

1 1/wk 22 9% 3

Monmouth Spermaceti (Sandy Hook) 3 1/wk 20 10% 0

Monmouth Spray Ave (Neptune) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Monmouth Sylvania (Avon) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth The Terrace (Sea Girt) 1 1/wk 20 0% 27

Monmouth Thompson (Leonardo) 1 1/wk 24 17% 2

Monmouth Union (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 21 5% 0

Monmouth Village Beach Club (Loch Arbour) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Washington (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

MonmouthWharfside Manor Condos (Monmouth Beach)

3 1/wk 20 10% 0

Monmouth Worthington (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Monmouth Wreck Pond Outfall (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 30% 0

Monmouth York Avenue (Spring Lake) 1 1/wk 20 0% 27

Ocean 10th (Barnegat Light) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean 12th (Seaside Park) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ocean 14th (Ship Bottom) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean 14th (Ship Bottom) 1 1/wk 19 11% 0

Ocean 16th (Surf City) 1 1/wk 20 20% 0

Ocean 23rd (South Seaside) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ocean 23rd (Surf City) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0



Ocean 4th (Dover) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean 5th (Seaside Park) 1 1/wk 19 16% 0

Ocean 75th (Harvey Cedars) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean 75th (Harvey Cedars) 1 1/wk 19 11% 0

Ocean 7th (Brick) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Ocean 92nd Street (Long Beach Township) 1 none 0 NA 3

Ocean Anglesea Avenue (Ocean Gate) 1 1/wk 37 30% 3

Ocean Bathing Beach (Island Beach State Park) 1 none 0 NA 1

Ocean Bay Beach (Barnegat) 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

Ocean Beachwood Beach West (Beachwood) 1 1/wk 47 51% 11

Ocean Bergen (Harvey Cedars) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Berkeley Island (Berkeley) 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Ocean Brick Beach (Brick) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ocean Brighton (Seaside Park) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Broadway (Pt Pleasant Beach) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ocean Brooklyn (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Ocean Brooklyn (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

Ocean Bryn Mawr (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Central (Island Heights) 3 1/wk 18 33% 0

Ocean Central (Pt Pleasant Beach) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ocean East Beach (Pine Beach) 1 1/wk 37 22% 0

Ocean East Tuna Way (Chadwick) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Fielder (Dover) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Guyer (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Hancock (Seaside Heights) 1 1/wk 17 12% 0

Ocean IBSP 1 (Island Beach) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean IBSP 2 (Island Beach) 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Ocean Jennifer (Stafford) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Jersey City (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Joan (oceanside) (S. Beach Haven) 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ocean Johnson (Bay Head) 3 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Leeward (Beach Haven) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Lincoln (Seaside Heights) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ocean Loveladies (Loveladies) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Lyman (Mantoloking) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Maryland (Pt Pleasant Beach) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ocean Maxson Avenue (Pt Pleasant) 1 1/wk 46 35% 4

Ocean Money Island (Dover) 1 1/wk 39 26% 0

Ocean Mount (Bay Head) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean New Jersey Avenue (Beach Haven Terrace) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean New Jersey Avenue (Beach Haven Terrace) 1 1/wk 20 20% 0

Ocean North 10th (Surf City) 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ocean North Beach (Dover) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean O St (Seaside Park) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Parkertown (Little Egg Harbor) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Princeton (Mantoloking) 3 1/wk 15 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Ocean Reese (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

Ocean River Avenue (Pt Pleasant) 1 1/wk 42 33% 2

Ocean Shelter Island (Dover) 1 1/wk 19 11% 0

Ocean Sheridan (Seaside Heights) 1 1/wk 19 0% 0

Ocean South 3rd (Ship Bottom) 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Stockton (Beach Haven Crest) 1 1/wk 20 20% 0

Ocean Stockton (Brant Beach) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean Summit (Island Heights) 3 1/wk 32 9% 0

Ocean Taylor (Beach Haven) 3 1/wk 17 0% 0

Ocean Trenton (Lavallette) 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Ocean West Beach (Pine Beach) 1 1/wk 42 33% 6

Ocean Wildwood Avenue (Ocean Gate) 1 1/wk 35 20% 3

Ocean Windward Beach (Brick) 1 1/wk 31 10% 0

NoTes1 Virginia Loftin, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, personal communication, June 2010.

2 US EPA. Floatables Action Plan (website). Accessed at www.epa.gov/region02/water/, May 2008.

3 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program Summary Report for 2007 and 2008. Dec 2009.

NY.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

NeW York23rd in Beachwater Quality

11% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Krull Park in Niagara County (57%) • St. Vincent de Paul Beach in Erie County (52%) • Lake Erie State Park Beach in Chautauqua County (38%)

New York is the only state in the nation with ocean, estuarine, and Great Lakes coastline. There are 127 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 231 miles of shorefront on Long Island Sound, 548 miles of Long Island bayfront, and 83 miles of shorefront on islands off the Long Island coast. In addition to these marine waters, there are at least 200 miles of freshwater shoreline on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.1 Nearly all of the state’s beaches are on Atlantic waters; only 39 are on Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. The New York State Department of Health administers the coastal beach monitoring program in New York.

More than 70% of New York City’s 6,000 miles of sewer system is combined with stormwater pipes, which can discharge a mixture of rainfall runoff and raw sewage into area waterways during and immediately after precipitation.2 These excess flows contain floating debris comprised of litter and toilet-generated waste such as hygiene products, as well as heavy pollutant loads. When dis charged to the New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex, the floating debris tends to collect into slicks that can wash up on beaches. The multi-agency Floatables Action Plan employs several means of controlling floating debris, such as: helicopter surveil-lance to locate slicks; skimmer vessels fitted with nets that collect floating debris; floating booms that trap debris near sewer-system discharge points for later collection; and sewer-system improvements intended to maximize the ability to retain floating debris. These methods have prevented tons of floating debris from reaching area beaches each year.

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season generally extends from May to September.

Sampling practices, locations, and notification protocols for coastal beaches in the state have been established by each of the administering agency’s 11 contractors in accordance with the U.S. EPA’s guidance criteria for the require-ments of the BEACH Act grant. Water samples are collected 18 inches below the surface in water that is approximately three feet deep. Monitoring locations and sampling frequency are determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, potential pollution sources, historical water quality and physical characteristics of the beach property.

Samples taken as part of sanitary surveys and special studies may be taken at outfalls and other sources.3 Some jurisdictions sample more frequently once an exceedance of standards is found.

results: In 2009, New York reported 350 coastal beaches, of which 3 (1%) were monitored daily, 80 (23%) more than once a week, 125 (36%) once a week, 72 (21%) every other week, 67 (19%) once a month, and 3 (1%) which were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 11% of all

0.00

2.75

5.50

8.25

11.00

13.75

2009200820072006


10%11%

8%

10%

New York Percent exceedance for 314 Beaches reported 2006–2009




reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Krull Park in Niagara County (57%), St. Vincent de Paul Beach in Erie County (52%), Lake Erie State Park Beach (38%) and Blue Water Beach in Chautauqua County (38%), Ontario Beach in Monroe County (38%), Wright Park East in Chautauqua County (38%), Tanner Park in Suffolk County (36%), Lake Erie Beach in Erie County (36%), and Sunset Bay Beach Club in Chautauqua County (36%).

Niagara County had the highest exceedance rate (39%) in 2009 followed by Chautauqua (33%), Monroe (31%), Erie (30%), Wayne (25%), Bronx (15%), Queens (8%), Nassau (8%), Westchester (6%), Kings (6%), Suffolk (6%), Cayuga (5%), Jefferson (4%), Oswego (3%), and Richmond (1%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 314 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard in 2009 was 10%, up from 8% in 2008, 11% in 2007, and 10% in 2006.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Both closings and advisories are issued for beaches in the state. For marine beaches, New York uses an enterococcus single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml. For freshwater beaches, New York uses an E. coli single-sample maximum of 235 cfu/100 ml or 61 cfu/100 ml for enterococcus.3 Whether or not geometric mean standards are applied when making closing and advisory decisions depends on the local beach authority. New York City applies a geometric mean standard for enterococcus of 35 cfu/100 ml for a series of five or more samples collected during a 30-day period.2

When water quality monitoring reveals an exceedance of bac-terial standards, the beach manager either notifies the public or resamples if there is reason to doubt the validity of the original sample result. Resampling is performed within 48 hours after the routine monitoring results indicated an exceedance. If the resample exceeds the water quality standard, a closing or advisory is issued. New York City does not issue an advisory or closing based solely on monitoring results, but rather uses administrative review and management tools when evaluating beach status for the determina-tion of the correct regulatory action. New York City conducts a resample or issues an advisory or closing after analyzing ongoing water quality trends, historical water quality data, reports of pollution events, and other factors that may be affecting the beach, including animal waste, septic or sewage disposal systems, and illegal sewage connections.4

All of the counties with marine beaches and most of the counties with Great Lakes beaches issue preemptive rain advisories or other preemptive advisories, many of which are based on rainfall amounts.

Several of New York’s contracting entities have developed models of various designs and complexity for their beaches. For example, Monroe County uses a model based on amount of rainfall, the flow rate of the Genessee River, turbidity, algae, and other organic debris. The Interstate Environmental Commission has developed an extensive hydrodynamic loading model that is integrated into the beach monitoring and notification programs of the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and the Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk County Health Departments.

At beaches in New York, a sanitation and safety survey or investigation that reveals the presence of floatable debris, medical/infectious waste or toxic contaminants, petroleum products, and/or other contamination on the beach or evidence of sewage and wastewater discharge can trigger an advisory or closing.4

Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 964 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 10% to 1,775 from 1,610 days in 2008, 1,547 days in 2007, 1,280 days in 2006, and 827 days in 2005. In addition, there were 2 extended events (153 days total) and 4 permanent events (1,460 days total) in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for

0.00

337.25

674.50

1011.75

1349.00

1686.25



1,349

23720 23

243

New York Sources of Contamination (Number of Days)



more than 13 consecutive weeks. In 2008, there were two extended events (141 days total) and no permanent ones. In 2009, precipitation was unusually heavy in New York, which may have contributed to the increase in the number of closing and advisory days.3

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 964 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 38% (679) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 56% (994) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, 5% (82) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks, and 1% (20) were preemptive due to other reasons.

reported sources of beachwater contamination: 76% (1,349) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 14% (243) were from unknown sources of contamination, 13% (237) were from sewage spills/leaks, 1% (20) were from wildlife, and 1% (23) were from other sources of contamination. Totals exceed total days and 100% because more than one contamination source was reported for some events.

New York 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Bronx American Turners 1 1/wk 63 16% 47

Bronx Danish American Beach Club 1 1/wk 63 17% 47

Bronx Locust Point Yacht Club 3 1/wk 45 0% 0

Bronx Manhem Beach Club 1 1/wk 60 12% 39

Bronx Morris Yacht and Beach Club 1 1/wk 72 19% 43

Bronx Orchard Beach 1 1/wk 60 12% 0

Bronx Schuyler Hill Civic Association 1 1/wk 57 11% 29

Bronx Trinity Danish Young People’s Society 1 1/wk 63 17% 39

Bronx White Cross Fish Club 1 1/wk 63 22% 55

Cayuga Fair Haven Beach State Park Beach 1 1/wk 43 5% 0

Chautauqua Blue Water Beach 3 1/wk 32 38% 15

Chautauqua Lake Erie State Park Beach 1 4/wk 53 38% 0 (365)*

Chautauqua Main Street Beach 1 1/wk 23 30% 8

Chautauqua Point Gratiot Beach 2 1/wk 30 33% 11

Chautauqua Sheridan Bay Park 3 1/wk 23 26% 11

Chautauqua Sunset Bay Beach Club 3 1/wk 28 36% 10

Chautauqua Town of Hanover Beach 3 1/wk 25 32% 5

Chautauqua Wright Park East 1 1/wk 32 38% 15

Chautauqua Wright Park West 1 1/wk 38 24% 12

Erie Bennett Beach 2 2/wk 39 31% 36

Erie Evangola State Park Beach 2 1/wk 23 17% 2

Erie Evans Town Park 2 2/wk 56 23% 30

Erie Hamburg Bathing Beach 1 2/wk 24 29% 36

Erie Lake Erie Beach 1 2/wk 25 36% 33

Erie Pioneer Camp 2 2/wk 25 24% 22

Erie Point Breeze Camp 3 2/wk 0 NA 0

Erie St. Vincent de Paul Beach 2 2/wk 25 52% 33



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Erie Wendt Beach 2 2/wk 24 21% 26

Erie Woodlawn Beach State Park Beach 1 Daily 93 33% 0 (365)*

Jefferson Southwick Beach State Park Beach 1 1/wk 13 8% 0

Jefferson Westcott Beach State Park-Main Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

JeffersonWestcott Beach State Park-Camping Beach

2 1/wk 0 NA 0 (365)*

Kings Coney Island Beach Brighton 15th-6th 2 1/wk 19 5% 3

KingsConey Island Beach Brighton 6th-Ocean Parkway

2 1/wk 19 0% 3

KingsConey Island Beach Ocean Parkway- W. 8th

2 1/wk 19 0% 3

Kings Coney Island Beach W. 16th-27th 2 1/wk 19 0% 2

Kings Coney Island Beach W. 28th-W. 37th 2 1/wk 19 0% 3

Kings Coney Island-W8th St. to Pier 2 1/wk 19 5% 3

Kings Gerritsen/Kiddie Beach 1 1/wk 66 6% 35

Kings Kingsborough Community College 1 1/wk 66 9% 23

Kings Manhattan Beach 1 1/wk 63 14% 8

Kings Seagate Beach-38th Street 2 1/wk 60 3% 3

Kings Seagate Beach-42nd Street 2 1/wk 60 5% 3

Monroe Durand Beach 1 Daily 98 24% 44

Monroe Hamlin Beach State Park-Area 3 1 1/wk 40 28% 7

Monroe Hamlin Beach State Park-Area 4 1 1/wk 34 9% 3

Monroe Ontario Beach 1 Daily 264 38% 42

Nassau Atlantic Beach Club 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Atlantic Beach Estates 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau Bar Beach 1 1/wk 44 11% 16

Nassau Biltmore Beach 1 1/wk 62 13% 13

Nassau Catalina Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Centre Island Bay Beach 2 1/wk 56 5% 11

Nassau Centre Island Sound Beach 2 1/wk 56 7% 11

Nassau Clearwater Cabana Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Crescent Beach 2 1/wk 130 29% 1 (87)*

Nassau Dutchess Boulevard Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau East Atlantic Beach 3 2/mo 31 0% 0

Nassau Eldorado Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Genessee Boulvard Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Harbor Isle Beach 2 1/wk 43 19% 0

Nassau Hempstead Harbor Beach Park 1 1/wk 41 10% 0

Nassau Hewlett Beach 1 1/wk 42 5% 8

Nassau Inc. Village of Laurel Hollow 1 1/wk 65 17% 22

Nassau Inwood Beach Club 3 2/mo 11 9% 0

Nassau Island Park Beach 1 1/wk 41 2% 6



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Nassau Jefferson Boulevard Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

NassauJones Beach State Park-West End Beach

2 1/wk 18 0% 2

Nassau Jones Beach State Park-Zach’s Bay 1 2/wk 21 10% 1

NassauJones Beach State Park-Central Mall Beach

2 1/wk 36 0% 2

Nassau Lattington Beach 2 1/wk 55 13% 11

Nassau Lawrence Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Lido Beach-Towers Condo 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Lido Beach Park District 3 2/mo 30 0% 0

Nassau Long Beach City 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

Nassau Manor Haven Beach 2 1/wk 42 2% 0

Nassau Merrick Estates Civic Association 2 1/wk 39 0% 0

Nassau Montgomery Boulevard Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Morgan Memorial Beach 1 1/wk 55 9% 9

Nassau Nassau Beach Central Terrace 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau Nassau Beach East Terrace 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Nassau Beach West Terrace 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Ocean Club Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Pebble Cove Homeowners’ Association 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Phillip Healey 1 1/wk 61 15% 20

Nassau Piping Rock Beach 2 1/wk 57 19% 15

Nassau Plaza Beach 3 2/mo 11 0% 0

Nassau Plaza Beach Club 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Point Lookout Park District 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau Prybil Beach 2 1/wk 55 13% 9

Nassau Putnam Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Ransom Beach 2 1/wk 59 17% 13

Nassau Sands At Atlantic 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Seacliff Beach 1 1/wk 44 7% 9

Nassau Silver Point Beach Club 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau Soundside Beach 2 1/wk 61 18% 13

Nassau Stehli Beach 2 1/wk 57 12% 11

Nassau Sun And Surf Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Sunny Atlantic Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Tappan Beach 1 1/wk 42 10% 11

Nassau The Creek Beach 2 1/wk 55 7% 14

Nassau Theodore Roosevelt Beach 1 1/wk 55 13% 11

Nassau Tobay Beach-Bay 1 1/wk 31 0% 0

Nassau Tobay Beach-Marina 2 1/wk 28 0% 0

Nassau Tobay Beach-Ocean 2 1/wk 44 2% 0

Nassau Town House Apartments at Lido 3 2/mo 10 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Nassau Town Park-Area D Sands/Lido/Anchor 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau Town Park Camp Anchor 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Nassau Town Park Point Lookout 3 2/mo 50 0% 0

Nassau Vernon Avenue Beach 3 2/mo 20 0% 0

Nassau West Harbor Memorial Beach 2 1/wk 55 0% 9

Nassau Westbury Beach Club 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Niagara Krull Park 2 1/wk 30 57% 22

Niagara Wilson-Tuscarora State Park Beach 1 1/wk 16 6% 3

Oswego Brennan’s Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Oswego Chedmardo 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Oswego Dowie Dale 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Oswego Mexico Point State Park (Town) 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Oswego Rainbow Shores 1 1/wk 15 7% 0

Oswego Sandy Island Beach State Park Beach 1 1/wk 16 0% 0

Oswego Selkirk Shores State Park Beach 1 1/wk 13 15% 1

Queens Breezy Point 219th Street 3 2/wk 10 10% 3

Queens Breezy Point Reid Ave. 3 2/wk 10 0% 3

Queens Douglas Manor 1 1/wk 66 17% 66

Queens Rockaway Beach 126th-149th 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Queens Rockaway Beach 15th-22nd 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Queens Rockaway Beach 23rd-59th 3 2/mo 10 0% 0





Queens Rockaway Beach-116th St. to 126th 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Richmond Midland Beach/South Beach 2 1/wk 57 0% 0

Richmond South Beach 2 1/wk 57 2% 0

Richmond Wolfe’s Pond Park 1 1/wk 57 0% 0

Suffolk Alberts Landing Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Amagansett Beach Association 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Amityville Beach 1 3/wk 43 16% 9

Suffolk Asharoken Beach 2 2/wk 37 8% 5

Suffolk Atlantic Avenue Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Atlantique Beach-Bay 2 1/wk 9 22% 0

Suffolk Atlantique Beach-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Bath and Tennis Hotel 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Bathing Corp of Southampton 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Bay Hills POA 2 2/wk 34 6% 5

Suffolk Bayberry Beach and Tennis Club 2 3/wk 50 2% 5

Suffolk Bayberry Cove Beach 2 2/wk 23 17% 5



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Suffolk Baycrest Association Beach 2 2/wk 34 6% 5

Suffolk Bayport Beach 1 3/wk 48 21% 12

Suffolk Bayview Beach 2 2/wk 20 0% 5

Suffolk Beech Road Beach 1 2/wk 31 3% 5

Suffolk Belle Terre Beach 2 2/wk 20 0% 0

Suffolk Bellport Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Benjamins Beach 1 3/wk 78 10% 5

Suffolk Bridgehampton Club 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Brightwaters Beach 2 2/wk 52 0% 5

Suffolk Broadway Beach Broadway Beach 3 1/mo 30 3% 5

Suffolk Callahan’s Beach 2 2/wk 31 6% 0

Suffolk Camp Baiting Hollow 3 2/mo 10 10% 0

Suffolk Camp Blue Bay 2 2/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Camp Dewolfe 3 1/mo 10 10% 0

Suffolk Camp Quinipet 3 2/mo 5 20% 0

Suffolk Cedar Beach 3 2/mo 11 0% 0

Suffolk Cedar Beach East-Mt. Sinai 2 2/wk 33 6% 0

Suffolk Cedar Beach West-Mt. Sinai 3 2/wk 33 3% 0

Suffolk Centerport Beach 2 2/wk 36 6% 5

Suffolk Centerport Yacht Club 1 1/wk 31 6% 0 (365)*

Suffolk Clearwater Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Club at Point O’Woods-Ocean 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club 1 3/wk 34 0% 5

Suffolk Coopers Neck Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Corey Creek Beach 2 3/wk 43 7% 5

SuffolkCornell Cooperative Extension Marine Center

3 2/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Crab Meadow Beach 3 2/wk 31 10% 5

Suffolk Crescent Beach-Huntington 2 2/wk 37 3% 6

Suffolk Crescent Beach-Shelter Island 3 2/mo 5 20% 0

Suffolk Culloden Shores 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Cupsogue County Park 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Davis Park Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Devon Yacht Club, Inc. 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Ditch Plains Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Dorothy P. Flint Camp 3 2/mo 8 13% 0

Suffolk Dune Deck Hotel 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Dunewood Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Dunewood POA Beach (Bay) 2 1/wk 8 0% 0

Suffolk Eagle Dock Community Beach 1 3/wk 28 4% 5



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Suffolk East Islip Beach 2 3/wk 65 26% 22

Suffolk East Lake Drive Beach 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

Suffolk Fair Harbor-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Fair Harbor Community Association-Bay 2 1/wk 8 13% 0

Suffolk Fiddlers Green Association 3 2/wk 33 3% 0

Suffolk Fifth Street Park Beach 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Suffolk Fisher’s Island Country Club 3 1/mo 2 0% 0

Suffolk Fleets Cove Beach 1 3/wk 36 8% 5

Suffolk Fleets Neck Beach 3 2/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Flying Point 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Foster Memorial 3 2/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Founder’s Landing 2 1/wk 12 8% 0

Suffolk Friendship Drive Beach 2 2/wk 29 0% 5

Suffolk Georgica Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Gilgo Beach 3 2/mo 11 0% 0

Suffolk Gold Star Battalion Beach 1 3/wk 37 0% 5

Suffolk Goose Creek 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Suffolk Grantland Beach 1 2/wk 21 14% 5

Suffolk Great Gun Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Gurney’s Inn Resort and Spa 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Haven’s Beach 2 2/wk 33 12% 3

Suffolk Hay Harbor Club 3 1/mo 2 0% 0

Suffolk Head of the Bay Club 2 2/wk 34 9% 5

Suffolk Heckscher State Park-Overlook Beach 2 1/wk 9 0% 0

Suffolk Heckscher State Park-West Beach 2 1/wk 14 7% 2

Suffolk Hither Hills State Park Beach 2 1/wk 19 5% 0

Suffolk Hobart Beach - Bay 2 2/wk 37 5% 5

Suffolk Hobart Beach-Inlet/Sound 2 2/wk 33 0% 5

SuffolkHuntington Beach Community Association

1 3/wk 35 9% 8

Suffolk Indian Field Beach 2 2/wk 20 0% 5

Suffolk Indian Wells Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Iron Pier Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0

Suffolk Island People’s Project (Dock Beach) 3 1/mo 2 0% 0

Suffolk Islip Beach 2 3/wk 63 14% 10

Suffolk Kenny’s Beach 3 2/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Kirk Park Beach 3 2/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Kismet Beach-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Knollwood Beach 1 3/wk 34 6% 5

Suffolk Laronde Beach Club, Inc. 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Lashley Pavillion 3 1/mo 3 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Suffolk Little Bay Beach 2 2/wk 21 10% 5

Suffolk Lloyd Harbor Estates 3 2/wk 33 3% 0

Suffolk Lloyd Harbor Village Park 2 2/wk 35 3% 5

Suffolk Lloyd Neck Bath Club 2 2/wk 34 0% 0

Suffolk Long Beach 2 2/wk 20 0% 5

Suffolk Maidstone Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Maidstone Club, Inc. 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Main Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Mattituck Breakwater Beach 2 2/wk 9 11% 0

Suffolk Mccabe’s Beach 3 1/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Mecox Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Meschutt Beach 3 2/mo 6 0% 0

Suffolk Miller Beach Surf Club 2 2/wk 33 3% 0

Suffolk Miller Place Park 2 2/wk 34 3% 5

Suffolk Nassau Point Causeway 3 2/mo 12 8% 0

Suffolk Nathan Hale Beach Club 2 2/wk 34 6% 5

Suffolk New Suffolk Beach 3 2/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Nick’s Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Nissequogue Point Beach 2 2/wk 19 0% 5

Suffolk Norman Klipp Park 3 1/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Ocean Beach-Bay 2 1/wk 10 10% 0

Suffolk Ocean Beach-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Old Field Club 2 3/wk 21 10% 0

Suffolk Orient Beach State Park Beach 2 1/wk 14 7% 1

Suffolk Overlook Beach 3 1/mo 11 0% 0

Suffolk Patchogue Village Pool and Beach Club 2 1/wk 37 3% 5

Suffolk Peconic Dunes Camp-Sound 3 2/mo 13 0% 0

Suffolk Perlman Music Camp 3 2/mo 5 20% 0

Suffolk Pikes Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Point O’Woods Association-Bay 2 1/wk 6 17% 0

Suffolk Ponquogue Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Port Jefferson Beach East 2 2/wk 20 0% 0

Suffolk Port Jefferson Beach West 2 2/wk 20 0% 0

Suffolk Prices Bend Beach 2 2/wk 37 8% 5

Suffolk Pridwin Hotel 3 2/mo 5 20% 0

Suffolk Quantuck Beach Club 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Quogue Beach Club 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Quogue Village Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Reeves Beach 3 2/mo 10 10% 0

SuffolkRobert Moses State Park Beach-Suffolk County

2 1/wk 77 5% 3



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Suffolk Rogers Pavillion 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Sagg Main Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Saltaire Beach-Bay 2 1/wk 8 13% 0

Suffolk Saltaire Beach-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Sandspit Beach 2 3/wk 42 2% 5

Suffolk Sayville Beach 1 3/wk 49 16% 15

Suffolk Sayville Marina Park 1 3/wk 50 10% 5

Suffolk Schubert Beach 2 2/wk 22 14% 5

Suffolk Scotts Beach 2 2/wk 34 0% 5

Suffolk Seaview-Ocean 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Seaview Beach Association (Bay) 2 1/wk 8 0% 0

Suffolk Shelter Island Heights Beach Club 2 2/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Shirley Beach 2 2/wk 35 3% 3

Suffolk Shoreham Beach 3 2/wk 33 0% 5

Suffolk Shoreham Shore Club 2 2/wk 33 3% 5

Suffolk Shoreham Village Beach 2 2/wk 33 3% 5

Suffolk Short Beach 2 2/wk 21 5% 5

Suffolk Silver Sands Motel 2 1/wk 12 0% 0

Suffolk Smith Point County Park 3 2/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Sound Beach Poa East 1 2/wk 34 3% 5

Suffolk Sound Beach Poa West 3 2/wk 35 3% 5

Suffolk Soundview Beach Association 2 2/wk 21 5% 5

Suffolk South Jamesport Beach 3 2/mo 11 27% 0

Suffolk Southampton Bath and Tennis 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

SuffolkSouthampton Peconic Beach & Tennis Club

3 1/mo 7 14% 0

Suffolk Southold Beach 3 2/mo 12 0% 0

Suffolk Steers Beach 2 3/wk 34 6% 5

Suffolk Stony Brook Beach 2 3/wk 19 0% 5

Suffolk Stony Brook Yacht Club 1 3/wk 19 0% 5

Suffolk Sunken Meadow State Park Beach 2 1/wk 23 17% 2

Suffolk Surf Club of Quogue 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Swordfish Club 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Tanner Park 1 3/wk 58 36% 7 (66)*

Suffolk Terraces on the Sound 1 3/wk 31 3% 5

Suffolk Tiana Beach 3 2/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Tiana Shores Association 2 2/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Tides Property Owners Association 1 3/wk 33 6% 5

Suffolk Two-Mile Hollow Beach 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Valley Grove Beach 1 3/wk 34 24% 18

Suffolk Venetian Shores 1 1/wk 48 8% 5



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Suffolk Veteran’s Memorial Park 3 2/mo 9 0% 0

Suffolk W. Scott Cameron 3 2/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk Wades Beach 3 2/mo 5 0% 0

Suffolk Wading River Beach 3 2/mo 10 10% 0

Suffolk Water Mill Beach Club 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Suffolk West Islip Beach 1 3/wk 29 3% 5

Suffolk West Meadow Beach 2 2/wk 21 0% 1

Suffolk West Neck Beach 2 2/wk 35 3% 0

Suffolk West Oaks Recreation Club 2 3/wk 38 8% 5

Suffolk Westhampton House 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Suffolk Wildwood State Park Beach 2 1/wk 13 15% 1

Suffolk Wincoma Beach 2 2/wk 33 3% 5

Suffolk Woodcliff Park Poa 3 2/mo 10 10% 0

Suffolk Woodhull Landing 2 2/wk 33 3% 5

Suffolk Yardarm Condominium South 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Wayne Pultneyville Mariners Beach 3 1/wk 19 32% 20

Wayne Sodus Point Lake Side 3 1/wk 9 11% 2

Wayne Sodus Point Park Bayside 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Westchester American Yacht Club 2 1/wk 18 6% 2

Westchester Beach Point Club 1 1/wk 17 6% 22

Westchester Beckwithe Pointe 1 1/wk 17 0% 1

Westchester Coveleigh Beach Club 2 1/wk 18 6% 23

Westchester Davenport Club 2 1/wk 17 12% 22

Westchester Echo Bay Yacht Club 1 1/wk 15 13% 22

Westchester Glen Island Park 1 1/wk 17 6% 0

Westchester Greentree Club 1 1/wk 17 12% 22

Westchester Harbor Island Beach 1 1/wk 47 11% 23

Westchester Hudson Park 1 1/wk 34 3% 22

Westchester Isle of San Socecci 3 None 0 NA 0

Westchester Larchmont Manor Park 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Westchester Larchmont Shore Club 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Westchester Mamaroneck Beach and Cabana Club 1 1/wk 17 6% 23

Westchester Manunsing Island Club 2 1/wk 18 0% 0

Westchester Marinas Edge 3 None 0 NA 0

Westchester New Rochelle Rowing Club 3 None 15 0% 0

Westchester Orienta Beach Club 1 1/wk 17 6% 23

Westchester Rye Playland Beach 1 1/wk 18 6% 0

Westchester Rye Town Park-Oakland Beach 1 1/wk 18 6% 0

Westchester Shenorock Shore Club 2 1/wk 18 0% 2

Westchester Shore Acres Club 1 1/wk 17 6% 23

Westchester Surf Club 1 1/wk 17 29% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Westchester VIP Club 2 1/wk 17 6% 0

Westchester Westchester Country Club Beach 1 1/wk 18 6% 0


NoTeS1 New York State Department of Economic Development, http://www.iloveny.com/AboutNewYorkState/TopFacts.aspx as viewed on 7/7/2008.

2 New York Harbor Water Quality Survey, New York State Department of Sanitation, 1993.

3 Eric Wiegert. New York State Department of Health, personal communication. June 2010.

4 Lily Huang. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, personal communication. June 2007.

NC.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

NorTh CaroliNa6th in Beachwater Quality

3% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Swanquarter Bay-end of docks on SR 1136 in Hyde County (17%) • Sound Access, E. Main St. and Tooley St., Belhaven in Beaufort County (17%) • Banks Channel-Waynick Blvd., 150 yds north of Lula St. in New Hanover County (12%)

Most of North Carolina’s 240 public coastal beaches, which stretch along 320 miles of Atlantic waters, are located on barrier islands. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) administers the state’s BEACH Act grant.

MonitoringSampling Practices: North Carolina’s swim season is from April 1 to October 31. Monitoring occurs year-round but is less frequent during the off-season, a period when no new notifications are issued.1

NCDENR conducts sampling and notification activities throughout the state; these duties are not delegated to local authorities. Samples are collected in the ocean surf 16 feet from the sampler’s body using a telescopic golf ball retriever in knee-deep water, 6 to 12 inches below the surface of the water. Approximately half of the samples are collected by boat, and these samples are taken in water that is three feet deep, 12 inches below the surface. Samples obtained from piers must be taken at the location of the most used area 6 to 12 inches below the water’s surface. North Carolina has prioritized its beaches based on usage and potential for contamination. Tier 1 beaches are adjacent to resort areas, public accesses, and sailing camps and are used on a daily basis. All ocean beaches are considered Tier 1. If a Tier 1 site exceeds the water quality standard more than just occasionally, it becomes a triplicate sampling site. Tier 2 beaches include areas such as those in the intracoastal waterway, tidal creeks, and exposed shoals. They can usually be accessed by watercraft; people frequent Tier 2 sites mostly on weekends. Tier 3 beaches are used an average of four times per month, or less frequently but intensively for special events such as triathlons.

Storm drains that extend to the water’s edge are sampled 10 feet on either side when practical. Storm drains that do not extend to the water’s edge are sampled where the water flowing back down the beach from the previous wave meets the next incoming wave.1 Lateral sampling to determine the extent of the plume from discharging storm drains is done in Dare County. This type of sampling is also done at some sites when the running monthly geometric mean water quality standard is exceeded in order to determine the extent of the contaminated area.1 The NCDENR samples after storm events, sewage spills, dredge disposal, and floodwater pumping to confirm safe bacteria levels before lifting pre-emptive advisories.2 States that monitor more frequently after storm or pollution events will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and fewer total closing/advisory days than they would if their sampling frequency did not alter after storm or pollution events.

results: In 2009, North Carolina reported 241 coastal beaches, 112 (46%) of which were monitored once a week and 129 (54%) every other week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples

0.00

1.25

2.50

3.75

5.00

6.25

2009200820072006


4%

5%

3%

4%

North Carolina Percent Exceedance for 198 Beaches reported 2006–2009




that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 2% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Swanquarter Bay-end of docks on SR 1136 in Hyde County (17%), Sound Access at the intersection of E. Main St. and Tooley St., Belhaven in Beaufort County (17%), Banks Channel-Waynick Blvd. approximately 150 yards north of Lula St. in New Hanover County (12%), Public Beach south side of Dawson Creek Bridge in Pamlico County (12%), Cama Access, corner of Waynick Blvd. and Sunset Ave. Wrightsville Beach in New Hanover County (12%), Pamlico River-City Park in Beaufort County (11%), Pamlico River-Washington-Railroad Trestle in Beaufort County (11%), East shore of Blounts Bay-Pamlico River in Beaufort County (11%), and Cedar Island-beach area southeast of wildlife ramp adjacent to the ferry landing in Carteret County (10%).

Beaufort County had the highest exceedance rate (7%) in 2009, followed by Pamlico (6%), New Hanover (5%), Camden (3%), Hyde (3%), Onslow (2%), Carteret (2%), Pender (1%), Dare (1%), Currituck (1%), Brunswick (1%), and Craven (1%). There were no exceedances in Bertie, Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Tyrrell Counties.

Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 198 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 4% in 2009 from 3% in 2008, 5% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.

advisoriesStandards and Procedures: The NCDENR does not have the authority to close beaches; it issues alerts and advisories only. However, the state and county health directors do have the authority to close any body of water if necessary for the protection of public health.2 North Carolina uses the Enterolert® method for analysis instead of membrane filtration. This method produces bacterial counts in terms of most probable number (mpn) rather than colony forming units (cfu), but both of these values are intended to represent the number of organisms in a sample. From May 1 to September 30, North Carolina’s water quality standards at its Tier 1 beaches are a single-sample maxi-mum of 104 mpn/100 ml and a running monthly geometric mean of 35 mpn/100 ml. At Tier 2 beaches, the standard is a single-sample maximum of 276 mpn/100 ml, and at Tier 3 beaches, the standard is a single-sample maximum of 500 mpn/100 ml.3 Dur ing April and October, the standard for Tier 1 beaches is generally the same as the standard for Tier 2 beaches.1 However, the NCDENR can opt to apply Tier 1 standards during those months if the water temperature is warm enough for high recreational usage.2

From May 1 to September 30, an alert is issued for Tier 1 beaches whose enterococcus levels are between 104 and 500 mpn/100 ml. A second sample is collected immediately when an alert is issued, and if levels in the resample exceed 104 mpn/100 ml then the alert converts to an advisory. For Tier 1 beaches that are sampled in tripli cate, an advisory is issued without resampling when two out of three simultaneous samples exceed 104 mpn/100 ml. For Tier 2 beaches, an alert is issued if a sample is between 276 and 500 mpn/100 ml and a resample is conducted. This alert converts to an advisory if the resample is over 276 mpn/100 ml. An advisory is issued without a resample at Tier 1 and 2 beaches if a single sample is greater than 500 mpn/100 ml. Alerts are not issued at Tier 3 beaches. Instead, they are resampled if the levels are higher than 500 mpn/100 ml, and if the second sample is above that level, an advisory is issued.1

The NCDENR observes fecal coliform results from the state’s shellfish-growing waters to get an indication of water quality at nearby recreational sites.

During times with extreme rains, such as in tropical storms and hurricanes, the NCDENR sometimes issues blanket advisories that cover large regions or all of coastal North Carolina.2 In addition, permanent signs are posted on either side of storm drain outfalls stating that swimming between the signs is not recommended and that waters may be

0

55

110

165

220

275



220

0

146

2 0

North Carolina Sources of Contamination (Number of Days)



contami nated by discharge from the pipe.2 Otherwise, preemptive rainfall advisories are not issued because the beachwater quality monitoring data indicate that water quality at ocean beaches is not affected by rainfall except near storm drains. Preemptive advisories are issued after known sewage spills, when pumping of floodwaters between the primary dune and the ocean beaches occurs, or when dredge material from closed shellfishing waters is placed on ocean beaches.1

Number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 32 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 39% to 233 days in 2009 from 168 days in 2008, 123 days in 2007, 346 days in 2006, and 197 days in 2005. There were 2 extended events (112 total days) and 1 permanent event (92 days) in 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks, whereas permanent ones are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.


reported sources of beachwater contamination: 94% (220) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 63% (146) were from wildlife, and 1% (2) were from other sources of contamination. Totals exceed total days and 100% because more than one contamination source was reported for some events.

North Carolina 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

BeaufortDock on S. side of Hwy 92 bridge on the W. side of Bath

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Beaufort E Shore of Blounts Bay-Pamlico River 2 2/mo 19 11% 0

Beaufort Pamlico River-City Park 3 2/mo 19 11% 0

BeaufortPamlico River-Junction of Upper Goose Creek and Dinah’s Landing

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Beaufort Pamlico River-Maul’s Point 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Beaufort Pamlico River-Ragged Point Swim Area 3 2/mo 19 5% 0

BeaufortPamlico River-Tripp Point Recreational Area

3 2/mo 19 5% 0

BeaufortPamlico River-Washington-Railroad Trestle

3 2/mo 19 11% 0

Beaufort SE of Austin Pt-Pamlico River 2 2/mo 19 5% 0

BeaufortSound access at the intersection of E. Main St. and Tooley St., Belhaven

1 2/mo 35 17% 0 (92)*

Beaufort W of Hills Point-Pamlico River 2 2/mo 19 5% 0

BertieBoat ramp at the intersection of SR 1500 and Vincent St.

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickBeach access between Bald Head Harbor entrance & Bald Head Cr.

1 1/wk 29 0% 0

BrunswickBeach Access near Capt. Jack’s on Holden Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickCape Fear River, beach area adjacent to Southport municipal pier

2 2/mo 20 5% 0

BrunswickCaswell Beach public access off Caswell Beach Rd.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Brunswick East Beach area-Beach access #42 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Brunswick Ferry Road public access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickGreensboro St. emergency vehicle access/ Stormwater outfall pipe

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick ICW, marker #59 near Holden Beach 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickICW, soundside access at E. end of ocean Isle Beach

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickICW end of Beach Drive at Bonaparte’s Landing

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickIntracoastal Waterway, beach area adjacent to Howells Pt Wildlife boat ramp

2 2/mo 20 5% 1

BrunswickIntracoastal Waterway, beach area between marker #28 & marker #29

2 2/mo 20 5% 1

BrunswickIntracoastal Waterway, marker #67 near Holden Beach

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickIntracoastal Waterway, shoreline adjacent to Ocean Isle Wildlife boat ramp

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickIntracoastal Waterway, waterfront park at end of NE 52nd St

3 2/mo 20 5% 0

BrunswickLighthouse Park; Ed Zaleski Way-Oak Island

1 1/wk 35 3% 0

Brunswick Middleton Public Access-Oak Island 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickOak Island Wildlife ramp off Fish Factory Rd

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

BrunswickOcean pier at 30th Place West and Beach Dr.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Ocean pier at Causeway and First St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickOcean pier at Main St. and Sunset Blvd.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickOcean pier at Ocean Blvd. and Durham St.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickOcean pier between 14th and 15th Place East and Beach Dr.

1 1/wk 35 3% 0

Brunswick Park on Fish Factory Road in Southport 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Brunswick Public access at 40th and Main St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickPublic access at Dawson Street-Ocean Isle Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickPublic access at Dolphin Street Holden Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickPublic access at Driftwood Street-Ocean Isle Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Public access at First and Chadbourn St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Public access at Ocean Dr. and Keziah St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Public access just west of mile marker #1 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickPublic access, 46th St/SE and E. Beach Drive-Oak Island

1 1/wk 34 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

BrunswickPublic access, 58th St/SE and E. Beach Drive-Oak Island

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Public access, east end Holden Beach 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Brunswick Public access, east end Sunset Beach 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

BrunswickPublic access, west end of Oak Island Drive-Oak Island

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Brunswick South Beach area-Beach access #17 1 1/wk 29 0% 0

Brunswick SW side, Holden Beach Bridge 3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Brunswick Waterway Park 3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Camden Canal boat ramp on SR 1153 3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Camden Sound access on SR 1153 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret 1⁄2 mile W of mile marker 10, oceanside 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret 1⁄4 mile W of 201⁄2 mile marker, oceanside 1 1/wk 34 3% 0

Carteret100 yds. NE Gallant’s Channel Bridge by shore

3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Carteret21⁄4 miles north of Cape Pt near Barden Inlet

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret 400 yds SE of Bean Island off Core Banks 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret50 yards east of NC Marine Fisheries Dock

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Adams Creek off Silver Dollar Rd 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretAO-Public Beach Access, Inlet Rd., West side junction of Coast Guard and Inlet Dr.

1 1/wk 35 3% 0

CarteretBogue Inlet mouth of Coast Guard Channel

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Bogue Sound-Archer Point 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretBogue Sound-Boat Landing Tourist Center

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretBogue Sound-Canal Leading to Moonlite Bay

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretBogue Sound-E side of mouth of Gales Creek

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretBogue Sound-Goose Creek, off campground

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretBogue Sound-W Salter Path, ~200 yds off of Wam Squam Ln

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Cape Lookout Coast Guard Dock 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretCedar Is-Bch area SE of Wildlife Ramp adjacent to Ferry Landing

2 2/mo 20 10% 1

Carteret Core Sd.-Shell point off Harkers Island 2 2/mo 20 5% 1

CarteretDeer Crk-Public access end of Bogue Sound Dr

2 2/mo 20 5% 1

Carteret Fort Macon, Park Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

CarteretHarker’s Island bridge at swimming area

2 2/mo 19 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

CarteretHeaden Ln. Salter Path-Soundside ~200 yds. offshore

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret ICW, marker #44 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret ICW, Ski Beach, channel to Bogue Inlet 2 2/mo 20 5% 1

CarteretIndian Beach-Public Beach Access at mile marker 12

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Knob Island-N side 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Lennoxville Boat Ramp 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Mile marker 15, oceanside 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Mile marker 71⁄2, oceanside 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Mile post 191⁄2, oceanside 1 1/wk 102 4% 0

Carteret Mile post 41⁄2, oceanside of Pelican Dr. 1 1/wk 34 3% 0

CarteretMorehead City-drain pipe at 16th Street

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Mouth of back creek-left side by beach 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret N end of Old Ferry Rd., soundside 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretNewport River-Public access NW of Bridge

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret North River-at hwy 70 bridge 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretNorth side mouth of Town Creek in Beaufort

1 1/wk 108 5% 27

Carteret Ocean end of Central Dr. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Ocean end of Henderson Blvd. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Ocean end of New Bern St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Off Brown’s Island 2 2/mo 20 5% 1

Carteret Park Service Dock 1 1/wk 35 3% 0

CarteretPine Knoll Shores-Just east of mile marker 81⁄2-Hwy 58 east

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

CarteretPublic access near Fawn Drive in Emerald Isle

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Carteret Radio Island public beach access 1 1/wk 114 5% 7

Carteret Shackelford Banks-by restrooms 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Shackelford Banks-nun buoy #2 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Spoils Island off Salty Shores 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Taylor’s Creek at post office dock 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret W side of mouth of South River 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretWest end of Sugarloaf Island, Morehead City

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

CarteretWestern tip of Bird Shoals on Rachel Carson Reserve

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Carteret Whitehurst Island E of marker 24 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

ChowanChowan River Wildlife Ramp, east side of Bridge

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Craven Hancock Creek dock at wildlife ramp 3 2/mo 19 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

CravenMouth of Slocum Creek, North Side Beach

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

CravenNeuse River-200 yds. N of mouth of North West Creek

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Craven Neuse River-Flanner’s Beach 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Craven Neuse River-Great Neck Point 2 2/mo 19 5% 0

Craven Neuse River-Green Spring Swim Area 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Craven Neuse River-Pine Cliff Recreation Area 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Craven Neuse River-Union Point 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Currituck100 yds offshore in sound near intersection of Hwy 12 and Albacore St. Corolla

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Currituck 2.8 miles N of Corolla Ramp 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Currituck Corolla Lighthouse Beach Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Currituck Corolla Ramp, end of paved road 1 1/wk 35 3% 0

Currituck Corolla, Albacore St. Beach Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Currituck Currituck S Beach Access at Pine Island 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Currituck Dock at the end of SR 1245 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Currituck Park on Woodhouse Dr., Grandy, NC 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Currituck Swimming area at end of SR 1142 3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Dare 11⁄2 Mi SW of RO Plant 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 1⁄4 Mi E of EMS Station 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare 100 ft-North of Jennettes Pier 1 1/wk 35 3% 0

Dare100 yrds ENE of Little Bridge, Causeway, Nags Head

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare100 yds offshore at Island Creek Ct.-Avon, NC

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare100 yrds offshore at North Holiday Rd.-Rodanthe

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare100 yds offshore at Sunset Strip Dr.-Frisco, NC

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare100 yds. offshore of 7517 S. Va. Dare Trail, Nags Head

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 2 mi SW of Frisco Vol Fire Dept 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare3⁄4 miles N. of sound access across from ramp #29

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare500 yds. offshore, 100 yrds. S of E side of Wright Memorial Bridge

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 500 yds off Sandyridge Rd.-Currituck Sd. 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 500 yds off Spy Glass Rd.-Currituck Sd. 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 750 yds off Ocean Bay Blvd.-Currituck Sd. 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare 800 yds off SR 1425 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Bath House at Ocean Bay Dr 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Bath House on SR 1206 1 1/wk 36 6% 6



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

DareBeach access 11⁄2 miles N of Kitty Hawk Pier

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Beach access at 3rd St 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Beach access at Sportsman Dr. 1 1/wk 36 3% 5

Dare Beach access at Sprigtail Dr. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Beach access S of Refuge offices 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Beach at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Canadian Hole 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Colington Harbour swimming beach 1 1/wk 105 3% 0

Dare Conch St beach access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Drainpipe at Hollowell St 1 1/wk 34 3% 0

Dare Drainpipe at Lake Dr beach access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Drainpipe at Martin Street 1 1/wk 34 6% 0

Dare Drainpipe at MP 10.5 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Drainpipe at MP 12.5 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Drainpipe at MP 83⁄4 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Drainpipe at Oregon St 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

DareDrainpipe at S Nags Head/Federal Park Border

1 1/wk 34 6% 0

Dare Federal Campground 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Frisco Bath House 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Hillcrest Dr. access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Jockey’s Ridge Soundside Access 1 1/wk 102 2% 0

DareKitty Hawk Bay Wildlife Ramp in Jet Ski riding area

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Nags Head Bath House 1 1/wk 33 0% 0

Dare New Inlet Sound Access 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Northernmost beach access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Ocean Ramp #30 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Oregon Inlet Federal Campground 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Dare Ramp #23 and access 1 1/wk 22 0% 0




DareRoanoke Sound, Dunube St D/P South Nags Head

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare S-turns just N of Rodanthe 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

DareShallowbag Bay-Swim Platform Manteo Bridge

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Sound access across from ramp #29 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Southeast side of Mann’s Harbor Bridge 3 2/mo 19 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

DareSouthern Shores private soundside access

1 1/wk 111 8% 8

Dare The Swimming Hole 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Dare Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Hyde 5 miles SW of Ocracoke state ferry 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Hyde Beach access by Airport Ramp 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Hyde Federal Campground-Ocracoke 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

HydeOcracoke-1st public access SW of state ferry

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

HydeSwanquarter Bay-end of docks on SR 1136

3 2/mo 23 17% 13

New HanoverArea behind the northern end of Masonboro Island

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

New HanoverBanks Channel-Waynick Blvd.-Between Snyder and Seashore Streets

1 1/wk 111 9% 44

New HanoverBanks Channel-Waynick Blvd.-between Taylor and Bellamy Streets

1 1/wk 111 7% 30

New HanoverBanks Channel-Waynick Blvd. approx. 150 yds N of Lula St.

1 1/wk 105 12% 0

New HanoverBanks Channel, swimming beach south of Coast Guard station

2 2/mo 19 0% 0 (56)*

New HanoverBeach access at Periwinkle Lane in Carolina Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverCama Access, corner of Waynick Blvd. and Sunset Ave (Wrightsville Beach)

1 1/wk 111 12% 2 (56)*

New Hanover Cape Fear River, W. end of Snows Cut 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

New HanoverCarolina Beach Inlet-N. end of Carolina Beach

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

New HanoverFort Fisher Beach State Park access off Loggerhead Rd.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverFort Fisher-Beach Adjacent to NCWRC Ramp

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

New HanoverN. end of Wrightsville Beach at public access #2 off Lumina Dr.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New Hanover Ocean Pier at K. Ave. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverOcean pier at Nathan St. and S. Lumina Dr.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New Hanover Ocean pier at Salisbury St. public access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverPublic access at the Hanby Beach Storm Drain

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverPublic beach on Masonboro Sd-end of Florida Ave in Carolina Beach

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

New Hanover Public beach access at Hemlet Ave. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverStone Street public access-oceanside Wrightsville Beach

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

New HanoverTrails End public access on Masonboro Loop

3 2/mo 19 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

New HanoverVehicle access, 600 yds. N. Carolina Beach Pier at Dune Mark

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Onslow ~1 mile S of Bogue Inlet 1 1/wk 34 3% 0

Onslow ~2 miles S of Brown’s Inlet 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

OnslowBogue Sd.-1⁄2 mile S of Bear Inlet, soundside

2 2/mo 22 9% 1

Onslow N. Topsail Bridge-Wildlife Ramp 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Onslow N. Topsail, Emergency Vehicle Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

OnslowNew River at mouth of Southwest Creek

2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Onslow New River, Wilson Park 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

OnslowOnslow Beach-Public access ~1⁄4 mile south of Onslow Beach Bridge

2 2/mo 23 4% 2

OnslowPublic access, mouth of NE Creek-New River

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Onslow Public access, North Topsail 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

OnslowRegional public access at mile marker 12 on New River Inlet Rd.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

OnslowRegional public access at mile marker 17 on New River Inlet Rd.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Onslow Sanders Creek at Bear Creek 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Onslow Soundside Bear Island 3 2/mo 20 5% 0

Onslow Wards Shore-Bogue Sound 2 2/mo 22 9% 3

Pamlico Dawson Crk., 100 yds N of bridge 2 2/mo 19 5% 1

Pamlico Just E of the mouth of Beard Crk 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Pamlico Just E of Wilkinson Pt 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Pamlico Kennals Beach 2 2/mo 20 5% 0

Pamlico Near mouth of Gatlin Crk 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

Pamlico Neuse River-end of State Rd 1310 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

PamlicoPublic beach S side of Dawson Crk Bridge

1 1/wk 108 12% 70

PamlicoPublic beach SW Mouth of Whittaker Creek N of Marker #3

2 2/mo 20 5% 0

Pamlico Vandemere Creek 2 2/mo 19 0% 0

PasquotankPasquotank River-E.C. Coast Guard Station Beach

3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Pender ICW, Hwy. 210 bridge at Surf City 2 2/mo 20 5% 0

PenderPublic access #O-10 at Ocean Blvd and Crews Ave.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

Pender Public access #O-3 at mile marker 3 1 1/wk 34 0% 0

PenderPublic access #S-1 at end of Shoreline Dr. (soundside station)

1 1/wk 71 3% 0

PenderPublic access at Broadway St. & N. Shore Dr.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0

PenderPublic access at S. Shore Dr. and Kinston Ave.

1 1/wk 34 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Pender Stump Sound just east of Dixon Point 2 2/mo 22 9% 7

Perquimans Albemarle Sd. at end of Holiday Lane Rd. 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

TyrellAlbemarle Sd.-Bull Bay Swimming Area 4H Camp

3 2/mo 19 0% 0


NoTES1 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Carolina Beach Monitoring Project Quality Assurance Project Plan, revised January 4, 2005.

2 J.D. Potts, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, personal communication, June 2010.

3 North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, North Carolina Recreational Water Quality Program Sampling Data, accessed at www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/shellfish/Water_Monitoring/RWQweb/data.htm. May 2008.

OH.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

OHiO27th in Beachwater Quality

15% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Villa Angela State Park in Cuyahoga County (40%) • Edgecliff Beach in Cuyahoga County (38%) • Euclid State Park in Cuyahoga County (38%)

Ohio has 62 public beaches lining 7.3 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. The state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season varies from location to location, depending on which entity is conducting the monitoring, but generally runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. ODH conducts water quality sampling at beaches in Lucas, Ottawa, Ashtabula, and Lorain Counties as well as Kelley’s Island State Park, but because of a delay in the passage of the state budget, this subset of the state’s Lake Erie beaches were not sampled from July 1 to July 15.

Ohio is a “home rule” state, and the state can only recommend sampling practices, standards, and notification protocols and procedures to local entities that participate in the beachwater quality monitoring program. Guidance recommends that samples be taken in water that is three feet deep, one foot below the surface. For the most part, monitoring is conducted at the area of the beach used most by the public.

Nearly all beaches are already sampled daily or as frequently as laboratory availability will allow. The monitoring frequency does not increase after a bacterial exceedance has been found.

Results: In 2009, Ohio reported 62 coastal beaches, 7 (11%) of which were monitored daily, 38 (61%) more than once a week, and 17 (27%) once a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 15% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Villa Angela State Park (40%), Edgecliff Beach (38%), Euclid State Park (38%), Noble Beach (36%), Shoreby Club Beach (36%), Sims Beach (36%), and Arcadia Beach (36%) in Cuyahoga County, Lakeshore Park in Ashtabula County (34%); Crystal Rock (32%) and Edison Creek (32%) in Erie County; and Moss Point Beach (29%) and Shorehaven Beach (29%) in Cuyahoga County.

Cuyahoga County had the highest exceedance rate (27%) in 2009, followed by Lorain (19%), Lucas (15%), Ashtabula (13%), Erie (12%), Lake (9%), and Ottawa (7%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 20 beaches, the percent of samples exceed ing the standard decreased to 17% in 2009 from 21% in 2008, 19% in 2007, and 21% in 2006.

0.00

5.25

10.50

15.75

21.00

26.25

2009200820072006


21%19%

21%

17%

Ohio Percent Exceedance for 20 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: Local jurisdictions have the authority to close beaches and to issue advisories. Ohio uses the E. coli singlesample maximum standard of 235 cfu/100 ml for beach advisory decisions. No geometric mean standard is applied when making closing and advisory decisions.

The state recommends that local authorities issue advisories when the bacterial standard is exceeded, and these recommendations were followed in all cases in 2009.

A predictive model called Nowcast uses environmental factors including rainfall, turbidity, and/or wave height to predict E. coli levels. Between May 18 and July 23 in 2009, Huntington Beach was placed on advisory status if Nowcast predicted that the probability of E. coli concentrations exceeding 235 cfu/100 ml was 23 percent or greater. For the remainder of the swim season, the beach was placed on advisory status if Nowcast predicted that the probability of E. coli concentrations exceeding 235 cfu/100 ml was 26 percent or greater.1 Bacterial monitoring at Huntington Beach has shown that Nowcastbased notifications are issued in a more protective pattern than if they were issued based on bacterial monitoring.2

Edgewater Beach was placed on advisory based on Nowcast predictions as well in 2009. Between May 17 and June 8 in 2009, Edgewater Beach was placed on advisory status if Nowcast predicted that the probability of E. coli con centrations exceeding 235 cfu/100 ml was 22 percent or greater. From June 9 to August 10, Edgewater Beach was placed on advisory status if Nowcast predicted that the probability of E. coli concentrations exceeding 235 cfu/100 ml was 27 percent or greater. For the remainder of the swim season, the beach was placed on advisory status if Nowcast predicted that the probability of E. coli concentrations exceeding 235 cfu/100 ml was 32 percent or greater. In 2009, the model predicted 36 advisory days, 20 of which were accurate, while the previous day’s bacteria count as measured by membrane filtration would have resulted in 30 advisory days, 10 of which were accurate.1 The model also did a better job of predicting advisory days in 2009 than qPCR, a rapid test method that failed to predict all 3 occasions (out of 18 sampling events) when E. coli counts (as measured using membrane filtration) exceeded the standard.1

There are no preemptive rainfall standards at beaches in Ohio, but preemptive rainfall advisories can be issued by beach managers if they feel water quality has been compromised by rain.3 Beach managers may also restrict beach access because of sewage or other pollution spills, or for any other threat to public health.

Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 302 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 29% to 1,012 days in 2009 from 783 days in 2008, 657 days in 2007, 629 days in 2006, and 182 days in 2005. In addition, there was 1 extended event and no permanent events in 2009; there were no extended or permanent events in 2008. Extended events are those in effect between 7 and 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Ohio 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Ashtabula Conneaut Township Park 1 4/wk 50 10% 22

Ashtabula Geneva State Park 1 4/wk 50 4% 9

Ashtabula Lakeshore Park 1 4/wk 50 34% 36

Ashtabula Walnut Beach 1 4/wk 50 4% 5


Ohio Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Cuyahoga Arcadia Beach 2 1/wk 14 36% 33

Cuyahoga Bay Park Beach 2 1/wk 14 0% 0

Cuyahoga Clarkwood Beach 2 1/wk 14 21% 20

Cuyahoga Clifton Beach 2 1/wk 28 14% 14

Cuyahoga Columbia Park Beach 2 1/wk 14 14% 11

Cuyahoga Edgecliff Beach 2 1/wk 13 38% 48

Cuyahoga Edgewater State Park 1 Daily 110 26% 29

Cuyahoga Euclid State Park 1 Daily 114 38% 43

Cuyahoga Huntington Beach 1 Daily 100 10% 10

Cuyahoga Moss Point Beach 2 1/wk 14 29% 27

Cuyahoga Noble Beach 2 1/wk 14 36% 34

Cuyahoga Parklawn Beach 2 1/wk 15 13% 10

Cuyahoga Royal Acres Beach 2 1/wk 14 21% 20

Cuyahoga Shoreby Club Beach 2 1/wk 14 36% 34

Cuyahoga Shorehaven Beach 2 1/wk 7 29% 7 (55)*

Cuyahoga Sims Beach 2 1/wk 14 36% 34

Cuyahoga Utopia Beach 2 1/wk 14 21% 20

Cuyahoga Villa Angela State Park 1 Daily 114 40% 46

Cuyahoga Wagar Beach 2 1/wk 15 13% 10

Erie Battery Park 1 3/wk 44 0% 0

Erie Bay View East 1 3/wk 44 5% 13

Erie Bay View West 1 3/wk 44 16% 36

Erie Cedar Point Chausee 1 3/wk 44 11% 8

Erie Chappel Creek 1 3/wk 44 11% 9

Erie Cranberry Creek 1 3/wk 43 0% 0

Erie Crystal Rock 1 3/wk 44 32% 42

Erie Darby Creek 1 3/wk 44 23% 22

Erie Edison Creek 1 3/wk 44 32% 43

Erie Fichtel Creek 1 3/wk 44 7% 10

Erie Hoffman Ditch 1 3/wk 44 7% 7

Erie Huron River East 1 3/wk 44 11% 15

Erie Huron River West 1 3/wk 44 14% 16

Erie Kiwanis 1 3/wk 44 11% 6

Erie Lion’s Park 1 3/wk 44 0% 0

Erie Old Woman Creek East 1 3/wk 41 0% 0

Erie Old Woman Creek West 1 3/wk 43 2% 2

Erie Pickerel Creek 1 3/wk 44 2% 4

Erie Sawmill Creek 1 3/wk 43 7% 3

Erie Sherod Creek 1 3/wk 44 27% 30

Erie Showse Park 1 3/wk 44 5% 13

Erie Sugar Creek 1 3/wk 44 16% 14



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Erie Vermilion River East 1 3/wk 44 16% 23

Erie Vermilion River West 1 3/wk 43 26% 25

Erie Whites Landing 1 3/wk 44 11% 10

Lake Fairport Harbor 1 Daily 111 14% 15

Lake Headlands State Park (E) 1 Daily 111 8% 9

Lake Headlands State Park (West) 1 Daily 111 6% 7

Lorain Century Beach 1 4/wk 49 27% 29

Lorain Lakeview Beach 1 4/wk 49 12% 12

Lucas Maumee Bay State Park (Erie) 1 4/wk 51 20% 19

Lucas Maumee Bay State Park (Inland) 1 4/wk 51 10% 8

Ottawa Camp Perry 1 4/wk 51 24% 24

Ottawa Catawba Island State Park 1 4/wk 51 6% 3

Ottawa East Harbor State Park 1 4/wk 51 2% 1

Ottawa Kelleys Island State Park 2 1/wk 10 0% 0

Ottawa Lakeside Beach 1 4/wk 51 2% 1

Ottawa Port Clinton (Deep/Lakeview) 1 4/wk 51 6% 11

Ottawa South Bass Island State Park 2 1/wk 13 0% 0


NOTES1 Ohio Department of Health. Year 2009 Bathing Beach Monitoring Program Results. Accessed at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/bbeach/beachmon.aspx. December 2009.

2 Ohio Department of Health. Year 2007 Bathing Beach Monitoring Program Results. Accessed at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/bbeach/beachmon.aspx. Not dated.

3 Barry Rice, Ohio Department of Health, personal communication, May 2009.

OR.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

ORegOn3rd in Beachwater Quality

2% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Sunset Bay State Park Beach in Coos County (12%) • Mill Beach in Curry County (9%) • Harris Beach State Park in Curry County (7%)

Oregon has 59 beaches lining 186 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. The state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS).

MonitoringSampling Practices: In 2009, sampling occurred from March to November, with more frequent monitoring during the peak season from May to September. Of the beaches that were sampled, some were sampled only during the nonpeak-use season, when they are visited by surfers and wet weather is expected to compromise water quality (9/15/2008–11/19/2008 and 3/9/2009–5/6/2009), while others were sampled only during the peak-use season (Memorial Day to Labor Day).1

DHS determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. All samples are collected and processed by an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality employee who travels the coastline in a mobile lab. Samples are collected at ankle to knee depth in the middle of typical bathing areas. Beaches are prioritized for sampling based on the number of people recreating in the water, previ ous water quality data, known and suspected point and non-point pollution sources, and public comments.

Water samples are taken near known or potential pollution sources. Following an advisory during the peak season, an addi-tional sample is collected within 96 hours, if resources are avail-able. The program conducts follow-up moni toring after known sewage spills and major pollution events.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found and after pollution events will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found or after pollution events.

Results: In 2009, Oregon reported 91 coastal beaches, of which 5 (5%) were monitored once a week and 19 (21%) every other week, and 67 (74%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of moni toring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 1% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. Four beaches had exceedances in 2009: Sunset Bay State Park Beach in Coos County (12%), Mill Beach (9%) and Harris Beach State Park (7%) in Curry County, and D River Beach in Lincoln County (5%).

Coos County had the highest exceedance rate (5%) in 2009, followed by Curry (3%), and Lincoln (1%). Clatsop, Lane, and Tillamook Counties had no exceedances. The beach in Douglas County was not monitored.

0

2

4

6

8

10

2009200820072006


6%

8%

3%

1%

Oregon Percent exceedance for 20 Beaches Reported 2006–2009





AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: In Oregon, the public is guaranteed free and uninterrupted use of all beaches along the coastline. Therefore, beach advisories are issued but closings are not. Oregon uses a single-sample maximum enterococcus standard of 158 cfu/100 ml for beach advisory decisions in marine waters. This standard corresponds to the EPA’s “Moderate Full Body Contact Recreation” value for 19 illnesses/1,000 swimmers. The DHS says its use of a standard that is less strict than the EPA’s “Designated Beach Area” standard is protective of public health, given the small number of swimmers and other recreational users of coastal waters in Oregon. The geo-metric mean of sampling results is calculated for tracking trends only, not for issuing advisories.

Public notification for beach advisories occurs if a single sample result exceeds Oregon’s action limit. Resampling, in lieu of issuing public notifica tion, is acceptable if there is reason to doubt the accuracy or certainty of the first sample, but to date, there have been no exceedances attributed to sampling or laboratory error that required resampling prior to the issuance of an advisory.1

The state does not have preemptive standards for rainfall but does issue pre-emptive advisories after a known sewage spill or major pollution event where the potential exists for bacteria indicator levels to exceed the state standard.1

number of Advisories: Total advisory days for 19 events lasting six consecu-tive weeks or less increased 23% to 106 days in 2009 from 86 days in 2008, 101 days in 2007, 66 days in 2006, and 117 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Advisories: For the 19 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 42% (44) of advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 40% (42) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, and 19% (20) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks.

Reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 40% (42) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 42% (44) were from unknown sources of contamination, and 19% (20) were from sewage spills/leaks.

Oregon 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Clatsop Arcadia State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Clatsop Cannon Beach 1 1/wk 71 0% 0

Clatsop Del Rey Beach State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Clatsop Fort Stevens State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Clatsop Hug Point State Park Beach 1 1/wk 40 0% 0

Clatsop Indian Beach at Ecola State Park 1 1/wk 42 0% 0

Clatsop Seaside Beach 1 1/wk 67 0% 6

Clatsop Sunset Beach State Rec Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Clatsop Tolovana State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0


Oregon Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Coos Bandon South Jetty County Park 1 2/mo 0 NA 0

Coos Bandon State Natural Area 1 none 0 NA 0

Coos Bastendorf Beach 1 2/mo 52 0% 0

Coos Cape Arago State Park-North Cove 1 none 0 NA 0

Coos Cape Arago State Park-South Cove 1 none 0 NA 0

Coos Seven Devils State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Coos Sunset Bay State Park Beach 1 2/mo 43 12% 18

Coos Whiskey Run Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Arizona Beach State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Battle Rock State Park Beach 1 2/mo 13 0% 0

Curry Buena Vista Ocean Wayside State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Bullards Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Cape Blanco State Park-Sixes River Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Crissey Field State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint 1 2/mo 14 0% 0

Curry Gold Beach 1 2/mo 7 0% 0

Curry Harris Beach State Park 1 2/mo 29 7% 28

Curry Hubbard Creek Beach 1 2/mo 40 0% 0

Curry Humbug Mountain State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Hunter Creek Beach 1 2/mo 7 0% 0

Curry McVay Rock State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Meyers Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Mill Beach 1 2/mo 23 9% 1

Curry Nesika Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Ophir Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Otter Point State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Paradise Point State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint 1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Port Point Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

CurrySamuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor-China Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

CurrySamuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor-Lone Ranch Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

CurrySamuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor-Whaleshead Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Curry Sporthaven Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Douglas Umpqua Beach 1 none 0 NA 2

Lane Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Lane Devils Elbow State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Lane Florence North Jetty Beach 1 none 24 0% 6

Lane Heceta Beach 1 none 1 0% 6

LaneMuriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint

1 none 0 NA 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Lane Neptune Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

LaneOregon Dunes National Rec Area-Horsfall Beach

1 none 0 NA 0

Lane Oregon Dunes National Rec Area-South Jetty 1 none 1 0% 6

LaneOregon Dunes National Rec Area-Umpqua Dunes

1 none 0 NA 0

Lane Rock Creek Campground-Roosevelt Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lane Stonefield Beach State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Agate Beach 1 2/mo 60 0% 6

Lincoln Alsea River Recreation Area Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Beachside State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Beverly Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln D River Beach 1 2/mo 43 5% 3

Lincoln Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Fogarty Creek Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Gleneden Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Governor Patterson State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Lost Creek State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Moolack Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Nelscott Beach 1 none 3 0% 0

Lincoln Nye Beach 1 2/mo 47 0% 6

Lincoln Ona Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Otter Rock Beach 1 2/mo 30 0% 6

Lincoln Roads End Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Seal Rock State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Siletz Bay Beach 1 none 3 0% 6

Lincoln Smelt Sands State Recreation Site 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln South Beach 1 none 3 0% 6

Lincoln Tillicum Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Yachats Wayside Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Lincoln Yaquina Bay State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Barview County Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Bob Straub State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Cape Kiwanda State Park Beach 1 2/mo 42 0% 0

Tillamook Cape Lookout State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Cape Mears Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Manhattan Beach State Park 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Manzanita Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Nehalem Bay State Park Beach 1 none 0 NA 0

Tillamook Neskowin Beach 1 2/mo 21 0% 0

Tillamook Oceanside Beach State Rec. Site Wayside 1 2/mo 21 0% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Tillamook Rockaway Beach 1 2/mo 21 0% 0

Tillamook Short Sand Beach 1 1/wk 63 0% 0

Tillamook Twin Rocks Beach 1 2/mo 7 0% 0

nOTeS1 Oregon Department of Human Services. Annual Performance Report for the Oregon Department of Human Services BEACH Monitoring Program (Agreement #CU96031701)—Activity Period October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009. Not dated.

PA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

PennsylvAniA21st in Beachwater Quality

8% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Beach 1 West Extension in Erie County (20%) • Beach 1 West in Erie County (16%) • Barracks Beach in Erie County (10%)

Pennsylvania has 40 miles of Lake Erie coastline, eight miles of which are permitted public bathing beaches. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, coordinated by the Erie County Department of Health, administers the coastal beach monitoring program.

Monitoringsampling Practices: Beachwater quality monitoring activities are conducted from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Practices are regulated by the state, with permit holders allowed to monitor more frequently than the state requires if they desire. Samples are collected in water that is approximately 30 inches deep, midway between the surface and the bottom. By regulation, at least three samples of water are taken from each beach at least once a week. Two samples are taken approximately 50 feet from each end of the beach and the third sample is taken in the center. Presque Isle State Park has established a protocol that requires two sampling events each week.

When a sample is found to exceed bacterial standards, beaches are resampled for three consecutive days in order to lift advisories and/or restrictions as soon as possible.1 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedances and lower total advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not change after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Pennsylvania reported 13 Lake Erie beaches in Erie County, all of which were monitored twice a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi mum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including dupli cate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 8% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Beach 1 West Extension (20%), Beach 1 West (16%), and Barracks Beach (10%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 6 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 2%in 2007, and 9% in 2006.

Restrictions and Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Swimming advisories and restrictions, rather than beach closings, are issued at Lake Erie beaches. In Pennsylvania, if a single-sample E. coli count is between 235 and 1,000 cfu/100 ml, a swimming advisory is issued. While swimming is permitted, the public is informed that the E. coli level exceeds standards, and beachgoers

0.00

2.25

4.50

6.75

9.00

11.25

2009200820072006


9%

2%

5%4%

Pennsylvania Percent exceedance for 6 Beaches Reported 2006–2009



PA.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

are also advised about the necessary precautions to take should they choose to enter the water. If a single-sample count is 1,000 cfu/100 ml or greater, a swim-ming restriction is posted and swimming is prohibited. Pennsylvania also uses the 5-sample, 30-day geometric mean standard for E. coli of 126 cfu/100 ml to post restrictions.2 There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory or restriction when bacterial standards are exceeded.

Pennsylvania issues preemptive rain advisories at its Lake Erie beaches when rainfall exceeds 0.5 inch in a 24-hour period.2 Beaches are also preemptively posted with restrictions when there is a known sewage spill and when high waves and strong winds out of the west are present.2

number of Restrictions and Advisories: Total restriction/advisory days for 26 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 24% to 34 days in 2009 from 45 days in 2008, 6 days in 2007, 53 days in 2006, and 39 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but no more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Restrictions and Advisories: For 26 events lasting 6 consecutive weeks or less, 74% (25) of restriction/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 24% (8) were preemptive based on the results of computer modeling, and 3% (1) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to other reasons.

Reported sources of Beachwater Contamination: All restriction/advisory days were from stormwater runoff.

Pennsylvania 2009 Monitoring Results and Restriction or Advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Erie Barracks Beach 1 2/wk 120 10% 5

Erie Beach 1 East 1 2/wk 120 9% 4

Erie Beach 1 West 1 2/wk 132 16% 6

Erie Beach 1 West Extension 1 2/wk 138 20% 9

Erie Beach 10 (Bundy Beach) 1 2/wk 102 3% 1

Erie Beach 11 1 2/wk 102 7% 1

Erie Beach 2 1 2/wk 0 NA 0

Erie Beach 6 1 2/wk 108 4% 2

Erie Beach 7 (Water Works Beach) 1 2/wk 108 3% 2

Erie Beach 8 (Pettinato Beach) 1 2/wk 102 4% 1

Erie Beach 9 (Pine Tree Beach) 1 2/wk 102 4% 1

Erie Freeport Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Erie Mill Road Beaches 1 2/wk 111 7% 2

noTes1 US EPA. Beach Sampling in Pennsylvania (Lake Erie) (website). Accessed at http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/beachpa.htm. July 2008.

2 Doug Range, Erie County Department of Health, personal communication, June 2009.


Pennsylvania sources of Contamination

RI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Rhode Island29th in Beachwater Quality


dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Saunderstown Yacht Club in Washington County (54%) • Easton’s Beach in Newport County (40%) • Scarborough State Beach North in Washington County (38%)

Rhode Island has 238 public coastal beaches along about 400 miles of Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay waters. The Rhode Island Department of Health is responsible for beachwater monitoring and water quality notifications.

Monitoringsampling Practices: The regular monitoring season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The City of Newport grants money to a local Aquidneck Island volunteer organization, Clean Ocean Access, to continue sampling Easton’s Beach and Atlantic Beach Club Beach during the off-season when surfers utilize the beach area.1 Additional volunteer groups including the Surfrider Foundation assist with sampling efforts throughout the year.

The Department of Health determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are collected just below the surface of the water in water that is approximately three feet deep. High priority for more frequent monitoring is given to beaches with direct known sources of pollution (i.e., storm water outfalls, septic/sewer connections, population density, location of nearby sewer plants) and high usage, and to facilities that have exhibited poor water quality in the past.

Monitoring efforts are focused on areas of greatest concern and target sample collection for times when high bacteria counts are most likely to be present. The number of samples collected on a beach is dependent on the length of coastline and the presence of physical barriers to circulation (jetties, groins, etc.) that can trap bacterial contaminants near the shore. If a beach is closed or placed under advisory, sampling is conducted daily until the water quality meets standards and the beach is reopened. Extensive wet-weather sampling is conducted to determine the reopening schedule for beaches under preemptive rainfall advisories.2 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found or after heavy rainfall will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found or after heavy rainfall.

Results: In 2009, Rhode Island reported 234 coastal beaches, 15 (6%) of which were monitored more than once a week, 7 (3%) once a week, 13 (6%) every other week, 38 (16%) once a month, and 2 (1%) less than once a month; 159 (68%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of moni toring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 20% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Saunderstown Yacht Club in Washington County (54%); Easton’s Beach in Newport County (40%): Scarborough State Beach North in Washington County (38%); Third Beach in Newport County (34%); Scarborough State Beach South in Washington County (33%); Atlantic Beach Club (33%), Peabodys Beach (31%), and Marine Avenue Beach (27%) in Newport County; Plum Beach Club in Washington County (25%); and King Park Swim Area in Newport County (21%).

0

5

10

15

20

25

2009200820072006


12%

8%

13%

20%

Rhode Island Percent exceedance for 39 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


Newport County had the highest exceedance rate (25%) in 2009, followed by Washington (18%), Kent (14%), and Bristol (12%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 39 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 20% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 8% in 2007, and 12% in 2006.

Closings and advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Rhode Island issues both beach closings (for bacterial contamination) and advisories (due to rain). Rhode Island’s coastal bathing water standard is a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml of enterococcus. No geometric mean standard is applied when determining whether to issue a beach closing.

Typically, if sampling results exceed the standard, a beach is closed. How-ever, the Department of Health considers several environmental factors before deciding whether to close a beach based on monitoring results, including the presence of wildlife and seaweed as well as the number of tides that have occurred since the sample was collected. Other considerations include the history of sample results for that beach and rainfall.2 On rare occasions, if environmental factors do not suggest fecal contamination, the beach may remain open while it is resampled.

During the 2009 season, the Department of Health utilized predictive measures to issue notifications at Scarborough State Beach and Easton’s Beach.

If a known sewage discharge occurs in close proximity to a beach, the beach is closed immediately without waiting for sampling results to confirm con tami-nation. Two beaches have preemptive rainfall standards: Scarborough and Easton’s Beaches are closed when there is more than one inch of rainfall in a 24-hour period. Easton’s Beach reopens within 12 hours of cessation of heavy rain. The beach monitoring program generally recommends no water contact within three days of heavy rainfall.1

The public is advised to avoid water contact at beaches north of Conimicut Point in Warwick and Nayatt Point in Barrington because of ongoing water quality issues.1

number of Closings: Total closing days for 79 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 44% to 178 days in 2009 from 124 days in 2008, 86 days in 2007, 256 days in 2006, and 57 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks. Rhode Island told NRDC that, historically, increased rainfall has been directly correlated with an increase in beach closings; the increase in beach closing days and percent exceedance rates is likely attributable to an extensive increase in rainfall in 2009.2

Causes of Closings: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Rhode Island 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days

Bristol Annawamscutt Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Baia Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Barrington Beach 1 2 or 3/wk 86 15% 15

Bristol Barrington Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0


Rhode Island sources of Contamination



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days




Bristol Bristol Town Beach 1 3/wk 104 13% 12

Bristol Bristol Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Bristol Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Camp Crosby 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Camp St. Dorothy 1 1/wk 2 0% 0

Bristol Hopeworth Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Juniper Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Latham Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Rumstick Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Touisset Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Warren Town Beach 1 2 or 3/wk 99 9% 9

Bristol Warren Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Bristol Warren Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Buttonwoods Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Cedar Tree Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Chepiwanoxet 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent City Park Beach 1 3/wk 75 4% 12

Kent Cole Farm Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Conimicut Point Beach 1 3/wk 88 18% 18

Kent Gaspee Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Goddard Memorial State Park 1 3/wk 174 18% 10

Kent Longmeadow 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Mill Cove Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Oakland Beach 1 3/wk 135 11% 17

Kent Potowomut 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Rocky Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Warwick Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Kent Warwick Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Atlantic Beach Club 1 4/wk 75 33% 18

Newport Briggs Beach 3 1/mo 23 4% 0

Newport Collins Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Easton’s Beach 1 2/wk 355 40% 3

Newport Easton’s Point 3 1/wk 47 19% 0

Newport Elm Street Pier 3 1/wk 42 10% 0

Newport Fogland Beach 2 2/mo 30 7% 0

Newport Fort Adams State Park 1 3/wk 59 7% 6

Newport Fort Getty 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Fort Weatherill 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days

Newport Gooseberry Beach 3 1/mo 14 0% 0

Newport Goosewing Beach 3 1/mo 16 0% 0

Newport Grinnell’s Beach 3 2/mo 19 5% 0

Newport Hazard’s Beach 3 1/mo 12 0% 0

Newport Island Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Jamestown Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0




Newport King Park Swim Area 3 none 170 21% 0

Newport Kings Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Little Compton Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0











Newport Mackerel Cove Beach 2 1/mo 27 4% 0

Newport Marine Avenue Beach 3 1/wk 48 27% 0

Newport McCorrie Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Middletown Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Middletown Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Newport Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Newport Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Ochre Point (Ruggles) 3 1/wk 47 19% 0

Newport Patience Island Unnamed #1 3 2/mo 0 NA 0

Newport Peabodys Beach 2 2/mo 51 31% 11

Newport Portsmouth Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0











Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days






Newport Prudence Island Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0











Newport Rocky Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Sachuest Beach 2 2/mo 32 6% 0

Newport Sandy Point Beach 3 2/mo 22 14% 2

Newport Sapowet Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Seaside Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport South Shore Beach 3 1/mo 12 17% 0

Newport Spouting Rock Beach Association 3 1/mo 27 15% 0

Newport Teddys Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Newport Third Beach 1 3/wk 155 34% 11

Newport Tiverton Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0












Newport Van Zandt Pier 3 1/wk 43 16% 0

Newport Warrens Point Beach Club 3 1/mo 7 0% 0

Newport West Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence Bold Point 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days

Providence Bullocks Neck 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence Cranston Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence Cranston Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence Crescent Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence East Providence Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence East Providence Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Providence Sabins Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Alfies 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Washington Andrea Hotel 3 1/mo 9 11% 0

Washington Atlantic Beach Casino Resort 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

Washington Atlantic Beach Park 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Washington Atlantic Pizza and Grill 3 1/mo 7 0% 0

Washington Ballards Inn 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Washington Block Island Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0












Washington Blue Shutters Beach 3 1/mo 12 0% 0

Washington Bonnet Shores Beach Club 2 2/mo 25 4% 0

Washington Cafe Pasture Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Camp Fuller-YMCA Beach 2 2/mo 7 14% 1

Washington Camp Grosvenor 1 3/wk 41 15% 10

Washington Capt Roger Wheeler 1 1/wk 64 0% 0

Washington Charlestown Beach 3 4/yr 0 NA 0

Washington Charlestown Breachway 3 1/mo 8 0% 0

Washington Charlestown Town Beach 2 1/mo 12 0% 0

Washington Charlestown Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Charlestown Unnamed #2 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Deep Hole Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Dunes Club 3 2/mo 28 4% 0

Washington Dunes Park 3 1/mo 8 0% 0

Washington East Beach 3 1/mo 13 0% 0

Washington East Matunuck State Beach 3 1/mo 12 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days

Washington Fred Benson Town Beach 3 1/mo 3 0% 0

Washington Galilee Beach Club Association 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Washington Green Hill Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Jims Trailer Park 2 1/mo 6 0% 0

Washington Kelly Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Matunuck Town Beach 3 1/mo 21 10% 0

Washington Misquamicut Club 3 1/mo 14 0% 1

Washington Misquamicut Fire District Beach 3 1/mo 16 6% 0

Washington Misquamicut State Beach 1 2/mo 18 0% 0

Washington Moonstone Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Napa Tree Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Narragansett Town Beach 1 3/mo 30 10% 0

Washington Narragansett Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0











Washington North Kingstown Town Beach 1 2 or 3/wk 84 20% 8

Washington North Kingstown Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0













Washington Ocean House 3 2/yr 8 0% 0

Washington Paddy’s Beach 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

Washington Pleasant View Inn 3 1/mo 5 20% 0

Washington Plum Beach Club 2 2/mo 12 25% 1



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

days

Washington Quonochotaug Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Roy Carpenter’s Beach 3 1/mo 10 0% 0

Washington Salty Brine Beach 3 1/mo 4 0% 0

Washington Sam’s Beach 3 1/mo 13 0% 0

Washington Sandy Shore Motel 3 1/mo 7 14% 0

Washington Saunderstown Yacht Club 2 2/mo 13 54% 3

Washington Scarborough State Beach North 1 2/wk 202 38% 5

Washington Scarborough State Beach South 1 2/wk 120 33% 5

Washington Seaside Beach Club 3 1/mo 5 0% 0

Washington South Kingstown Unnamed #1 3 none 0 NA 0





Washington Surf Hotel 3 1/mo 1 0% 0

Washington Trustom Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Weekapaug Fire District 3 1/mo 24 0% 0

Washington Westerly Town Beach-New 3 1/mo 7 14% 0

Washington Westerly Town Beach-Old 3 1/mo 10 10% 0

Washington Westerly Unamed # 1 3 none 0 NA 0




Washington Wesquage Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Washington Willow Dell Beach Club 3 1/mo 6 0% 0

noTes1 Rhode Island Department of Health. Beach Monitoring Program 2009 Season Report. March 2010.

2 Amie Parris, Rhode Island Department of Health, personal communication, June 2010.

SC.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

SouTh Carolina8th in Beachwater Quality

4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• South Carolina State Park and Campground in Horry County (15%) • Surfside Beach in Horry County (10%) • Springmaid Beach in Horry County (9%)

There are 63 beaches in South Carolina lining 180 miles of Atlantic coastline (102 miles on the mainland coast, and 78 miles on islands without bridges from the mainland barrier islands or on sandbars). The state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season is from May 15 to October 15. DHEC determines monitoring locations, sampling practices, standards, and notification protocols, which are uniform throughout the state. Samples are taken in water that is 20 to 40 inches deep, 12 inches below the surface. In South Carolina, beaches are prioritized for inclusion in the monitoring program based on level of use and water quality history. Most Tier 1 beaches have stormwater outfalls.

Sampling is deliberately conducted at swashes and outfalls. Beaches whose water quality has fallen below standards or that have been under a rainfall advisory are sampled daily and reopened when the standards are met. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found or after heavy rains tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than those that do not alter their sampling schedule after an exceedance is found or after heavy rainfall.

results: In 2009, South Carolina reported 63 coastal beaches, 7 (11%) of which were monitored once a week, 16 (25%) every other week, and 40 (63%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season). In 2009, 4% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were South Carolina State Park and Campground (15%), Surfside Beach (10%), Springmaid Beach (9%), and Myrtle Beach in Horry County (7%).

Horry County had the highest exceedance rate (6%) in 2009 followed by Colleton (1%). There were no exceedances in Charleston, Beaufort, and Georgetown Counties.

Comparing percent exceedance rates to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 23 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 7% in 2008, 6 %in 2007, and 8 %in 2006.

advisoriesStandards and Procedures: The beachwater quality monitoring program has the authority to issue advisories, but not closings; in South Carolina, only elected officials can close a beach. South Carolina applies a single-sample maximum

0

2

4

6

8

10

2009200820072006


8%

6%7%

4%

South Carolina Percent Exceedance for 23 Beaches reported 2006–2009



standard for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml. Advisories are not issued in South Carolina based on the geometric mean of five samples during a 30 day period.

The DHEC issues an advisory immediately when the enterococcus bacteria level reaches 500 cfu/100 ml and above. If the bacteria level is above 104 cfu/100 ml but below 500 cfu/100 ml, an additional sample is collected. If the second sample is also above 104 cfu/100 ml, then the department issues an advisory.

A rain model is used for posting preemptive advisories at Horry County’s Tier 1 beaches. Work to improve the accuracy of this model is underway.

Preemptive rainfall advisories are issued at certain beaches that have a history of high bacteria levels from stormwater. Most pipe outfalls and swashes in Horry County are under permanent rainfall advisory, with permanent signs posted.1

number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 10 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 33% to 48 days in 2009 from 36 days in 2008, 108 days in 2007, 684 days in 2006, and 592 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect between 7 and 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and advisories: For the 10 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 77% (37) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 2% (1) were preemptive (i.e., without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, and 21% (10) were preemptive due to a chemical oil spill.

reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 17% (8) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, and 83% (40) were from other sources of contamination.

South Carolina 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Beaufort Bay Point-North End 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Bay Pointe-South End 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Beaufort River Sandbar 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Dafuskie Island-northeast end of island 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Fripp Island 2 2/mo 50 0% 0

Beaufort Harbor Island 2 2/mo 31 3% 0

Beaufort Hilton Head Island 2 2/mo 140 0% 0

Beaufort Hunting Island 2 2/mo 60 0% 0

Beaufort Hunting Island and Fripp Island Sandbar 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Lands End-North End 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Lands End-South End 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort May River Sandbar 3 none 0 NA 0

BeaufortThe Sands at Port Royal-across from landing

3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort The Sands at Port Royal-beach area 3 none 0 NA 0

Beaufort Trenchards Inlet (Bull Point) 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Bird Key 3 none 0 NA 0


South Carolina Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Charleston Botany Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Cape Romain-Key Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Capers Inlet-north end Dewees Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Capers Inlet-south end Capers Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Capers Island-north end 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Deveaux Banks-north side 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Dewees Inlet-north end of Isle of Palms 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Dewees Island-south end 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Folly Beach 2 2/mo 80 0% 10

Charleston Isle of Palms 2 2/mo 99 0% 0

Charleston Kiawah-north end 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Kiawah Island 2 2/mo 50 0% 10

Charleston Lighthouse Inlet-Morris Island south end 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Morris Island-sandbar on north end 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Prices Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Privateer Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Raccoon Key 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Seabrook Island 2 2/mo 20 0% 10

Charleston Stono River-Limehouse sandbar 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Stono River-Wolf Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Charleston Sullivans Island 2 2/mo 30 3% 10

Colleton Edisto Island 2 2/mo 141 1% 0

Colleton Otter Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown Debordieu-south end 3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown Debordieu Beach 2 2/mo 20 0% 0

Georgetown Garden City Beach 2 2/mo 10 0% 0

Georgetown Huntington Beach State Park 2 2/mo 20 0% 0

Georgetown Litchfield Beach 2 2/mo 30 0% 0

Georgetown Murrells Inlet-north side 3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown Murrells Inlet-south side 3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown North Island-north end 3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown North Island-south end 3 none 0 NA 0

GeorgetownNorth Santee River-south end of South Island

3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown Pawleys Island Beach 2 2/mo 30 0% 0

GeorgetownSandbar offshore of south end of Cedar Island

3 none 0 NA 0

Georgetown South Island-north end 3 none 0 NA 0

GeorgetownSouth Santee River-south end of Cedar Island

3 none 0 NA 0

Horry Arcadia Beach 1 1/wk 84 1% 0

Horry Briarcliffe Acres Beach 1 1/wk 63 3% 0



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Horry Garden City Beach 2 2/mo 43 2% 0

Horry Little River Inlet-north side 3 none 0 NA 0

Horry Little River Inlet-south side 3 none 0 NA 0

Horry Myrtle Beach 1 1/wk 515 7% 0

Horry North Myrtle Beach 1 1/wk 212 0% 1

HorrySouth Carolina State Park and Campground

1 1/wk 87 15% 1

Horry Springmaid Beach 1 1/wk 23 9% 2

Horry Surfside Beach 1 1/wk 157 10% 4

noTES1 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. BEACH Grant Semi-Annual Update. November 2009.

TX.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

TeXas16th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Ropes Park in Nueces County (37%) • Poenisch Park in Nueces County (28%) • Cole Park in Nueces County (25%)

Texas has 169 public beaches lining 324 of the approximately 2500 miles of Texas shoreline. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) administers the Texas Beach Watch Program.

Monitoringsampling Practices: Beaches are monitored year-round, but are most frequently monitored from May to September as well as during the month of March, in order to coincide with spring break at Gulf of Mexico beaches.1

The GLO determines sampling practices, locations, and standards, and recommends that local government and health departments issue beach advisories when the bacterial standard is exceeded. Samples are generally collected about one foot below the surface in water that is knee deep and in an area of high activity. If the majority of this recreational activity occurs at a depth significantly different than two feet, then samples can be collected at the location of greatest swimmer activity. Also, if the two-foot sampling depth occurs more than 50 meters from shore, samples can be collected 50 meters from shore or at the location of greatest swimmer activity. Recreational beach segments that are used most frequently by the public and where health risks are the greatest are given priority for monitoring.

If a sample exceeds standards, monitoring is conducted daily until standards are met. States that monitor more frequently after an exceed ance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Texas reported 169 coastal beaches, 65 (38%) of which were monitored once a week, and 104 (62%) of which were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance in 2009 were Ropes Park (37%), Poenisch Park (28%), Cole Park (25%), JFK Causeway-SW (22%) in Nueces County; Palacios-Palacios Pavillion (22%) in Matagorda County; Quintana (17%) in Brazoria County (17%); Galveston Island State Park Backside (17%), 45th St. (11%), and 61st St. (10%) in Galveston County; McGee Beach (9%) in Nueces County; and Rockport Beach Park (9%) in Aransas County.

Matagorda County had the highest exceedance (9%) in 2009 followed by Aransas (9%), Nueces (8%), San Patricio (8%), Kleberg (6%), Galveston (5%), Brazoria (4%), Jefferson (1%), and Cameron (1%).

Comparing percent exceedance values to previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 63 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 5 percent in 2009 from 6% in 2008, 9% in 2007, and 8% in 2006.

0.00

2.25

4.50

6.75

9.00

11.25

2009200820072006


8%9%

6%5%

Texas Percent exceedance for 63 Beaches Reported 2006–2009


Closings and advisoriesstandards and Procedures: The GLO applies an enterococcus single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100ml when making decisions about whether to recommend advisories. Two samples are taken simultaneously at each location and the results are averaged before comparing with the standard.1 No geometric mean stan-dard for five samples taken over a 30-day period is applied.

V. vulnificus causes a bacterial infection that may be contracted by eating contaminated seafood, especially oysters. The bacteria can also enter the body through open wounds when swimming or wading in infected waters. Symp-toms of infection include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a blistering dermatitis. The Texas Department of Health tests regularly for V. vulnificus in Galveston Bay, as it is a primary health consideration with regard to oyster consumption and harvesting as well as skin contact.

Texas does not have preemptive rainfall standards. In the case of a known sewage spill, the decision to issue a preemptive closing or advisory would be made by local government.1

Number of Closings and advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 152 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 27% to 231 days in 2009 from 318 days in 2008, 532 days in 2007, 473 days in 2006, and 420 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and advisories: For the 152 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 99% (229) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 1% (2) were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall.

Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 24% (55) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff, 71% (164) were from unknown sources of contamination, 2% (5) were from wildlife, and 3% (7) were from other sources of contamination.

Texas 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Aransas 12th Street 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Copano Bay Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Copano Bay State Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Copano Causeway-North 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Copano Causeway-South 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Goose Island State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Highway 188 @ Port Bay North 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Highway 188 @ Port Bay South 3 none 0 NA 0

Aransas Rockport Beach Park 1 1/wk 330 9% 12

Brazoria Bryan Beach 1 1/wk 96 8% 5

Brazoria County Road 257A 2 none 0 NA 0

Brazoria Follets Island 1 1/wk 385 0% 0

Brazoria Peach Point WMA 2 none 0 NA 0


Texas sources of Contamination



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Brazoria Quintana 1 1/wk 224 17% 11

Brazoria San Luis Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Brazoria Seidler’s Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Brazoria Southwest Brazoria 2 none 0 NA 0

Brazoria Surfside 1 1/wk 656 1% 4

Brazoria Swan Lake 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Bauer Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Bayfront Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Boggy Bayou ROW 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Indianola Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun King Fisher Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Lighthouse Beach & Bird Sanctuary 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Magnolia Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Matagorda Island State Park-Backside 1 3 none 0 NA 0




Calhoun Matagorda Island State Park-Gulf 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Olivia Haterius Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Point Comfort City Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Port Alto Public Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Six Mile Road 2 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun State Highway 35 3 none 0 NA 0

Calhoun Swan Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Cameron Access Point #3 1 1/wk 86 0% 0

Cameron Access Point #4 1 1/wk 76 0% 0

Cameron Andy Bowie Park 1 1/wk 152 0% 0

Cameron Atwood Park 1 1/wk 161 1% 0

Cameron Boca Chica State Park 1 1/wk 486 0% 1

Cameron Isla Blanca Park 1 1/wk 152 1% 0

Cameron N Cameron County - Bayside 3 none 0 NA 0

Cameron Park Road 100 Bay Access #1 2 none 0 NA 0

Cameron Park Road 100 Bay Access #2 1 1/wk 88 7% 3

Cameron South Padre Island -North 2 none 0 NA 0

CameronSouth Padre Island (Town of South Padre Island)

1 1/wk 724 0% 1

Cameron South Padre Island Access Point #6 1 1/wk 163 1% 1

Chambers Chambers County 2 none 0 NA 0

Chambers McCollum Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston 25th St. 1 1/wk 319 6% 5

Galveston 45th St. 1 1/wk 487 11% 8



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Galveston 61st St. 1 1/wk 240 10% 6

Galveston Appfel Park 1 1/wk 140 6% 2

Galveston Caplen 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Caplen/Crystal Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Clara St. 1 1/wk 288 1% 1

Galveston Crystal Beach-O’Neill Road 1 1/wk 70 3% 1

Galveston Dellanera Park 1 1/wk 116 5% 2

Galveston East Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Erman Pilsner Boat Ramp 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Frank Carmona Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Galveston Island State Park 1 1/wk 152 0% 0

Galveston Galveston Island State Park Backside 1 1/wk 12 17% 1

Galveston Gilchrist East 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Gilchrist West 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Gulf Shores 1 1/wk 136 0% 0

Galveston Haney Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston High Island East 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston High Island West 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Holiday 2 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Indian Beach 1 1/wk 105 3% 1

Galveston Pirates Beach 1 1/wk 310 1% 1

Galveston Port Bolivar-Rettilon Road 1 1/wk 70 3% 1

Galveston Rollover Pass East 1 1/wk 173 2% 1

Galveston Rollover Pass West 1 1/wk 50 4% 1

Galveston San Luis Pass 1 1/wk 150 0% 0

Galveston Seadrift 1 1/wk 68 0% 0

Galveston Skyline Drive 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Skyline Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Galveston Spanish Grant/Bermuda Beach 1 1/wk 253 3% 1

Galveston Stewart Beach 1 1/wk 224 8% 6

Galveston Texas City Dike 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Galveston West End 1 1/wk 161 7% 3

Galveston West End Galveston-Jamaica Beach 1 1/wk 76 0% 0

Galveston West End Galveston-Sea Isle 1 1/wk 152 1% 0

Harris Bayland Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Harris Clear Lake Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Harris Evergreen Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Harris Lynchburg Row 3 none 0 NA 0

Harris Miramar Street 3 none 0 NA 0

Harris Pine Gully Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Harris River Terrace Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Harris Sylvan Beach Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson McFaddin NWR 1 1/wk 485 1% 2

Jefferson Sea Rim State Park 1 1/wk 152 1% 1

Kleberg CR 1140 North 3 none 0 NA 0

Kleberg CR 1140 South 3 none 0 NA 0

Kleberg Kaufer-Hubert #1 2 1/wk 91 4% 2



Kleberg North Padre Island 2 none 0 NA 0

Kleberg Riviera Beach Pier 3 1/wk 91 7% 3

Matagorda East Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda East Matagorda Peninsula 2 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda East Sargent Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda FM 1095 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda Foley Reserve Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda Jenson’s Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda Jetty Park 1 1/wk 357 3% 2

Matagorda Lookout Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda Oyster Lake Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Matagorda Palacios-Palacios Pavilion 1 1/wk 256 22% 18

Matagorda Sargent Beach 1 1/wk 278 5% 5

Matagorda South Bay Boat Ramp 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Cole Park 1 1/wk 396 25% 29

Nueces Corpus Christi Beach-Main 1 1/wk 303 2% 3

Nueces Corpus Christi Beach-North 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Corpus Christi Beach-South 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Corpus Christi Marina 1 1/wk 232 5% 3

Nueces Doddridge Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Emerald Beach 1 1/wk 79 6% 2

Nueces Hans & Pat Sutter Wildlife Refuge 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces JFK Causeway-NE 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces JFK Causeway-NW 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces JFK Causeway-SE 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces JFK Causeway-SW 1 1/wk 94 22% 9

Nueces JP Luby Park 1 1/wk 333 2% 2

Nueces Laguna Shores 1 1/wk 84 8% 4

Nueces Lighthouse Lakes Kayak Trail #1 1 1/wk 75 1% 1

Nueces McGee Beach 1 1/wk 158 9% 5

Nueces Mustang Island 1 1/wk 83 2% 1

Nueces Mustang Island State Park 1 1/wk 407 0% 0

Nueces Mustang Island State Park-Backside 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or advisory

Days

Nueces Ocean Drive-East 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Ocean Drive-West 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Packery Channel Park 1 1/wk 78 1% 0

Nueces Padre Bali Park 1 1/wk 651 1% 2

Nueces Palmetto Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Philip Dimitt Municipal Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Poenisch Park 1 1/wk 104 28% 15

Nueces Port Aransas-Jetty 2 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Port Aransas-South 1 1/wk 166 5% 4

Nueces Port Aransas Park 1 1/wk 336 3% 3

Nueces Port Street 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Redhead Pond WMA 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Roberts Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Ropes Park 1 1/wk 227 37% 25

Nueces SH 361 Row-NE 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SH 361 Row-NW 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SH 361 Row-SE 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SH 361 Row-SW 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SPI Drive-NE 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SPI Drive-NW 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SPI Drive-SE 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces SPI Drive-SW 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces Swantner Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Nueces University Beach 1 1/wk 81 7% 3

Refugio TPWD Boat Ramp-Refugio 3 none 0 NA 0

San Patricio Highway 1069 ROW 3 none 0 NA 0

San Patricio Indian Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Patricio Nueces Bay Causeway #1 3 none 0 NA 0



San Patricio Nueces Bay Causeway #4 3 1/wk 86 8% 4

Willacy Fred Stone Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Willacy Mansfield Cut/County Line 2 none 0 NA 0

Willacy Placement Area #8 3 none 0 NA 0

NoTes1 Craig Davis, Texas General Land Office, personal communication, May 2010.

VA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

VirginiA4th in Beachwater Quality


Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Fairview Beach in King George County (25%) • Hilton Beach in Newport News (14%) • North Community Beach in Norfolk County (10%)

Virginia has 47 public beaches stretching along 70 miles of Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay waters. The state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is administered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

MonitoringSampling Practices: The monitoring season runs from mid-May through Labor Day, with some sites sampled through September.

VDH determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state. Samples are collected in 0.5 m of water, 0.3 m from the surface.1

Sampling sites in Virginia are chosen based on proximity to wastewater outfalls, bather load, and ease of access to the beach.1 If a beach is closed or placed under advisory, the water is resampled immediately (with a duplicate sample sent for microbial source tracking analysis) and the monitoring frequency is increased until the water meets water quality standards and the beach is reopened.2 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

results: In 2009, Virginia reported 47 coastal beaches, 44 (94%) of which were monitored once a week, and 3 (6%) of which were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 3% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance in 2009 were Fairview Beach in King George County (25%), Hilton Beach in Newport News (14%), and North Community Beach in Norfolk (10%).

King George County had the highest exceedance (25%) in 2009, followed by Newport News (4%), Norfolk (3%), and Virginia Beach (0.5%). There were no exceedances at beaches in Accomack, Gloucester, Hampton, Mathews, Northampton, and York Counties or in Hampton.

Comparing percent exceedance values with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 44 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 3% in 2009 from 2% in 2008 and 1% in both 2007 and 2006.

Closings and AdvisoriesStandards and Procedures: VDH has the authority to issue advisories and close beaches. Virginia’s water quality standard is a single-sample maximum standard of 104 cfu/100 ml. No geometric mean standard is applied when making closing and advisory decisions, only the single-sample maximum standard. If a beach has more than one

0.00

0.75

1.50

2.25

3.00

3.75

2009200820072006

Set highest value on data axis to 125% of highest excedance value1% 1%

2%

3%

Virginia Percent Exceedance for 44 Beaches reported 2006–2009


sampling site, then the average of the results for all sampling sites is used to make closing and advisory decisions for that beach.2 If a sample (or average of samples) exceeds the standard, an advisory is issued.2 There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory or closing when an exceedance of the single-sample maximum standard is found.

There are no preemptive rainfall standards, but closings and advisories may be considered based on events such as harmful algal blooms, fish kills, oil spills, or sewage spills.1

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 14 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 76% to 51 days in 2009 from 29 days in 2008, 50 days in 2007, 43 days in 2006, and 42 days in 2005. In addi-tion, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 con secu tive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.

Virginia 2009 Monitoring results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Accomack Assateague Island National Seashore 1 none 0 NA 0

Accomack Guard Shore 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Gloucester Gloucester Point Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Hampton Buckroe Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

Hampton Salt Ponds 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

King George Fairview Beach 1 1/wk 69 25% 16

Mathews Festival Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Newport News Anderson’s Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Newport News Hilton Beach 1 1/wk 21 14% 7

Newport News Huntington Beach 1 1/wk 19 0% 1

Newport News King/Lincoln Park 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

Norfolk10th View, Behind Quality Inn,1010 W Ocean View Ave

1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Norfolk 13th View, North End 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Norfolk21st Bay St., North End Behind Ships Captain Restaurant

1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Norfolk 5th Bay St., North End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6

Norfolk Capeview Ave., North End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6

NorfolkEast Community Beach, End of East Ocean View Ave.

1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Norfolk North Community Beach 1 1/wk 20 10% 6

NorfolkOcean View Park, East Side of Parking Lot

1 1/wk 20 5% 0

Norfolk Sara Constance Park, East End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6

Northampton Kiptopeke State Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0


Virginia Sources of Contamination



Total Samples


State Standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Northampton Town of Cape Charles Public Beach 1 1/wk 72 0% 0

Virginia Beach 15th Street 1 1/wk 20 0% 0



Virginia Beach 63rd Street 1 1/wk 20 0% 0


Virginia Beach Back Bay Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Camp Pendleton 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Cape Henry Light House 1 none 0 NA 0

Virginia Beach Chesapeake Beach 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Chick’s Beach 1 1/wk 21 5% 2

Virginia Beach Croatan 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Dam Neck Middle 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Virginia Beach Dam Neck North 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Virginia Beach Dam Neck South 1 1/wk 15 0% 0

Virginia Beach First Landing State Park 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Fort Story East 1 None 0 NA 0

Virginia Beach Fort Story South 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Fort Story West 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Lesner Bridge East 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Little Island Beach North 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Little Island Beach South 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Sandbridge North 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Sandbridge South 1 1/wk 20 0% 0

Virginia Beach Sea Gate 1 1/wk 21 5% 1

York Yorktown Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0

noTES1 Dan Dietrich, Virginia Department of Health, personal communication, June 2007.

2 Virginia Department of Health. Virginia’s Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Program, Final Report on 2001–2009 EPA Beach Monitoring Grant–CU-98389606-0. January 29, 2010.

WA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

WAshingTon9th in Beachwater Quality

4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Freeland County Park/Holmes Harbor in Island County (20%) • Hollywood Beach in Clallam County (19%) • Bayview Boat Launch in Skagit County (18%)

Washington State has more than 1,300 publicly accessible beaches along the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound. The state’s beach monitoring program is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology and Department of Health.

Monitoringsampling Practices: The sampling season runs from a week before Memorial Day to Labor Day. Additionally, one winter surfing beach at Grays Harbor and three Makah Nation beaches were sampled through December in 2009.1

The administering agency determines sampling practices, locations, and standards and recommends notification protocols and practices throughout the state. County health officers have the authority to close beaches, and protocols for determining when to issue notifications vary from county to county. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Beaches are chosen for monitoring based on use and the degree to which the flow of tides and currents ensures that the water at the beach is exchanged with other water, as well as the potential risks of fecal pollution from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, stormwater drains, freshwater discharges, marinas, pet waste, livestock, marine mammals, and shore birds.2

An effort is made to take samples at outfalls and other sources of contamination.3 If a beach is closed or placed under advisory, the monitoring frequency is increased until the beach is reopened. States that monitor more frequently after an advisory is issued will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Washington reported 1,345 coastal beaches, of which 73 (5%) were monitored once a week and 1,272 (95%) were not monitored.4 For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 4% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance in 2009 were Freeland County Park/Holmes Harbor in Island County (20%), Hollywood Beach in Clallam County (19%), Bayview Boat Launch in Skagit County (18%), Silverdale County Park in Kitsap County (16%), Belfair State Park in Mason County (15%), Camp Parsons Boy Scout Brinnon Camp in Jefferson County (15%), Pomeroy Park-Manchester Beach in Kitsap County (14%), Port Williams Boat Launch in Clallam County (11%), Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Skagit County (10%), Sequim Bay State Park in Clallam County (9%), and Birch Bay County Park (9%) and Larrabee State Park, Wildcat Cove (8%) in Whatcom County (8%).

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

7.5

2009200820072006


6%

4% 4%

3%

Washington Percent Exceedance for 45 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




Skagit County had the highest exceedance (10%) in 2009, followed by Island (9%), Kitsap (7%), Whatcom (6%), Jefferson (6%), Mason (4%), Clallam (4%), Snohomish (3%), Grays Harbor (2%), King (1%), Pierce (0.3%), and Thurston (0%).

Comparing percent exceedance values with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 45 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 3% in 2009 from 4% in 2008 and 2007 and 6% in 2006.

Closings and Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Local jurisdictions in Washington issue both beach closings and advisories. Washington uses the single-sample maximum enterococcus standard of 104 cfu/100 ml for making closing and advisory decisions. The geometric mean standard of 35 cfu/100 ml is taken into consideration when determining permanent or extended advisories. Samples are taken from three locations at each beach, and the bacterial count for the simultaneous samples is averaged before comparison with the standard.

Advisories are not generally issued until resampling confirms an exceedance. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory when this happens. If the average enterococcus concentration of three samples is more than 1,000 cfu/100 ml, the state usually recommends posting an advisory immediately, without waiting for a resample to confirm the exceedance.

Washington has no preemptive rainfall advisory standards, but advises the public to avoid water contact for 24 hours after heavy rains.

number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 13 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 60% to 48 days in 2009 from 120 days in 2008, 19 days in 2007, 294 days in 2006, and 216 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended events and 4 permanent events (1,302 days total) in 2009. Extended events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. In 2008, there were no extended events and 7 permanent events (1,719 days total).

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 13 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 54% (26) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 46% (22) were preemptive (i.e., isssued without waiting for monitoring results) due to known sewage spills/leaks.

Reported sources of beachwater contamination: 54% (26) of closing/advisory days were from unknown sources of contamination, and 46% (22) were from sewage spills/leaks.

Washington 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Clallam Agate Bay, Beach 420 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Agate Bay, Beach 421 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Brandt Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Cape Flattery 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Cape Flattery Trail Lookout 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam City Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Clallam Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Clallam Bay State Park 3 none 0 NA 0


Washington sources of Contamination



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Clallam Clallam County Parcel 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Cline Spit 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Cline Spit County Park 1 1/wk 59 5% 0

Clallam Crescent Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Diamond Point, Beach 410 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Dry Creek, Beach 414 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Dungeness Bay Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Dungeness Recreation Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Ediz Hook Boat Launchno

datanone 0 NA 0

Clallam Ediz Hook Park 3 1/wk 55 4% 1

Clallam First Beach, Neah Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Freshwater Bay Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Freshwater Bay, Beach 416 2 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Freshwater Bay, Beach 417 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Gibson Spit, Beach 411 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Hobuck Beach 2 1/wk 56 0% 0

Clallam Hoko River, Beach 428 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Hollywood Beach 2 1/wk 58 19% 4 (210)*

Clallam James Island, La Push 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Jamestown 2 1/wk 50 0% 0

Clallam Jim Creek , Silver King Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam John Wayne Marina 3 1/wk 28 4% 0

Clallam La Push First Beachno

datanone 0 NA 0

Clallam La Push Marina #1 3 none 0 NA 0

ClallamLa Push Second Beach, Olympic National Park

2 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Lees Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Low Point Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Lyre River Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Mains Farm 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Makah Marinano

datanone 0 NA 0

Clallam McDonnel Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Miller Peninsula State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Monterra Scenic Overlook 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Mouth of Elwha River 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

Clallam N Sequim Bay SP 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Neah Bay Picnic Area 2 1/wk 40 3% 0

Clallam Neah Bay Waterfront, East 3 1/wk 44 2% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Clallam North Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Old Town 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Olsen’s Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

ClallamOzette Beach Access, Olympic National Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Ozette Indian Reservation 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Ozette Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Panorama Vista County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Paradise Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Pillar Point County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Pillar Point, Beach 424 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Pillar Point, Beach 425 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Pioneer Memorial Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Pitship Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Point of Arches, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Port Angeles Boat Haven 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Port Angeles Ferry and Waterfront 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Port Williams Boat Launch 2 1/wk 56 11% 7

Clallam Port Williams Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Quillayute River Shoreline 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam S Pitship Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Salt Creek Recreation Area 1 1/wk 53 4% 0

Clallam Second Beach, Neah Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sekiu Point, Beach 427 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sekiu River Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sekiu River, Beach 429A 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sequim Bay State Park 3 1/wk 32 9% 2

Clallam Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

ClallamShipwreck Point Natural Resource Conservation Area

3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Shipwreck Point, Beach 429 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Slip Point, Beach 426 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Snow Creek Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sooes Beach 2 1/wk 60 0% 0

Clallam South Diamond Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam South Sooes 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Sunny Shores Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Third Beach, Neah Bay 2 1/wk 53 0% 0

Clallam Travis Spit, Beach 411A 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Twin Rivers, Beach 422 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Twin Rivers, Beach 423 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Clallam Twin Rivers, Beach 423A 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam W Kydaka Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Waadah Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam West DNR 414 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam West Green Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam West Old Town 3 none 0 NA 0

Clallam Whiskey Creek Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor 28th Street Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor 9th Street Landing and Rayonier Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Bonge Road Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Bottle Beach State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Bottle Beach Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Bowerman Basin 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Cascade Land Conservancy 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Cascade Land Conservancy-Aberdeen 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays HarborChance a la Mer/Ocean Shores Main Entrance

2 1/wk 26 0% 0

Grays HarborCity of Hoquiam, Moon Island Road, Airport Way

3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Copalis Beach, Ocean City 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Damon Point State Park, Protection Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Grayland Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Grayland Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays HarborGrays Harbor Audubon Society, Raft River

3 none 0 NA 0

Grays HarborGrays Harbor Audubon, Humptulips, Chenois Creek

3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Grays Harbor City 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Grenville Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Griffith-Priday State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Half Moon Bay-City of Westport 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Harms Field 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Hogsback and Little Hogsback 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Iron Springs 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Johns River Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Johns River, Wildlife Area Boatlaunch 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Moclips, Sunset Beach, Pacific Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor N Cape Elizabeth 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean City Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean City State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean Lake Way Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean Shores 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Grays Harbor Ocean Shores Bulkhead 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean Shores Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays HarborOcean Shores, Marina View Drive Beach Access

2 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Ocean Shores, North Jetty 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Oyhut and Illahee Beach Access 2 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Oyhut and Illahee Beach North 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Oyhut State Wildlife Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Pacific Beach State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays HarborPacific Beach, Ocean Grove, Roosevelt Beach

3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Pacific Blvd Ocean Shores 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Point Grenville 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Point Grenville Islands 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Port of Grays Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Port of Grays Harbor Hoquiam River 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Raft River 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Roosevelt Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor S Cape Elizabeth 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Sampson 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor South Bay Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor South Oyhut and Illahee Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor South Queets River, North Raft River 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor South Raft River 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Southwest South Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Taholah, North Point Grenville 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Taholah, Quinault River Mouth 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Taurus Blvd Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Tunnel Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Twin Harbors State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Unnamed-Bidn 990013 3 none 0 NA 0




Grays Harbor Unnamed Bidn-990019 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Westhaven State Park, Half Moon Bay 2 1/wk 105 0% 0

Grays Harbor Westhaven State Park, South Jetty 2 1/wk 51 0% 0

Grays Harbor Westport -The Groin 2 1/wk 58 7% 1

Grays Harbor Westport Airport 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Westport Beaches 3 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Westport Light State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Grays Harbor Westport Marina, Westhaven Cove 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Island Admiralty Bay, Beach 124 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Admiralty Bay, Beach 124A 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Ala Spit County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Baby Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Beachcombers Community Club Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Blowers Bluff 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Borgman Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Bush Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Bush Point, Beach 101 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cama Beach State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Camano Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cavalero Beach County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Island Cavalaro Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Clinton Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cornet Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cornet Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Coupeville 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Coupeville Wharf 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cultus Bay Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Cultus Bay Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Dave Mackie Memorial County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Island Deception Pass State Park (Island) 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Double Bluff Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Driftwood Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Driftwood County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Dugualla Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Dugualla Bay, DNR-145 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Dugualla State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island E East Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island East San De Fuca 3 none 0 NA 0

IslandEbey’s Landing National Historical Reserve

3 none 0 NA 0

Island English Boom 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Flintstone Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island FN Camano Head 3 none 0 NA 0

Island FN Onamac Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Fort Casey State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Fort Casey State Park Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Fort Ebey State Park (DNR-140) 2 none 0 NA 0

Island Freeland County Park/Holmes Harbor 1 1/wk 51 20% 0

Island FS Mabana 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Island Glendale Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Glendale, DNR-100 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Glendale, DNR-99 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Grasser’s Lagoon 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Harrington Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Hastie Lake Road Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Hidden Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island High Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Indian Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Joseph Whidbey State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Keystone Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Keystone Spit State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Lagoon Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Langley Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Langley Waterfront Park 3 none 0 NA 0

IslandLangley Waterfront Park, The Inn at Langley

3 none 0 NA 0

Island Libbey Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Livingston Bay Beach Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Long Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Mabana 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Madrona Beach, Camano Island 2 none 0 NA 0

Island Main Street Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Maple Grove Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Mariner’s Cove Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Monroe Landing 2 none 0 NA 0

Island Monroe Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Moran’s Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Mutiny Bay Boat Launch (Road End) 3 none 0 NA 0

Island N Onamac Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island N Point Partridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Island N Randal Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island NE Cultus Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Island North Penn Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Oak Harbor City Beach Park 1 1/wk 46 4% 0

Island Oak Harbor City Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Oak Harbor City Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Oak Harbor Lagoon 1 1/wk 45 2% 0

Island Penn Cove / Madrona 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Penn Cove Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Possession Point Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Island S Point Susan 3 none 0 NA 0

Island S Rocky Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island S Sandy Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island S Strawberry Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island S Useless Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Island San de Fuca 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Saratoga Pass Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Scatchet Head 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Scenic Avenue Rd End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Snatelum Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island South Ebey’s Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Island South Whidbey State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Strawberry Point North, DNR-142 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Strawberry Point, DNR-142 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Sunlight Beach Road Ends 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Sunlight County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Sunrise Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Sunset Beach Public Access Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Tillicum Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Tillicum Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Town Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Unnamed Bidn 260134 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Useless Bay Tidelands State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Utsalady County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Island W Beach Rd Public Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Island W Elgar Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Island W Penn Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Island W Penn Cove Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Westcliff Drive Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Whidbey Island Naval Air Station 3 none 0 NA 0

Island Winas-Maylor Point-West 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Adelma Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Admirals Row Association Parcel 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Admiralty Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Bay Vista Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Bayview at Chevy Chase 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Beach 1, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0







Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days



Jefferson Beckett Point Fishermen’s Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Bolton Peninsula, Beach 56 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Bridgehaven Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Brinnon Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Brinnonwold 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Broad Spit 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Broad Spit, Coast 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Brown Point, Beach 57B 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Camp Parsons Boy Scout Brinnon Camp 2 1/wk 68 15% 11

Jefferson Cape George Colony Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Cape George, Beach 407 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Cape George, DNR-409 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Central Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Chetzemoka Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Chimacum Creek Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Coast Dabob East 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Dabob Cove Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Discovery Bay Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Dosewallips State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

JeffersonDowntown Port Townsend Business District

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Duckabush 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Duckabush Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson East Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson East Beach County Park, Mystery Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Edgewater Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Fisherman’s Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Fort Flagler State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Fort Worden State Park 1 1/wk 64 0% 0

Jefferson Gardiner Public Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Hadlock Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Hadlock Lions Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Herb Beck Marina 2 1/wk 72 6% 0

Jefferson Hicks County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Hoh Indian Reservation 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Home Port Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson J.B. Pope Marina Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Jackson Cove, Beach 55 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Kala Point Beach Community 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

JeffersonKalaloch Beach and Campground, Olympic National Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Kinney Point, Beach 404A 3 none 0 NA 0

JeffersonLa Push Third Beach, Olympic National Park

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Ludlow Bay Village Parcels 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Ludlow Beach Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Ludlow Beach Tracts #1 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Marshall Add Community Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Mats Mats Bay Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Mystery Bay State Park 3 1/wk 64 0% 0

Jefferson N Tabook Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Norland Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Chetzemoka 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North McDaniel Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Quilcene Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Quilcene Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Squamish Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Triton Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson North Triton Cove Access 3 none 0 NA 0

JeffersonNortheast Quilcene Bay Tidelands Access

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Northwest Maritime Center 3 none 0 NA 0

JeffersonNorthwest School of Wooden Boat Builders

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Oak Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Oak Bay County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Ocean Grove 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Old Fort Townsend State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Pleasant Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Pleasant Harbor Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Pleasant Harbor State Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Pleasant Tides 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Point Hudson Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Point Whitney Tidelands 3 1/wk 68 7% 4

Jefferson Port Hadlock Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Ludlow Associates Parcels 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Ludlow Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Ludlow Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port of Port Townsend 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Jefferson Port Townsend Boat Haven 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Townsend Ferry Docks 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Townsend Railroad 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Port Townsned Plaza 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Queets River Mouth 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Quilcene Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Quilcene Bay Tidelands Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Right Smart Cove State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Se Dabob Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Seal Rock Campground 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Seamount Estates Community Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Seven Sisters Beach, Point Hannon 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Shine Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Snake and Colvos Rocks 3 none 0 NA 0

JeffersonSouth Bay Community Association Parcels

3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South Bay Master Association Parcels 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South Beach, Olympic National Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South Indian Island County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South McDaniel Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South Old Port Townsend State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson South Tala Point Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Squamish Harbor, Beach 59 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Tabook Point, Beach 57 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Tala Shore 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson The Landing Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Toandos Tidelands State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Triton Cove State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson W Quilcene Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson West Bay, Port Ludlow Associates 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson West Fort Flagler Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson West Hood Canal Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Jefferson Wolfe Property State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King 101 Avenue SW Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

King 146th Avenue SW Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

King 16th Avenue West Access 3 none 0 NA 0

King 1st Avenue South Bridge Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

King 20th Place SW Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

King Alki Beach Park 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

King Alki Point Light Station 2 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

King Andover Place Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

King Anthony’s Home Port Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

King Arroyos Natural Area 3 none 0 NA 0

King Ballard Elks Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

King Bell Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Burton Acres Church Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

King Burton Acres County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

King Camp Kilworth 3 none 0 NA 0

King Camp Sealth 3 none 0 NA 0

King Camp Sealth South 3 none 0 NA 0

King Carkeek Beach South 3 none 0 NA 0

King Carkeek Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

King Colman Dock (Seattle Main Terminal) 3 none 0 NA 0

King Cormorant Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

King Dash Point State Park 1 1/wk 52 6% 0

King Des Moines Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

King Des Moines Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Des Moines Marina City Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Diagonal Ave South Pacific Access 3 none 0 NA 0

King Discovery Park 2 none 0 NA 3

King DNR-Seattle Art Museum 3 none 0 NA 0

King Dockton County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

King Don Armeni Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Dumas Bay Park Wildlife Sanctuary 3 none 0 NA 0

King Duwamish Public Access, Terminal 105 3 none 0 NA 0

King Duwamish Waterway Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King East Vashon Island, Beach 85 3 none 0 NA 0

King Elliot Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Elliot Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Emma Schmitz Me-Kwa Mooks Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Fern Cove Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Golden Gardens 1 1/wk 57 4% 0

King Harbor Island Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Harbor Marina Corporate Center 3 none 0 NA 0

KingHerrings House Park (Tualtwx)/ Terminal 107 Park

3 none 0 NA 0

King Hiram M. Chittendon Locks 3 none 0 NA 0

King Jack Block Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Jack Perry Memorial Viewpoint 3 none 0 NA 0

King Lincoln Park 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

King Lisabuela Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

King Lost Lake Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Lowman Beach 2 none 3 0% 1

King Magnolia Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Magnolia Tidelands Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Maury Island Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Maury Island, Beach 8 3 none 0 NA 0

King Myrtle Edwards Park 2 none 0 NA 0

King Normandy Beach Park/Marine View Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Northeast Vashon County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Pier 66, Seattle Bell Street Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

King Pier 69, Seattle 3 none 0 NA 0

King Pier 69, Seattle Waterfront 3 none 0 NA 0

King Piers 62 and 63 3 none 0 NA 0

King Point Heyer “Kvi” Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

King Point Robinson County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Poverty Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Quartermaster Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Quartermaster Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

King Redondo City Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

King Redondo County Park 1 1/wk 51 4% 2

King Richey Viewpoint 1 1/wk 51 2% 0

King Richmond Beach 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

King Saltwater State Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

King Seacrest Park 2 1/wk 51 0% 0

King Seahurst County Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0

King Seattle Aquarium 3 none 0 NA 0

King Seattle Waterfront Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Shilshole Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

King Smith Cove Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Southeast Vashon Island, Beach 79 3 none 0 NA 0

King Southworth Ferry Dock, Vashon Island 3 none 0 NA 0

King Spring Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Terminal 115 Viewpoint 3 none 0 NA 0

King Terminal 18 Public Access Park 3 none 0 NA 0

King Three Tree Point 3 none 0 NA 0

King Three Tree Street Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

King Tramp Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

King Tramp Harbor Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

King Vashon Ferry Docks/West Seattle 3 none 0 NA 0

King Washington Street Boat Access 3 none 0 NA 0

King West Vashon Island, Beach 77 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

King West Vashon Island, Beach 78 3 none 0 NA 0

King West Vashon Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap American Legion Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Anderson Landing Reserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Anderson Point County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Anna Smith Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Annapolis Public Access Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Arness County Park 1 1/wk 51 4% 0

Kitsap Aroydy Thai Cuisine 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bachmann Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bainbridge Condominiums 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bainbridge Island Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Blake Island State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bloedel Reserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bremerton Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bremerton Waterfront Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Bremerton Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Brownsville 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Brownsville Elementary School 3 none 0 NA 0

KitsapBrownsville Elementary School North Parcel

3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Camp Indianola 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Chico Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Colby Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Country Club of Seattle 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Crystal Springs Public Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Curley Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Dockside Sales and Service 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Driftwood Cove Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Dyes Inlet Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Eagle Harbor Condos 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Eagle Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park 1 1/wk 51 6% 10

Kitsap East Anderson Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap East Dyes Inlet Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap East Dyes State Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap East Hood Canal Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap East Indianola 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Eglon Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Evergreen Park 1 1/wk 48 0% 0

Kitsap Fay Bainbridge State Park 2 1/wk 51 6% 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Kitsap Ferncliff 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Fort Ward State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Foulweather Bluff, Beach 64 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Foulweather Reserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Front Street Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Gilberton Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Guillemot Cove Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Hansville, Beach 69 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Harbour Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Harper County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Harper Public Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Illahee Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Illahee Road Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Illahee State Park 1 1/wk 51 4% 0

Kitsap Indianola Dock 1 1/wk 51 4% 0

Kitsap Island Seniors Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Keyport Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Keyport County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Keyport Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Kingston Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Kingston Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

KitsapKitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority

3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Kitsap County Fair Grounds 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Kitsap Memorial State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Kitsap Memorial State Park Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Lala Cove Country Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Lents Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Leslie Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Liberty Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Liberty Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Liberty Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Lions Field 1 1/wk 51 6% 0

Kitsap Little Norway Boardwalk 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Lynwood Center 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Madrona Heights 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Madrona Point Subdivisions 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Manchester State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Manette Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Manzanita Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Marine View Estates 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Kitsap Miller Bay Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Miller Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Misery Point Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Mitchell Point 3 none 0 NA 0

KitsapMurden Cove, Blue Heron Hill Homeowners

3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap N Fletcher Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Nad Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Nelson Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Nesika Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Net Shed Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Dyes Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Lebo 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Murden Cove (State) 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Oyster Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Skiff Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap North Wing Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Northeast Phinney Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Northwest Point White 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Olalla Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Olalla Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Olalla Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Old Man House Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Oyster Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Oyster Bay Plaza 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Oyster Plant Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Pebble Beach Rd End 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Point No Point County Park, DNR-68 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Point No Point Lighthouse Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Point White 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Pomeroy Park-Manchester Beach 1 1/wk 51 14% 0

Kitsap Port Madison Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

KitsapPort of Brownsville Marine Park and Marina

3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port of Waterman Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port of Waterman Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Waterfront Businesses 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Waterfront Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Port Orchard Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Kitsap Port Washington Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Poulsbo Boat Launch and Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Poulsbo Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap President Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Prospect Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Queen City Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Rich Passage Estates 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Richcove Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Rockaway Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Rocky Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Rolling Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Roosevelt Field 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Ross Point Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap S Agate Pass 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap S Driftwood Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Salisbury Point County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Salisbury Point County Park Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Scenic Beach State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Seabeck Christian Conference Center 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Seabeck Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Seabold 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Seattle Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Seaview Terrace Homeowners 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Silverdale County Park 1 1/wk 51 16% 0

Kitsap Sinclair Inlet Marina (Unknown) 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Sinclair Inlet Wildlife Viewing Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Beach Condominiums 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Brownsville 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Colby 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Eagle Harbor Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Fay Bainbridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Murden Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Oyster Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Point Southworth 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Skiff Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Tekiu, DNR-40 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Warren Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap South Waterman Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Southeast Port Washington Narrows 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Southwest Ostrich Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Southworth-Vashon Ferry 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Kitsap Stavis Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Sun Day Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Sunny Cove Community Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Suquamish (Old Man House) 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap T’chookwop Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Tacoma Christian 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Tekiu Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Thorpe Road 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Tracyton Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Tyee Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap West Blakely Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap West Dyes Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap West Madrona Point Subdivisions 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap West Point Jefferson 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap West Wing Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Wilson Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Winslow Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Winslow Wharf Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Woodlawn Memorial Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Wyndown Acres Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Wynn-Jones County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Kitsap Yacht Club Broiler Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Alderbrook Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Allyn Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Allyn Port and Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Arcadia Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Belfair State Park 2 1/wk 20 15% 0

Mason Dewatto Bay, Beach 44A 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Eagle Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason End of Twanoh State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Fudge Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Grapeview 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Grapeview Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Grapeview Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hartstene Bridge Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hartstene Island Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hartstene Island, Beach 33 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hartstene Pointe 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Harvey Rendsland State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hood Canal Girl Scout Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hood Canal Saltwater Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Mason Hood Canal, Beach 46 3 none 0 NA 0



Mason Hoodsport Hatchery 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hoodsport Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

MasonHoodsport, Beach 43 (N Hoodsport Hatchery)

3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Hope Island (Mason Co.) 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Jarrell Cove State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Jarrell Cove, Beach 34 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Jorstad Creek Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Kennedy Creek Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Lilliwaup Tidelands State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Mason Little Skookum 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Lynch Cove/Hood Canal Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Manke Lumber Company Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Mason County-Unknown 3 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason McMicken Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason N Case Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason North Bay Res Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason North Bay Res Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason North Jorstad Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason North Oakland Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Northeast Case Inlet Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Northwest Case Inlet Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Oakland Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

MasonOakland Bay and Chapman Cove Exclusive

3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Olympia Yacht Club-Pickering Passgae 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Olympic Beach Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Pirates Cove Country Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Port of Allyn Public Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Port of Allyn Public Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Potlatch State Park 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Mason Potlatch State Park Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Reach Island Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Seabrook Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Shelton Bayshore Golf Course 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Shelton Boat Launch and Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Shorecrest (Jacoby) County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason South Allyn 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason South Graham Point 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Mason South Jorsted Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason South of Lilliwaup Tidelands State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Stretch Island Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Stretch Island, Beach 20 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Stretch Point State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Summer Tide Resort and Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Timberlake Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Twanoh State Park 1 1/wk 81 4% 0

Mason Union Public Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Union River Wildlife Area (Theler Area) 3 none 0 NA 0

Mason Walker County Park 1 1/wk 55 5% 0 (364)*

Pacific 10th Street Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bay Avenue/Ocean Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bay Center Boat Channel 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bolstead Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bone River 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bruceport County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Bush Pioneer Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Cape Disappointment 2 none 0 NA 0

PacificCape Disappointment Coast Guard Station

3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Cape Shoalwater 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific City of South Bend Boat Haven 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Cranberry Road Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Grayland Beach State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Hawks Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Highway 101 Bridge, South Willipa 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Hines 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Holman 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Klipsan Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Leadbetter Point State Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Lewis Unit, Willapa NWR 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Long Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Long Beach Boardwalk 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Long Island Unit, Willapa NWR 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Loomis 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Loomis Lake State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Midway Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Nahcotta Small Boat Basin 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Nemah 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Nemah II 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Pacific Nemah River 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific North Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific North Cove Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific North Klipsan 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific North River Public Fishing Access 3 none 0 NA 0

PacificNorth Willapa Bay-Cascade Land Conservancy

3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific North Willapa National Wildlife Refuge 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Ocean Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Ocean Park North 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Old Highway 105 Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Oysterville Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Pacific Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Pacific Pines State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Palix River Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Rhodesia Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Riekkola Unit, Willapa NWR 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Sandy Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Seaview 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Seaview Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

PacificSouth Bend Fishing Access and Boat Launch

3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific South Bend State Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific South Grayland Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific South Naselle River-State 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific South Nemah River-State 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Southeast Wilson Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Tokeland Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Tokeland Marina Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Warrenton Cannery Road Beach Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Pacific Willapa Harbor Airport 3 none 0 NA 0

PacificWillapa National Wildlife Refuge Boat Launch

3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce 182nd Avenue KPN Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce 36th Street NW Road End Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce All Saints Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Amsterdam Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Anderson Island Ferry Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Anderson Island, Beach 8 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Andrew Anderson’s Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Andrew Anderson’s Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Arabella’s Marina 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Pierce Berg Drive Road End Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Browns Point Lighthouse Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Camp Coleman 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Camp Gallagher 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Camp Seymour 2 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Cedrona Cove Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Cromwell 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Cutts Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Dash Point County Park 2 1/wk 50 0% 0

Pierce Devils Head 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Devils Head, Beach 13 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Dickman Mill Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Eagle Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce East Devils Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce East Ketron Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fire Department #5 Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fort Lewis 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fox Island Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fox Island Bridge Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fox Island Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Fox Island Yacht Club-Cedrona Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Gig Harbor City Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Gig Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Gig Harbor Private Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Gig Harbor Waterfront 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Green Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Haley State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Hall Road End Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Hamilton Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Harbor Lights Restaurant 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Harborview Drive Road End Viewpoint 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Herron Ferry Terminal-Mainland 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Herron Island Ferry Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Home Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Hylebos Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Jack Hyde Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Jerisich Park and City Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Joemma State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Johnny’s Dock and Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Johnson South Sound Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Kamas Drive Road End 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Pierce Katie Downs Tavern 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Ketron Island Ferry Terminal/Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Kopachuck State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

PierceKPN Olman Vaugh Bay Sandspit, Beach 18

3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Lakebay School 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Longbranch Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Longbranch Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Luciano’s Italian Restaurant 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Maple Hollow Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Murphy’s Landing Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce N Amsterdam Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce N Fort Lewis 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce N Fox Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce N Green Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Narrows Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Narrows/Day Island Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Beach Dock, Herron Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Beach, Herron Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Pitt Pass 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Steilacoom Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Sunrise Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce North Taylor Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Northeast Narrows 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Northwest Gig Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Northwest Narrows 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Ocean Fish Co - Johnny’s Seafood 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Old Fox Island Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Old Fox Island Ferry Terminal South 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Old Town Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Ole and Charlie’s Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Oro Bay/Young Life Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Penrose Point State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Pitt Passage, Beach 6 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Point Defiance Park 1 1/wk 49 0% 0

Pierce Point Evans, Beach 36 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Point Fosdick, Beach 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Point Fosdick, Beach 1A 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Puget Creek Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Purdy Sandspit County Park 1 1/wk 51 0% 0 (364)*

Pierce Ram American Grill and Fishhouse 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Pierce Randall Drive Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Ruston Way Waterfront Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce S Eagle Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Salt Point/South Gordon Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Saltars Point Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Shenanigan’ Restaurant 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Silver Cloud Inn/Tacoma 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Solo Point Boat Launch 2 1/wk 51 2% 0

Pierce Soundview Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Anderson Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Beach, Herron Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Filucy Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Hale Passage 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Maple Hollow 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Nearns Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Oro Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce South Otso Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Southeast Narrows 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Southwest Anderson Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Steilacoom Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Steilacoom Ferry Docks 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Steilacoom Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Sunnyside Beach North 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Sunnyside Beach Park 1 1/wk 50 0% 0

Pierce Sunrise Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Tacoma Demolay Boys Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Taylor Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Taylor Bay, Beach 16 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Thea Foss City Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Thea Foss Waterway 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Thea’s Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Titlow Park 1 1/wk 49 0% 0

Pierce Totem Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Treble Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Tyee Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Waterfront Dock/Ruston Way 1 1/wk 53 0% 0

Pierce Wauna Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Wauna, Beach 35 2 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Wauna, Beach 35A 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce West Gig Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce West Ketron Island 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Pierce West Oro Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Westshore Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Windy Bluff 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Wollochet Bay-Tacoma Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Pierce Wollochet Bay Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan 4th of July Beach, DNR-326 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Agate Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Albert Jensen and Sons Marine Repair 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Aleck Bay, DNR-308 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan American Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Andrews Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Armitage Island, Beach 290 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Bartwood Lodge 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Bay Head Yacht Basin and Condominiums 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Bazalgette Point 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Beach Haven, Beach 238 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blakely Island Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blakely Island, Beach 290 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blakely Island, Beach 292 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blakely Island, Beach 292A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blind Bay 260D 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Blind Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Broken Point, Beach 260A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cactus Islands, Beach 353A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cactus Islands, Beach 353B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Camp Orkila 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Canoe Island, Beach 296A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cape St. Mary, DNR-311 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cattle Point 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cattle Point Lighthouse Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cattle Point, Beach 326A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Cayou Quay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Center Island Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Center Island, Beach 324A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Channel Vista Shore Access 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Clark Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Coon Island, Beach 245A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Crane Island, Beach 250A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Crane Island, Beach 250B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Decatur Island, Beach 319A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Decatur Island, Beach 323 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Juan Decatur Island, Beach 324 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Decatur Island, Beach 325A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Decatur Shores Community 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Decatur Shores Community Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Deer Harbor, Beach 240B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Deer Harbor, Crane Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Deer Point, Beach 277 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Diamond Point, Beach 265 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan DNR-299 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan DNR-321 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Doe Bay, Beach 281A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Doe Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Double Island, Beach 251 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Double Island, Beach 251A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Eagle Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Eagle Cove County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan East Sound, Beach 266 3 none 0 NA 0





San Juan Edwards Point Community 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan English Camp Historic Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Ewing Island, Beach 367A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Fish Creek Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Fisherman Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Fishery Point, Beach 363 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Fishing Bay Public Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Fishing Bay Waterfront Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Flat Point, Beach 295 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Flower Isle, Beach 266B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Freeman Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Friday Harbor Ferry Landing 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Friday Harbor Labs 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Frost Island, Beach 318 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Gibson’s North Beach Inn 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Griffin Bay Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Hankin Point, Beach 264 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Harney Channel, Beach 262 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Henry Island, Beach 339A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Hunter Bay County Dock 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Juan Hunter Bay, Beach 313 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Hunter Bay, Beach 313A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Hunter Bay, Beach 314 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Iceberg Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Indian Island, Beach 270A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Island Marine Center 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Jackson Beach County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan James Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Johns Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Johns Island Lighthouse Reserve 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Johns Point, Beach 307 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Jones Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Justice Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Justice Island, DNR-367C 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Kellett Bluff, Beach 341 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lime Kiln Point State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lindsey Memorial Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Little Patos Island, Beach 366A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Little Sucia 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Ferry Terminal 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Island Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Island, Beach 305 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Pass, Beach 312A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Rd End 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Sound, Beach 315 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lopez Sound, Beach 317 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Lover’s Cove, Beach 239 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mackaye Harbor Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Matia Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan McArdle Bay, DNR-309 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan McConnell Island, Beach 245 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan McCracken Point, Beach 340 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan McKaye Harbor, Beach 306 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Moran State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mosquito Pass, DNR 344 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mt. Shadows Homeowners Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mud Bay Dock Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mud Bay Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Mud Bay, Beach P1 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan N Blakely Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan N Spencer Spit 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Juan Neck Point, Beach 259A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan North Beach Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan North Finger Island, Beach 367B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Northeast Stuart Island, Beach 356 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Northwest Decatur Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Northwest McConnell Island Rock 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Oak Island, Beach 257A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Obstruction Island Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Obstruction Pass Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Obstruction Pass County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Obstruction Pass Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Obstruction Pass, Beach 276 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Odlin County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Olga County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Olga Marine State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Orcas Island Ferry Terminal Picnic Area 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Orcas Island Yacht Club 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Orcas Island, Beach 266B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Orcas Island, Beach 279 3 none 0 NA 0



San Juan Otis Perkins Day Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Patos Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Pear Point, Beach 332 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Colville 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Doughty Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Doughty, Beach 236 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Hammond, Beach 362 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Lawrence Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Lawrence Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Point Thompson, Beach 234 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Pointer Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Port of Friday Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Posey Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan President’s Channel, Beach 240 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Raccoon Point, Beach 233 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Ram Island, DNR-312B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Reads Bay, Beach 319 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Reads Bay, Beach 325 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Resort at Deer Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Reuben Tarte County Park 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Juan Roche Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Roche Harbor Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Rock Point, Beach 303 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Rocky Bay, Beach 336 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Rosario Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Rosario, Beach 272 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan Channel, Beach 298 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan Channel, Beach 334 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan Island, Beach 330 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan Preservation Trust, Henry Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan San Juan Preservation Trust, Stuart Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San JuanSan Juan Preservation Trust, Waldron Island

3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Sandy Point, Beach 364 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Satellite Island, Beach 358 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shark Reef County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shark Reef, Beach 304 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shaw Island County Park / Indian Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

San JuanShaw Island County Park Tidelands (DNR-296)

3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shaw Island, Beach 258 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shaw Island, Beach 260C 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Shaw Island, DNR-260 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Sheep Island, Beach 255A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Ship Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Skull Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San JuanSmugglers Cove and Sunset Point Community

3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Smugglers Cove Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Snug Harbor Resort and Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan South Finger Island, Beach 376C 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Southeast Stuart Island, Beach 356B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Spencer Spit State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Sperry Road Access to Mud Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Spieden Bluff, Beach 353 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Spieden Island, Beach 352 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Spieden Island, Beach 352A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Spring Passage, Beach 240A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Stuart Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Stuart Island, Beach 359 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Sucia Island State Park 2 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

San Juan Swirl Island 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Thatcher Pass, Beach 291 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Thatcher Pass, Beach 322 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Three Coves Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Trump Island, Beach 320 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Turn Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Turn Point Lighthouse 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Twin Rocks State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Upright Channel Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Upright Head, Beach 294 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Victim Island, Beach 251B 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Waldron Island Boat Launch, DNR-361A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Waldron Island Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Waldron Island, Beach 361 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Waldron Island, Beach 361A 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Wasp Passage, Beach 259 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Weeks Point Way Access 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan West Beach Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan West Sound Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

San Juan Yellow Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Alexander/Delmar 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Anacortes Ferry Terminal Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Bayview Boat Launch 3 1/wk 44 18% 0

Skagit Bayview State Park 1 1/wk 59 5% 0

Skagit Boat Harbor, East Guemes Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Burrows Bay, Far North 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Burrows Island East 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Burrows Island North 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Burrows Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Burrows Island, Southeast 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Camp Kirby 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Cap Sante Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Cap Sante Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Clark Point, North Guemes Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Community of Christ Church Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Cone Islands State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Cypress Head Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Cypress Head, Beach 209 3 none 0 NA 0



Skagit Deception Pass State Park (Skagit) 2 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Skagit Deception Pass State Park Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Dewey Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Eagle Cliff, Beach 286 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Eagle Harbor, Beach 212A 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Fidalgo Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Goat Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Guemes Island, Peach Reserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Guemes Island, South 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Hope Island (Skagit County) 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Huckleberry Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Jensen Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit La Conner Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Larrabee State Park, Clayton Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Lower Cap Sante Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit March Point Recreational Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Milltown Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit North Beach, Guemes Island 2 none 0 NA 0

Skagit North Fork Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Northwest Island Marine Park 3 none 0 NA 0

SkagitPadilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

3 1/wk 21 10% 0

Skagit Pelican Beach Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Pioneer Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Quaker Cove Camp & Retreat Center 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Rosario Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Saddlebag Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Salmon Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Samish Island Recreation Area 2 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Seafarer Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Sharpe County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Similk Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Sinclair Island Dock 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Sinclair Island Land, Beach 213A 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Sinclair Island, Beach 213 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Sinclair Island, Beach 213A 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Skagit Island State Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Skyline Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit South Shore Drive Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Strawberry Bay, Beach 287 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Strawberry Island Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Swinomish Channel Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Skagit Vendovi Island, Beach 214 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Washington Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Skagit Young County Park North Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish 10th St Marine Park and Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Brown Bay Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Darlington Beach and Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Darlington Beach North, Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Edmonds Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Edmonds Underwater Park 1 1/wk 52 2% 0

Snohomish Forest Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Howarth Park 1 1/wk 52 6% 0

Snohomish Howarth Park South 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Jetty Island 1 1/wk 14 0% 0

Snohomish Kayak Point County Park 1 1/wk 60 2% 0

Snohomish Leque Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Marina Beach South/Edmonds (Dog Park) 1 1/wk 46 7% 0 (364)*

Snohomish Marina Beach South/Edmonds (No Dogs) 1 1/wk 46 0% 0

Snohomish Meadowdale County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Mission Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Mukilteo Fishing Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Mukilteo Lighthouse Park 3 1/wk 46 2% 0

Snohomish Mukilteo Park South, Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Nakeeta Beach South, Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Nakeeta Beach Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish North Marine View Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Olympic Beach Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Olympic View Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Park Avenue Street End 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Picnic Point County Park 1 1/wk 46 2% 0

Snohomish Picnic Point North, Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Picnic Point South, Rail 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Port of Everett Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Port Susan Bay Preserve 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Silver Cloud Pier 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Skagit Wildlife Recreation Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Soundview Drive NW Road End 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish South Marine View Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish South Mukilteo Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Spencer Island County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Tulalip Bay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Warm Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Snohomish Warm Beach Church Camp 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish Wells Point North 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish West Pass Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Snohomish West Pass Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston 4th Ave Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Bayview Market Public Access 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Beachcrest Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Boston Harbor Boat Ramp 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Boston Harbor Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Burfoot County Park 1 1/wk 52 0% 0

Thurston Buzz’s Tavern 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Capitol Land Trust, South Eld Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Carlyon Beach Country Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Evergreen State College Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Fiddlehead Marina 2 none 0 NA 1

Thurston Forest Bay Acres Community 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Frye Cove County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Green Park Community Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Hawks Prairie Estate 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Highway 101 Bridge, Mud Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Highway 101 Bridge, Oyster Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Hogam Bay Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Martin Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Mud Bay Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Nisqually Habitat Management Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Old Olympic Highway Bridge, Oyster Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Olympia Country and Golf Club 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Percival Landing North 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Port Plaza/Visitor Moorage 3 none 0 NA 1

Thurston Priest Point Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Snug Harbor Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston South Budd Inlet Waterfront 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Southeast Budd Inlet 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Steamboat Island Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Swantown Marina 2 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Tamoshan Homeowners Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Thurston County Parcel (Indian Rd) 2 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Tolmie State Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Thurston West Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Westbay Marina 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Thurston Woodard Bay Natural Area 3 none 0 NA 0

Thurston Zittel’s Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Birch Bay County Park 1 1/wk 57 9% 0

Whatcom Birch Bay Near Terrell Creek 2 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Birch Bay State Park 2 1/wk 56 0% 0

Whatcom Birch Bay Village 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Birch Point, Beach 372 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Blaine Harbor and Boat Launch 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Blaine Rd. Bridge 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Boulevard Park/Bayview Marine Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Bumstead Spit South, Beach 223A 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Bumstead Spit, Beach 223 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Carter Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Chuckanut Beach Community Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Chuckanut Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Chuckanut Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Clarks Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Cottonwood Beach County Park 2 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Devils Slide, Beach 220A 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Drayton Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Drayton Harbor Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Drayton Harbor/Whatcom Land Trust 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Eliza Island 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Larrabee State Park, Wildcat Cove 2 1/wk 76 8% 0

Whatcom Lighthouse Marine County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Lily Point County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Little Squalicum Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Lummi Island Recreation Site 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Lummi Island, Beach 220 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Lummi Island, Beach 223B 3 none 0 NA 0



Whatcom Lummi Rocks 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Maple Beach 2 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Marine Drive Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Marine View Park 2 1/wk 55 7% 0

Whatcom Monument County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Mud Bay, Chuckanut 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Padden Creek Lagoon 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Point Roberts Marina and Resort 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Point Whitehorn 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

Closing or Advisory

Days

Whatcom Semiahmoo County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Semiahmoo Resort & Marina 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Smugglers Cove North, Beach 221A 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Smugglers Cove Point, Beach 221 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom South Birch Point 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom South Drayton Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom South Semiahmoo Bay 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Squalicum Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Teddy Bear Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Wildcat Cove Tidelands 3 none 0 NA 0

Whatcom Zuanich Park 3 none 0 NA 0


noTEs1 Washington State Department of Ecology. January-December 2009 (FFY08) Annual Report for: Washington State’s BEACH Program. Not dated.

2 Jessica Archer, Washington Department of Ecology, personal communication, June 2010.

3 Lynn Schneider, Washington Department of Ecology, personal communication, May 2007.

4 Of the beaches considered to be “unmonitored,” 310 are monitored six times per year by the recreational shellfish program at the Washington Depart ment of Health. They are monitored for fecal coliform rather than enterococcus, but the Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health Program considers the results of the fecal coliform tests when making beach advisory and closing decisions. However, NRDC does not include the results of the fecal coliform tests in its calculation of percent exceedances of federal standards because there are no federal fecal coliform standards for recreational marine waters.

WI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

WIsconsIn18th in Beachwater Quality

8% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009*Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)• Eichelman Beach in Kenosha County (46%) • Anclam Park Beach in Door County (29%) • South Shore Beach in Milwaukee County (29%)

Wisconsin has 193 public beaches along 55 miles of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan coastline. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources coordinates Wisconsin’s beach monitoring program and administers the BEACH Act grants.

Monitoringsampling Practices: Most beaches are monitored from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, but initiation of monitoring can be delayed when colder temperatures delay the onset of the swim season. Local health departments conduct the actual water quality monitoring part of the effort. Samples are taken in kneedeep water, 6 to 12 inches below the surface of the water.1 Great Lakes beaches are assigned high, medium, and low priority for monitoring based on the potential for impacts from stormwater runoff, beach usage and population density, waterfowl loads, and the proximity of wastewater treatment outfalls and farms.1

Additional sampling is required following large rain events or other major pollution events,2 and beaches are resampled immediately after an advisory or closing is issued. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is issued will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

Results: In 2009, Wisconsin reported 193 coastal beaches, of which 3 (2%) were monitored daily, 59 (31%) more than once a week, and 58 (30%) once a week; 73 (38%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 8% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Eichelman Beach in Kenosha County (46%), Anclam Park Beach in Door County (29%), South Shore Beach in Milwaukee County (29%), Haines Park Beach in Door County (24%), General King Park Beach in Sheboygan County (22%), and Ephraim Beach in Door County (22%).

Kenosha County had the highest exceedance rate (23%) in 2009, followed by Sheboygan (14%), Milwaukee (13%), Kewaunee (9%), Door (8%), Racine (6%), Brown (5%), Manitowoc (4%), Ashland (4%), Ozaukee (4%), Douglas (1%), Bayfield (1%), and Iron (0%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 110 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased for the third consecutive year to 7% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 15% in 2007, and 17% in 2006.

0.00

4.25

8.50

12.75

17.00

21.25

2009200820072006


17%15%

13%

7%

Wisconsin Percent Exceedance for 110 Beaches Reported 2006–2009




closings and Advisoriesstandards and Procedures: Wisconsin issues both closings and advisories: a beachwater sample with 236 to 999 cfu/100 ml of E. coli results in the issuance of an advisory, and a sample greater than or equal to 1,000 cfu/100 ml of E. coli results in a closing. The geometric mean water quality standard for fresh water may be used to make closing and advisory decisions at highpriority beaches. Resampling to confirm an exceedance is not done before an advisory or closing is issued, and there is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory or closing when a sample exceeds standards. Some counties with longer beaches combine multiple samples along the beach before analyzing for bacteria, and some take an average value of multiple samples analyzed separately; aclosing and advisory decisions are made for the entire beach based on the com posite or average results. For some long beaches, composite sampling is not encouraged because of the beach’s sampling history. Local health departments with juris diction over these beaches are encouraged to close entire beaches or beach segments based on individual sample exceedances.3

At the discretion of local beach managers, some beaches are closed or placed under advisory after rainfall exceeds a predetermined threshold, such as 1 inch of precipitation in a 24hour period. In other locations preemptive advisories or closures are issued after sewer or stormwater overflows or inci dences of reportable illnesses.2

Milwaukee uses predictive models in addition to monitoring to determine advisories for a few of its beaches.1 In 2008, Ozaukee County began utilizing a predictive model developed in con junction with the WI DNR (US EPA Virtual Beach) to issue advisories and closings as necessary seven days a week at Upper Lake State Park.

number of closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 331 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 55% to 401 days in 2009 from 883 days in 2008, 747 days in 2007, 1,101 days in 2006, and 1,018 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than six but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

causes of closings and Advisories: For the 331 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 66% (263) of closing/advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, 20% (82) were preemptive (i.e., issued without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall, 6% (25) were preemptive due to known sewage spills/leaks, 7% (30) were preemptive due to other reasons, and less than 1% (1) were preemptive based on the results of computer modeling.

Reported sources of Beachwater contamination: 80% (319) of closing/advisory days were from unknown sources of contamination and 20% (82) were from stormwater.

Wisconsin 2009 Monitoring Results and closing or Advisory Days


Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Ashland Bayview Park Beach 2 2/wk 29 0% 0

Ashland Big Bay State Park Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ashland Big Bay Town Park Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ashland Casper Road Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Ashland Kreher Park Beach 2 2/wk 32 16% 6

Ashland La Pointe Memorial Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0


Wisconsin sources of contamination



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Ashland Maslowski Beaches 2 2/wk 30 3% 1

Bayfield Bark Bay Beaches 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Bono Creek Boat Launch Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Broad Street Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Herbster Beach 3 1/wk 17 12% 0

Bayfield Highway 13 Wayside Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bayfield Little Sand Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bayfield Memorial Beach Bayfield 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Memorial Park Beach Washburn 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Port Wing Beach East 3 1/wk 16 0% 0

Bayfield Port Wing Beach West 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield River Loop Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Bayfield Sioux River Beach North 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Sioux River Beach South 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Siskiwit Bay Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Thompson West End Park Beach 3 1/wk 16 0% 0

Bayfield Washburn Marina Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Washburn Walking Trail Beach/BAB Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Washington Avenue Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Bayfield Wikdal Memorial Boat Launch Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Brown Bay Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Brown Bayshore Park Beach 3 1/wk 16 0% 0

Brown Communiversity Park Beach 3 1/wk 18 17% 3

Brown Joliet Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Brown Longtail Beach 3 1/wk 24 0% 0

Brown Riverside Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Brown Town of Scott Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Brown Van Lanen Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Brown Volk’s Landing Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Anclam Park Beach 2 2/wk 38 29% 18

Door Arrowhead Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Baileys Harbor Ridges Park Beach 1 4/wk 56 11% 5

Door Bittersweet Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Braunsdorf Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Chippewa Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Clay Banks Beach 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Clay Banks Beach 2 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Door Cliff View Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door County TT Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Deer Path Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Egg Harbor Beach 1 4/wk 59 14% 8



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Door Ellison Bay Town Park Beach 1 4/wk 56 0% 0

Door Ephraim Beach 1 4/wk 60 22% 15

Door Europe Bay Beach 1 2 2/wk 30 10% 3



Door Fish Creek Beach 1 4/wk 57 9% 8

Door Garrett Bay Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Gislason Beach 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Door Goldenrod Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Haines Park Beach 2 2/wk 33 24% 6

Door Hemlock Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Isle View Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Jackson Harbor Ridges-WI 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Door Kickapoo Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Lakeshore Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Lakeside Park Beach 2 2/wk 34 9% 11

Door Lily Bay Boat Launch Beach 3 1/wk 15 7% 1

Door Murphy Park Beach 1 4/wk 56 4% 2

Door Newport Bay Beach 1 4/wk 55 2% 1

Door Nicolet Beach 1 4/wk 56 0% 0

Door Otumba Park Beach 1 4/wk 60 13% 16

Door Pebble Beach Road Beach 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Percy Johnson Memorial Park Beach 3 1/wk 15 7% 1

Door Portage Park Beach 2 2/wk 29 3% 1

Door Potawatomi State Park Beach 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Potawatomi State Park Beach 2 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Rock Island State Park Beach 3 1/wk 8 0% 0

Door Sand Bay Beach 1 2 2/wk 29 3% 1

Door Sand Bay Beach 2 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Sand Cove 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Sand Dune Beach 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Door Sandy Bay Town Park Beach 2 2/wk 28 0% 0

Door School House Beach 3 1/wk 16 13% 2

Door Sister Bay Beach 1 4/wk 57 5% 3

Door Sturgeon Bay Canal Recreation Area Beach 2 2/wk 29 3% 1

Door Sunset Beach Fish Creek 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Sunset Park Beach Sturgeon Bay 1 4/wk 61 5% 11

Door White Pine Lane Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Door Whitefish Bay Boat Launch Beach 3 1/wk 17 18% 2

Door Whitefish Dunes Beach 1 4/wk 55 9% 5

Door Winnebago Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Douglas Allouez Bay Beach 1 3 none 0 NA 0

Douglas Allouez Bay Beach 2 3 none 0 NA 0

Douglas Allouez Bay Beach 3 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Douglas Amnicon River Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Douglas Barker’s Island Inner Beach 2 2/wk 28 4% 0

Douglas Barker’s Island Outer Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Douglas Brule River State Forest Beach 1 3 1/wk 15 0% 0



Douglas Conners Point Beaches 3 none 0 NA 0

Douglas Middle River Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Douglas Wisconsin Point Beach 1 2 2/wk 27 0% 0





Iron Oronto Bay Beach 1 3 1/wk 14 0% 0



Iron Saxon Harbor Beach East 3 1/wk 13 0% 0

Iron Saxon Harbor Beach West 3 1/wk 14 0% 0

Kenosha Alford Park Beach 3 1/wk 17 12% 2

Kenosha Eichelman Beach 2 2/wk 48 46% 22

Kenosha Lakeshore Drive Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kenosha Melissa Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kenosha Pennoyer Park Beach 3 1/wk 15 0% 0

Kenosha Simmons Island Beach 2 2/wk 33 12% 4

Kenosha Southport Park Beach 3 1/wk 19 16% 4

Kewaunee 9th Avenue Wayside Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kewaunee City of Kewaunee Beach 3 1/wk 13 0% 0

Kewaunee Crescent Beach 2 2/wk 31 13% 4

Kewaunee Lighthouse Vista Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Kewaunee Red River Park Beaches 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Fischer Park Beaches 3 1/wk 25 0% 0

Manitowoc Hika Park Bay 3 1/wk 15 13% 2

Manitowoc Lincoln High School Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Maritime Dr Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Memorial Drive Wayside Beach Middle 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Memorial Drive Wayside Beach North 2 2/wk 26 8% 2

Manitowoc Memorial Drive Wayside Beach South 2 2/wk 26 4% 1

Manitowoc Neshotah Beach 2 2/wk 25 0% 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

ManitowocPoint Beach State Forest-Concession Stand Beach

2 2/wk 25 0% 0

ManitowocPoint Beach State Forest-Lakeshore Picnic Area Beach

2 2/wk 25 0% 0

ManitowocPoint Beach State Forest-Lighthouse Picnic Area Beach

2 2/wk 25 0% 0

Manitowoc Red Arrow Park Beach 2 2/wk 27 15% 4

Manitowoc Silver Creek Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Two Creek Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc University Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc Warm Water Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Manitowoc YMCA Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Marinette Michaelis Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Marinette Peshtigo Harbor Boat Launch Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Marinette Red Arrow Marinette 1 Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Marinette Seagull Bar Wildlife Area Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Milwaukee Atwater Park Beach 2 2/wk 27 11% 13

Milwaukee Bay View Park Beach 3 1/wk 20 10% 5

Milwaukee Bender Beach 2 2/wk 34 9% 8

Milwaukee Big Bay Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Milwaukee Bradford Beach 1 Daily 56 13% 9

Milwaukee Grant Park Beach 2 2/wk 274 13% 21

Milwaukee Klode Park Beach 2 2/wk 26 4% 7

Milwaukee McKinley Beach 2 3/wk 20 15% 9

Milwaukee Sheridan Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Milwaukee South Shore Beach 1 Daily 56 29% 10

Milwaukee South Shore Rocky Beach 3 2/wk 15 13% 9

Milwaukee Tietjen Beach/Doctor’s Park 2 2/wk 28 7% 9

Milwaukee Watercraft Beach 3 2/wk 16 0% 9

Oconto Oconto City Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Ozaukee Cedar Beach Rd Beach 1 4/wk 44 5% 9

Ozaukee Concordia University 1 4/wk 18 0% 0

Ozaukee County Road D Boat Launch Beach 1 4/wk 45 9% 10

Ozaukee Harrington State Park Beach North 1 4/wk 45 9% 10

Ozaukee Harrington State Park Beach South 1 4/wk 44 5% 9

Ozaukee Jay Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ozaukee Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve 3 1/wk 18 0% 0

Ozaukee Pebble Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ozaukee Sandy Beach Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Ozaukee Silver Beach Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0



Total samples


state standards

closing or Advisory

Days

Ozaukee Upper Lake Park Beach 1 Daily 89 0% 3

Ozaukee Virmond County Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine Michigan Boulevard Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine Myers Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine North Beach 1 5/wk 328 4% 2

Racine Parkway Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine Shoop Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine Wind Point Lighthouse Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Racine Zoo Beach 1 5/wk 252 8% 6

Sheboygan 3rd Street Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sheboygan Amsterdam Beach 3 1/wk 20 10% 1

Sheboygan Blue Harbor Beach 1 4/wk 57 14% 6

Sheboygan Deland Park Beach 2 2/wk 55 11% 5

Sheboygan Foster Road Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sheboygan General King Park Beach 2 2/wk 59 22% 12

Sheboygan KK Road Beach 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

SheboyganKohler Andrae State Park Nature Center Beach

1 4/wk 57 12% 9

Sheboygan Kohler Andrae State Park North Beach 1 4/wk 57 12% 9

SheboyganKohler Andrae State Park North Picnic Beach

1 4/wk 57 12% 9

SheboyganKohler Andrae State Park South Picnic Beach

1 4/wk 57 12% 9

Sheboygan Lakeview Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sheboygan Van Ess Road Beach 3 1/wk 0 NA 0

Sheboygan Vollrath Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sheboygan Whitcomb Avenue Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

Sheboygan Wilson Lima Beach/White’s Beach 3 none 0 NA 0

noTEs1 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Annual Report Beach Season 2009. Not dated.

2 Kinzelman, J., City of Racine Health Department, personal communication, June 2010.

3 Shaunna Chase, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Beach Program Coordinator, personal communication, May 2008.

Beach Report 2010

Documents

campbell foundation

sandler foundation

pisces foundation

dodge foundation

joyce foundation

gimbel foundation

mcknight foundation

nrdc president