NRDC's Testing The Waters 2010

Testing the Waters
July 2010
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

twentieth Annu al Repo rt
Authors
Mark Dorfman
Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot
Project Design and Development

David Beckman
Natural Resources Defense Council
Jon Devine
Michelle Mehta
About NRDC
The 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.
Acknowledgments
NRDC 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 nationwide. 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 Beinecke

NRDC Executive Director: Peter Lehner
NRDC Director of Communications: Phil Gutis
NRDC Deputy Director of Communications: Lisa Goffredi
NRDC Publications Director: Anthony Clark
NRDC Publications Editor: Carlita Salazar
Project Manager: Alexandra Kennaugh
Design and Production: Bonnie Greenfield
Copyright 2010 by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................................... v
National Overview............................................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1
Sources of Beachwater Pollution......................................................................................................................................14
Chapter 2
The Impacts of Beach Pollution......................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 3
Plan of Action.................................................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 4
Beachwater Quality Monitoring Programs and State-by-State Results.............................................................................44
Alabama Florida Louisiana Minnesota North Carolina South Carolina
Alaska Georgia Maine Mississippi Ohio Texas
California Hawaii Maryland New Hampshire Oregon Virginia
Connecticut Illinois Massachusetts New Jersey Pennsylvania Washington
Delaware Indiana Michigan New York Rhode Island Wisconsin
Figures
Figure 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
iii Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Tables
Table 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...............9
for 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...........13
Maximum 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. S tate Distribution of BEACH Act Funding for Beachwater Quality Monitoring and Notification..................44
for 2009 and 2010
Table 4-2. State Coastal Beachwater Quality Standards...................................................................................................46
iv Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Executive Summary
Twentieth 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. Even in the relatively dry 2009 beach
For the fifth consecutive year, we were able to season, stormwater runoff contributed
determine not only the number of closings and advisories,
but also the number of times that each beach violated to more than 80% of the closing
current public health standards. The percent of beach and advisory days with a reported
monitoring samples exceeding national health standards contamination source.
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
v 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 waterborne
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 standards,
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
vi 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 comprehensive 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.
vii Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Notes
1 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.
viii 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 nation
wide, their sixth-highest 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 monitor During 2009, there were 18,682 days
ing in Southern California due to budget cuts likely con of closings and advisories at U.S.
tributed to a 24% decrease in the number of closing and
ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches.
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. Wetter-than-usual 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.
Figure N-1. Regional Differences in Closing/Advisory Days, 2006–2009
12000
2006
Closing/Advisory Days
2007 Region
10000 2008 2006 2007 2008 2009 2009 vs. 2008
2009 Delmarva 360 303 101 278 +175%
Great Lakes 3,003 3,043 3,437 3,300 –4%
Closing/Advisory Days
Gulf 3,134 4,336 2,657 3,148 +18%

8000 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%
6000 West 11,510 8,990 7,105 5,410 –24%
4000
2000
0
Delmarva Great Lakes Gulf New England NY-NJ Southeast West
1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Figure N-2. Regional Differences in Percent Exceedance of National Standards, 2006–2009
16%
National Exceedances
2006 Region
2006 2007 2008 2009
14% 2007
Delmarva 4% 3% 2% 3%
2008
Great Lakes 14% 15% 13% 13%
2009
Gulf 6% 8% 7% 6%
12%
New England 5% 4% 6% 8%
NY-NJ 7% 8% 5% 6%
10% Southeast 3% 2% 3% 3%
Exceedance
West 8% 5% 7% 7%
8%
15%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Delmarva Great Lakes Gulf New England NY-NJ Southeast West
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 NY-NJ coast (6%), western states (6%), the southeast (3%), and the Delmarva
peninsula (3%).
Although it is tempting to expect a correlation between year-to-year changes in water quality and year-to-year
changes in closing/advisory days, there are confounding factors that make such correlations unlikely. While year-to-year
changes in the percent of monitoring samples that exceed health standards is an objective assessment of water quality,
year-to-year 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.

• 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, however, are determined solely by using the standard culture-based 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 understand
ing 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 beachwater 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 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. 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 preemptive rainfall advisories based on rainfall intensity or some other rain-related factor for at least some of
their eaches. States with quantitative rainfall standards include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii,
Maine, Massachusetts, 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 Washington, 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 Sources

During 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 N‑3).The major factors contributing to the decrease in 2009 appear to be decreased rainfall in Hawaii and
a reduction in state funding that led to decreased monitoring (and therefore decreased monitoring-related 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 N-4 and N-5):
• 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).
Figure N-3. Total Closing/Advisory Days, 2000–2009 (Excluding Extended and Permanent)
30 3.0
Closing/advisory days 2.88

Thousands of Closing/Advisory Days
25
Thousands of Beaches Monitored
2.5
Beaches monitored
at least weekly 18.68
20
2.0
15
1.5
10
1.0
5
0 0.5
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
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).
Figure N-4. Reported Reasons for Closings/Advisories in 2009
100%
90%
80% 74%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
21%
20%
10%
1% 2% <1% 2%
0%
Preemptive due In response to Based on monitoring Other reason Predictive modeling No data
to rain known to known pollution that detected
carry pollution to event without relying bacteria levels
swimming waters on monitoring exceeding standard
Figure N-5. Reported Reasons for Closings/Advisories, 2000–2009
30
25 A-Monitoring
B-Response
C-Preemptive Rainfall
D-Other
20
E-Modeling
15
10
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 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 N-6).
Figure N-6. Sources of Pollution That Caused Closings/Advisories in 2009
100%
90%
80%
70%
60% 53%
50%
39%
40%
30%
20%
9% 10% 9%
10%
0%
Unknown Polluted runoff, Sewage spills Other Wildlife
stormwater, and overflows (excluding wildlife)
or preemptive
due to rain
Total exceeds 100 percent because more than one source of contamination was reported for some events.
Figure N-7. Sources of Pollution That Caused Closings/Advisories, 2000–2009
30
A-Sewage
25 B-Rain/Runoff/Stormwater
C-Unknown
D-Other
20
15
10
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 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 Quality
For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC used the percentage of all beachwater samples collected in 2009 that exceeded the
BEACH Act’s single-sample 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
freshwater, 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 manageable 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 four-year 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 single-
sample 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 recreational 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 pop
ular and/or have known pollution sources in the Figure N-8. Percent Exceedance for All Coastal and
vicinity of the beach), a practice that is more pro Great Lakes States Combined, 2006–2009 (Based
tective of human health. on 2,655 Beaches Reported in Each of the 4 Years)
For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC highlighted
beaches exceeding the national daily standard more 10%
than 25% of the time. In 2009, this list included
8%
162 beaches in 20 states: AL, CA, CT, FL, HI, IL,
Exceedance
IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, 6%

OH, RI, TX, and WI (see Table N-2). Chronically 9%
4%
high bacteria counts indicate that the beachwater is 7% 7% 7%
probably contaminated with human or animal waste. 2%
Fifteen beach areas in 7 states (CA, FL, IL, NJ, OH,
0%
TX, and WI) made this list in each of the last four 2006 2007 2008 2009
years, 2006 through 2009 (see Table N-3).

Table N-1. Rank of States by Percentage of Beachwater Samples Exceeding the National Standard in 2009
Percent of
All Resample or
Percent Total Tier 1 Tier 1 Beaches
Rank State Reported Other Info needed
Exceedance Samples Beaches Monitored More
Beaches Before Action?
Than Once a Week
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
no (at Tier 1 and
6 NC 3% 7,137 241 113 0%
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)
Monitoring Total Percent
State County Beach Tier
Frequency Samples 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%
Santa Monica State Beach-Santa Monica
CA Los Angeles 1 1/wk 84 39%
Canyon

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%
Doheny State Beach-North of San Juan
CA Orange 1 3/wk 51 37%
Creek
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%

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%
Baker Beach, Lobos Creek at Lower
CA San Francisco 1 1/wk 85 32%
Parking Lot
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%

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)
Monitoring Potential pollution sources
Frequency (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
Santa Monica State Beach-Santa Monica
CA Los Angeles 1 1/wk Unknown
Canyon
Doheny State Beach-North of San Juan
CA Orange 1 3/wk Unknown
Creek
CA Orange Doheny State Beach-Surf Zone at Outfall 1 3/wk Unknown
CA Orange Newport Bay-Newport Blvd Bridge 1 1/wk Unknown
Boats, Runoff, Wildlife,
FL Taylor Keaton Beach 1 1/wk
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
Combined Sewer Overflow,
TX Nueces Ropes Park 1 1/wk
Stormwater, Other, Unknown
WI Kenosha Eichelman 2 2/wk Stormwater, Wildlife
WI Milwaukee South Shore 1 Daily Unknown
Notes
1 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 Stormwater runoff is the most
that carries agricultural and human waste, untreated or frequently identified source of
partially treated discharges from sewage treatment plants,
beach closing and advisory days.
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

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 EPA estimates that more than
the coastal population grew by 33 million, and it is 10 trillion gallons of untreated
projected to increase by another 19 million by 2015. As
7
stormwater make their way into
the population along the U.S. coast grows, more land is
converted to impervious surfaces that shed rather than
our surface waters each year.
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 Plants

Combined 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
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 Sanitary sewer overflows discharge
survey of 42 treatment plants found some that have been between 3 billion to 10 billion gallons
in use for as long as 117 years; the average is 33 years.18 As of untreated sewage per year.
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

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 Systems
About 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 Waste
Marinas 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, fertilizers, 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 quantities of manure
that far exceed the assimilation capacity of neighboring crops and pastures and have been estimated to be a contributing 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 contaminated 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 precipi
tation, which causes greater runoff.40 As more high-intensity rainfall events occur, the risk increases that combined sewer
systems will overload, discharging untreated stormwater 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
The IPCC found that “[w]ater-borne
increase in CSOs can be expected.41 Indeed, in the Great diseases and degraded water quality
Lakes region, climate modeling predicts that the regional are very likely to increase with more
average annual CSO frequency between 2060 and 2099
heavy precipitation.”
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 temperatures 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.
Notes
1 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.

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 Waters

Polluted 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- The Centers for Disease Control
polluted water can contract any illness that is spread
and Prevention concluded that the
by fecal contact, including gastroenteritis, respiratory
infection, and ear and skin infections (see Table 2-1). incidence of infections associated
(Gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, is inflammation of the with recreational water use has
stomach and the small intestine, symptoms of which can steadily increased over the past
include vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, nausea, head
ache, and fever.) Most swimming-related illnesses last several decades.
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
Dysenteric illness, wound infections, gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea, death in susceptible
Aeromonas hydrophila
populations), septicemia (generalized infections in which organisms multiply in the bloodstream)
Campylobacter jejuni Gastroenteritis
E. coli Gastroenteritis
Leptospira Leptospirosis (jaundice, fever)
Gastritis (diarrhea); peptic ulcers can occur long-term along with an increased likelihood of
Helicobacter pylori
developing gastric cancer
Legionella pneumoniae Legionellosis (fever, pneumonia)
Mycobacterium Respiratory infection
Naegleria Neurologic infections
Urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections,
Pseudomonas
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
Bacterial dysentery
other species

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 Various, including severe respiratory disease, fever, rash, paralysis, aseptic meningitis,
(some strains) 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
Amoebic dysentery (prolonged diarrhea with bleeding, abscesses of the liver and small
Entamoeba histolytica
intestine, infections of other organs)
Giardia lamblia Giardiasis (diarrhea, nausea, indigestion)
Isospora belli and
Intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal infection
Isospora hominis
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 combination
of factors, such as the emergence of pathogens (e.g., Cryptosporidium), increased participation 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 outbreak.
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. (Enterococcus 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 incidence 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 enterococcus 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
Figure 2-1. Influence of Heavy Rainfall on Occurrence of E. coli Infections
60 100
50 Number of cases
Rainfall 80
40
Number of cases
60
Rainfall (ml)
30
40
20
20
10
0 0
May 1 May 4 May 7 May 10 May 13 May 16 May 19 May 22 May 25 May 28 May 31
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
Climate-Related Possible Influence of Likelihood
Pathogen Basis for Assessment
Driver Climate Change of Change
Increasing ambient tempera Likelihood of climate event is
tures associated with growth high, and evidence supports
in pre-harvest and post- growth trend in ambient
harvest shellfish (in absence Very likely waters; adaptive (control)
of appropriate post-harvest measures (refrigeration)
controls) and increasing would reduce this effect for
disease post-harvest oysters
Rising temperature Increasing temperature
Likelihood of climate event is
associated with higher Extremely
high, and evidence supports
environmental prevalence likely
environmental growth trend
and disease
Vibrio species Likelihood of climate event is
Increasing temperature
high, and evidence collected
associated with range Very likely
to date supports trend; more
expansion
data needed to confirm
Increasing precipitation and
Likelihood of climate event
freshwater runoff leads
About as is probable, but additional
Changes in precipitation to depressed estuarine
likely as not research is needed to confirm
salinities and increases in
pathogen distribution patterns
some Vibrio species
Rising sea level or storm
Sea level changes surge increases range and Likely
probable
human exposure
Increasing temperature Likelihood of climate event
associated with expanded More likely is high, but more research is
Naegleria fowleri Rising temperature
range and conversion to than not needed to confirm disease
flagellated form (infective) trend
Expanded recreational
(swimming) season may About as
Rising temperature high, but there is insufficient
increase likelihood of likely as not
research on this relationship
exposure and disease
Cryptosporidium Likelihood of climate event
Increasing precipitation
is probable, and research
associated with increased
supports this pattern;
Changes in precipitation loading of parasite to water Very likely
adaptive measures (water
and increased exposure and
treatment and infrastructure)
disease
would reduce this the effect
Expanded recreational
(swimming) season may About as
Rising temperature high, but there is insufficient
increase likelihood of likely as not
research on this relationship
exposure and disease
Likelihood of climate event
Increasing precipitation
is probable, and research
associated with increased
supports this pattern; but
Changes in precipitation loading of parasite to water Very likely
Giardia adaptive measures (water
and increased exposure and
treatment and infrastructure)
disease
would reduce this effect
Increasing temperature
associated with shifting Likelihood of climate event is
Shifts in reservoir host About as
range in reservoir species high, but there is insufficient
ranges or behavior likely as not
(carriers) and expanded research on this relationship
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 Blooms

Harmful 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

Table 2-3. Algae and Their Threats to Human Health
Algal Blooms Health Risk
Severe dermatitis, burning or itching of the skin, erythematous wheals,
Cyanobacteria (mainly Microcystis and Anabaena)
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
Paralytic shellfish poisoning: tingling, numbness, and burning of
Alexandrium tamarense the perioral region, ataxia, giddiness, drowsiness, fever, rash, and
staggering; repiratory arrest in more severe cases
Amnesic shellfish poisoning: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps,
Pseudo-nitzschia australis and diarrhea; in more severe cases dizziness, headache, seizures,
disorientation, short-term memory loss, respiratory difficulty, and coma
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.
Figure 2-2. Expansion of HAB Problems in the United States
Pre-1972 2002
Pfiesteria complex
NSP
NSP Ciguatera
PSP
PSP Brown tide
Fish kills
Fish kills ASP
Ciguatera
HI Occasional anoxia
Occasional anoxia PR HI PR
DSP (unconfirmed)
Marine mammal mortalities (whales,
manatees, sea lions, dolphins)
Noxious blooms (aesthetics)
Macro algal blooms
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.

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
shoreline 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
Figure 2-3. The Value of the Coastal Economy (2007)
$15 140
135.4
Gross domestic product
$13.74 120
Jobs generated by geographic area
$12
$11.41 107.5 100

Trillions of dollars
Millions of jobs
$9
80
$7.85
69.2 60
$6 $6.68
57.0
$5.57
47.1 40
$3
20
$0 0
Total Total Coastal Watershed Coastal Zone Shoreline-Adjacent
U.S. Economy Coastal States Counties Counties Counties
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 signifi
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, California, evaluated the economic burden of several individual 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 incidences 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 California 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 public health
cost of $21 million to $51 million each year.43
The commercial fishing and recreational angling industries are also affected by beach pollution. In 2006, the U.S.
commercial 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, Table 2-4. Cost Estimates for Illnesses Associated
contributing $82 billion directly to the economy and With Polluted Water Due to Lost Wages and
Medical Care
generating more than 500,000 jobs. 45
Nutrient pollution in runoff plays a role in one of the Type of Illness Cost Per Illness
most serious coastal pollution threats these industries face: Gastrointestinal Illness $36.58
the creation of “dead zones.” Besides posinf a pathogenic Acute Respiratory Disease $76.76
threat to swimmers from urban and agricultural runoff, Ear Ailment $37.86
sewage, and animal wastes, these streams are rich in Eye Ailment $27.31
nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. When excessive Source: Ryan H. Dwight, Linda M. Fernandez, Dean B. Baker, Jan
nutrients are discharged into aquatic ecosystems, C. Semenza, and Betty H. Olson, “Estimating the Economic Burden
from Illnesses Associated with Recreational Coastal Water Pollution:
eutrophication occurs and aquatic plants become more A Case Study in Orange County, California,” in Journal of Environmental
abundant. As these plants die, they sink to the bottom 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 Administration
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.

Notes
1 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.
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 Infrastructure

Green 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 In addition to warning the public
discharges. Most often, these technologies retain and filter or closing our beaches when they
rainwater where it falls and let it soak back into the ground,
rather than dumping it into waterways. Green infrastructure are unsafe, we must address the
reduces pollutant flows and minimizes the need for more sources of beachwater pollution.
expensive traditional treatment by utilizing strategically
placed rain gardens in yards, tree boxes along city sidewalks, 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

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 requirements 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 Treatment
There 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 (b) The infiltration/evaporation basins (c) The infiltration/evaporation basins
removal of solids from stormwater. after planting with native wetland as they appear today.
The photo was taken in late 2000. species.
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 pretreatment
ystem that removes solid wastes and oils from stormwater and then directs it to a series of infiltration/evaporation 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 overflowing 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 Contamination
EPA 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 sanitation
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 contamina
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 Standards

Current 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

Table 3-1. Beachwater Quality Standards Required by the BEACH Act
Standard
Water Type Indicator
For Multiple Samplesa For a Single Sampleb
Marine Enterococcus 35 per 100 ml 104 per 100 ml
Enterococcus 33 per 100 ml 61 per 100 ml
Fresh
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.
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 If a family of four were to swim once
for notifying the public of health risks from a week in June, July, and August
contamination at beaches. Under the BEACH Act, states
in ocean waters that just met the
were pushed to adopt standards based on the EPA’s 1986
criteria for pathogen indicators.25 In addition, the EPA EPA’s current bacteria standard, one
was required to complete studies on the human health member of the family would probably
effects of pathogens in coastal recreational waters and to become ill.
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 epidemiological 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 (inflammation 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 developed by the EPA will
focus on gastroenteritis, with other illnesses included if they are “significant and have indicators that reflect risk.”33

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 Methods

Perhaps 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

Figure 3-2. Lag Time Associated With Current Water Quality Monitoring and Public Notification Methods
Monday morning: Collect water 24 to 48 hours: Samples are incubated Tuesday morning to Wednesday
samples. and tested. afternoon: Advisory/closure decision
made and public notified.
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
measurements 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 Sanitary surveys

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/)
Notes
1 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 Develop
ment 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. Many states and localities supplement
While the BEACH Act authorizes $30 million a year their BEACH Act funding so that they
for state grants for monitoring and public notification,
appropriations have funded only about one-third of that can achieve the objectives of their
level each year. Since Fiscal Year 2002, EPA awarded beachwater monitoring program..
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

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
Standards applied:
EPA’s 30-day geometric mean standard for at EPA’s “designated beach area” Less stringent single Additional
State least five evenly spaced samples taken over single sample maximum standard sample maximum standard indicator
a 30-day period (E. coli density of 126 per (E. coli density of 235 per 100 mL for than the EPA’s “designated organism
100 mL for freshwater, enterococcus density freshwater; enterococcus density of beach area” single sample water quality
of 35 per 100 mL for marine water) 104 per 100 mL for marine water) maximum standard 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 Practices

Along 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 notifications,
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 High numbers of closings and
protect the public health by vigilantly monitoring its advisories may indicate that the state
waters and informing the public when they are polluted. or county is making a good effort
States with comprehensive programs and closure practices
should be commended for their efforts. to protect public health by vigilantly
The most meaningful way of comparing beachwater monitoring its waters and closing
quality between states or tracking it over time is to beaches when they are polluted.
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 Information
For 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.

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, Massachu
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 Nation

Each state’s national ranking in percent exceedances is based on the EPA’s single-sample maximum standard for designated
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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 exceedance
rates that might not agree: one that was calculated based on national single-sample maximum water quality standards 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.

Figure 4-1. Why Don’t 2009 Percent Exceedances Match?
FLORIDA
10th in Beachwater Quality
Beachwater 4% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009 *

monitoring samples Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)
are compared to • Bayou Chico in Escambia County (73%)
• Keaton Beach in Taylor County (71%)
EPA’s single-sample • Palma Sola South in Manatee County (55%)
maximum standard
for designated 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.
beach areas. Some
states apply Monitoring
additional standards Sampling 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
and some apply sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and practices throughout the state.2 Samples are
standards that collected 18 inches below the surface in water that is approximately 36 inches deep, usually in the morning. Beaches
are not as strict. 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 Florida Percent Exceedance
for 299 Beaches Reported 2006–2009
in one county may not be as important as beaches left
6%
unmonitored in another county.
5%
Sampling frequency does not increase after an advisory is issued.
4% 4% Only samples from
Results: In 2009, Florida reported 633 coastal beaches, of which a common set of
305 (48%) were monitored once a week; 328 (52%) were not beaches monitored
monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the
percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi- each year from
2006 2007 2008 2009
mum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calcu- 2006–2009 are
late the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples
Beachwater and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples included and
monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 compared to the
are compared to 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
state’s standards.
the state’s single- County (42%), Monument Beach in Gulf County (41%), Sunny Isles Beach-Pier Park in Miami-Dade County (41%), If a beach was not
sample maximum 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%),
monitored in all
standards. Manatee (14%), Gulf (13%), Pasco (12%), Okaloosa (12%), Monroe (10%), Hillsborough (9%), Miami-Dade (8%), four years, its
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
samples are not
Brevard (1%). There were no exceedances in Collier, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, St. Johns, and St. Lucie Counties. included in the
Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and comparison.
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.
*Why don’t the 2009 percent exceedances match? See Figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 of this report for an explanation.
FL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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
explanation of any differences you might see in a state’s 2009 percent exceedance values.
Closings and Advisories

Standards 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:

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

Alabama
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 moni
toring program.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 knee-deep 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 Alabama Percent Exceedance
very young.1
8% 8%
Once an exceedance is reported, samples are collected daily 7% 7% 8
until the standard is met.2 States that monitor more frequently
6
after an exceedance is found tend to have higher percent
exceedance rates and lower total advisory days than those that do 4
not alter their sampling schedule after an exceedance is reported.
2
Results: In 2009, Alabama reported 97 coastal beaches, 8 (8%) of

2006 2007 2008 2009
which were monitored more than once a week, 12 (12%) once a
week, and 5 (5%) every other week; 72 (72%) 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 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.
Advisories
Standards and Procedures: Alabama does not issue beach closings; the state’s policy is to issue advisories only.2 An
enterococcus single-sample 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
AL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

standard, a yellow advisory is issued. Yellow indicates that there may be an
Alabama
increased risk of illness associated with swimming in such water, and that the
Sources of Contamination
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 full-scale advisories for all sites have been issued by the county health Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
departments after hurricanes.2 Wildlife 0%
Other 0%
Unknown 100%
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

% of Samples Closing or
Monitoring Total
County Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
State Standards 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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Alaska
5% of samples exceeded national 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 estab
lished 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
Alaska Percent Exceedance
until standards are met.3
6%
Results: In 2009, Alaska reported 18 coastal beaches, of which 6.0
5 (28%) were monitored once a week; 13 (72%) were not moni
4.5
tored. Alaska monitored a few beaches in 2006, and began its
full monitoring program in 2007. For the third consecutive year, 3.0
NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded 1.5
the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples 0% 0%
were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including
2007 2008 2009
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.
Advisories
Standards 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 30-day 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 (single-sample maximum of 276 cfu/100 ml, 30-day 5-sample 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 field-based analysis methods for quantifying
AK.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
E. coli can be used as a stand-in 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
filtration methods for analyzing samples; E. coli has not been used as
a stand-in for fecal coliform.
While the state encourages participating municipalities to issue Alaska’s beach monitoring program
an advisory when a sample exceeds the standards, the authority for issued no advisories in 2009.
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 determine 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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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, 2008-September 30, 2009. Not dated.
AK.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

California

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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
California Percent Exceedance
taken in ankle-deep water. Monitoring locations in California are
for 234 Beaches Reported 2006–2009 15
selected based on the number of visitors, the location of storm
12%
drains, NPDES effluent discharge requirements, and legislative 12
10%
requirements. Monitored beaches represent the vast majority of 9%
8% 9
beach day use in California. All beaches along the San Francisco
Bay are monitored per legislation. Funding cuts resulted in 6
reduced water quality monitoring in some areas of the state in 3
2009. For example, Ventura County did not begin monitoring
until June of 2009, and locations dropped to 40 from 53 because
2006 2007 2008 2009
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.
CA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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.

Standards 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 California
a beach when more than one standard is exceeded or when exceedances are far Sources of Contamination
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 Stormwater 2%
standard for total coliform is 10,000 cfu/100 ml. The total coliform standard Sewage 3%
Wildlife 0%
for the geometric mean of at least five weekly samples collected during a Other 5%
30‑day period is 1,000 cfu/100 ml. For fecal coliform, the single-sample Unknown 76%
No Data 13%
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

Alameda coastline, 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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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)*

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Clam Beach Co. Park-North Mad
Humboldt 1 1/wk 45 16% 24
River Mouth
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Humboldt Trinidad State Beach 1 1/wk 43 7% 3
Alamitos Bay Beach-1st and
Los Angeles 1 1/wk 19 11% 2
Bayshore
Alamitos Bay Beach-2nd St.
Bridge and Bayshore
Alamitos Bay Beach-56th Place-
on Bayside
Alamitos Bay Beach-Alamitos-
Bay Shore Float
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
Dockweiler State Beach-Ballona
Creek
Dockweiler State Beach-Culver
Blvd.
Dockweiler State Beach-
Hyperion Plant
Dockweiler State Beach-Imperial
Hwy. storm drain
Dockweiler State Beach-World
Way
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Long Beach-East Side of
Belmont Pier
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
Long Beach-West Side of
Belmont Pier
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
Manhattan Beach-27th Street
Extended
Manhattan Beach-40th Street
Extended
Manhattan Beach-Manhattan
Beach Pier
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
Palos Verdes Beach-Abalone
Los Angeles 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Cove
Los Angeles Palos Verdes Beach-Long Point 1 1/wk 0 NA 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Palos Verdes Beach-near Busy
B Cafe
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
Redondo Beach-Avenue I
Extended
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
Robert Meyer Memorial State
Los Angeles not tier 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Beach
Los Angeles Royal Palms Beach-White Point not tier 1 Daily 0 NA 2
Santa Monica State Beach-
Ashland storm drain
Montana Ave.
Santa Monica State Beach-Pico
Kenter storm drain
Santa Monica State Beach-Santa
Monica Canyon
Santa Monica State Beach-Santa
Monica Pier
Strand Street
Wilshire Blvd.
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
Venice City Beach-Windward
storm drain
Will Rogers State Beach-17200
Pacific Coast Hwy
Will Rogers State Beach-Bel Air
Bay Club
Will Rogers State Beach-Pulga
storm drain
Will Rogers State Beach-
Temescal Canyon Sd

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Big River-Mendocino Bay
Mendocino 1 1/wk 26 4% 0
Headlands SP
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
MacKerricher State Park-
MacKerricher
MacKerricher State Park-Virgin
Creek Beach
Mendocino Manchester SB not tier 1 4/yr 1 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Mendocino Navarro River Redwood SP not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0
Mendocino Noyo River not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0
Pudding Creek Beach-Pudding
Creek
Pudding Creek Beach-Pudding
Lagoon
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
Monterey State Beach-Del
Monterey 1 1/wk 41 17% no data
Monte Beach
Monterey State Beach-
Monterey 1 1/wk 33 0% no data
Monterey Beach Hotel
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
Point Lobos State Reserve State
Monterey not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA no data
Beach
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
Aliso County Beach-Aliso Beach-
Orange not tier 1 no data 59 5% 0
South
Orange Aliso County Beach-Camel Point not tier 1 no data 60 3% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Aliso County Beach-Crystal
Cove Ramp
Orange Aliso County Beach-Table Rock not tier 1 no data 59 0% 0
Aliso County Beach-Treasure
Island Ramp
Aliso County Beach-Treasure
Island Stairs
Orange Bolsa Chica Beach 1 Daily 149 0% 0
Orange Bolsa Chica Reserve 1 Daily 147 3% 7
Capistrano Bay District-10,000’
Orange 1 2/wk 51 18% 0
South Outfall
Capistrano Bay District-7,500’
Orange 1 2/wk 47 19% 91
South Outfall
Capistrano Beach-5,000’ South
Orange 1 2/wk 51 16% 36 (77)*
Outfall
Crystal Cove State Park-Crystal
Orange 1 Daily 22 5% 0
Cove
Crystal Cove State Park-Crystal
Orange 1 Daily 0 NA 0
Cove Ramp
Orange Crystal Cove State Park-El Morro 1 Daily 22 0% 0
Crystal Cove State Park-Muddy
Creek Surf
Crystal Cove State Park-Pelican
Point
Dana Point Harbor-Buoy Line/
Orange 1 1/wk 22 9% 0
Baby Beach
Dana Point Harbor-East End/
Orange 1 1/wk 22 9% 2
Baby Beach
Orange Dana Point Harbor-Fuel Dock 1 1/wk 20 0% 0
Orange Dana Point Harbor-Guest Dock 1 1/wk 20 0% 0
Dana Point Harbor-Harbor
Orange 1 1/wk 47 9% 0
Entrance
Dana Point Harbor-Harbor Patrol
Orange 1 1/wk 20 5% 5
Dock
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
Dana Point Harbor-Swim Area/
Orange 1 1/wk 22 9% 2
Baby Beach
Dana Point Harbor-West End/
Orange 1 1/wk 21 5% 0
Baby Beach
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
Doheny State Beach-1,000’
Orange 1 3/wk 48 23% 0
South Outfall
Orange 1 3/wk 49 24% 0
South Outfall

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Doheny State Beach-250’ S of
Orange 1 3/wk 23 13% 0
San Juan Creek
Orange 1 3/wk 51 25% 6
South Outfall
Orange 1 3/wk 49 24% 0
South Outfall
Orange Doheny State Beach-North Beach 1 3/wk 23 22% 2
Doheny State Beach-North of
Orange 1 3/wk 51 37% 0
San Juan Creek
Doheny State Beach-Surfzone
Orange 1 3/wk 50 38% 73 (107)*
at Outfall
Huntington City Beach-17th
Street
Orange Huntington City Beach-Beach Hut 1 Daily 148 2% 2
Orange Huntington City Beach-Bluffs 1 Daily 149 5% 10
Huntington City Beach-Jack’s
Snack Bar
Huntington Harbour-11th Street
Orange 1 1/wk 25 12% 0
Beach
Huntington Harbour-Admiralty
Orange 1 1/wk 26 12% 3
Drive
Orange Huntington Harbour-Anaheim Bay 1 1/wk 25 8% 0
Huntington Harbour-Anderson
Orange 1 1/wk 25 12% 4
Street
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
Huntington Harbour-Davenport
Orange 1 1/wk 24 8% 0
Beach
Huntington Harbour-Harbour
Orange 1 1/wk 27 19% 0
Channel
Huntington Harbour-Humboldt
Orange 1 1/wk 25 12% 0
Beach
Huntington Harbour-Mothers
Orange 1 1/wk 24 4% 0
Beach
Orange Huntington Harbour-Sea Gate 1 1/wk 25 8% 0
Huntington Harbour-Sunset
Orange 1 1/wk 24 4% 2
Aquatic Park
Orange Huntington Harbour-Trinidad Lane 1 1/wk 25 4% 0
Huntington State Beach-50’ N of
Santa Ana River
Huntington State Beach-
Brookhurst Street
Huntington State Beach-
Magnolia Street
Huntington State Beach-Santa
Ana River-North

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Huntington State Beach-SCE
Plant
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
Laguna Beach-Laguna Lido
Orange 1 2/wk 59 0% 0
Apartment
Laguna Beach-Laguna Main
Orange 1 2/wk 21 0% 3
Beach
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
Newport Bay-Bayside Drive
Orange 1 1/wk 31 16% 3
Beach
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
Newport Bay-Newport Blvd
Orange 1 1/wk 30 43% 0
Bridge
Newport Bay-Newport Dunes
Orange 1 1/wk 30 13% 2
East
Orange 1 1/wk 30 13% 0
Middle
Orange 1 1/wk 30 10% 0
North
Orange 1 1/wk 31 16% 4
West
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Newport Beach-38th Street
(BNB10)
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
Newport Beach-Santa Ana River-
South
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
Salt Creek County Beach Park-
Orange not tier 1 3/wk 59 3% 0
Dana Strands-Selva Ramp
Salt Creek County Beach Park-
Orange not tier 1 3/wk 71 4% 0
Salt Creek Beach
San Clemente City Beach-
Orange 1 2/wk 49 18% 1
20,000’ South Outfall
San Clemente City Beach-450’
Orange 1 2/wk 49 14% 3
North of Pier
San Clemente City Beach-
Orange 1 2/wk 20 5% 0
Trafalgar Street Beach
San Clemente State Beach-
Orange 1 2/wk 47 11% 0
Avenida Calafia
San Clemente State Beach-Las
Orange 1 2/wk 47 6% 2
Palmeras
Seal Beach Surfside-100 Yds S
Orange 1 1/wk 30 10% 2
of Pier
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
South Laguna-Thousand Steps
Orange 1 2/wk 59 2% 0
Beach
Orange South Laguna-Three Arch Bay 1 2/wk 59 3% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Border Field State Park-Border
San Diego 1 1/wk 56 21% 0
Fence, N Side
Border Field State Park-
Monument Rd.
San Diego Buccaneer Beach not tier 1 4/yr 22 5% 0
Buccaneer Beach-500’ N. of
San Diego not tier 1 4/yr 49 2% 0
Loma Alta Outlet
San Diego Cardiff State Beach 1 1/wk 57 0% 0
Cardiff State Beach-Charthouse
Parking (Slight S.)
Cardiff State Beach-Las Olas
(Georges)
Cardiff State Beach-Seaside
State Park
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
Coronado Cays (Nr)-Navy Fence
on Ocean Blvd
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
Harbor Beach-San Luis Rey
River Outlet, South Jetty
Imperial Beach Municipal Beach-
Cortez Ave
Imperial Beach Municipal Beach-
San Diego 1 1/wk 66 14% 17
End of Seacoast Dr
Imperial Beach Municipal Beach,
Other-Palm Ave
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
La Jolla Shores Beach-La Jolla
Shores Beach (Fm-080)
La Jolla Shores Beach-Scripps
Pier (S)

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Mission Bay, Campland on the
San Diego 1 1/wk 42 19% 30
Bay
San Diego Mission Bay, Crown Point Shores 1 1/wk 20 10% 4
Mission Bay, Crown Point
Shores-Wildlife Refuge Fence
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
Mission Bay, Leisure Lagoon
(MB-053)
Mission Bay, Leisure Lagoon-
Leisure Lagoon Swim Area
Mission Bay, Mariners Basin-
San Diego 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Balboa Ct.
Mission Bay, Mariners Basin-
Bonita Cove
Mission Bay, North Pacific
San Diego 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Passage
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
Mission Bay, Vacation Isle
San Diego 1 1/wk 24 21% 10
(MB‑203)
Mission Bay, Vacation Isle-North
San Diego 1 1/wk 40 25% 41
Cove Beach
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
North Imperial Beach-Camp Surf
(Carnation Ave)
San Diego Ocean Beach-Bermuda Ave 1 1/wk 60 13% 5
Ocean Beach-Newport Ave,
North Side of Pier
Ocean Beach-O.B. Pier at
Narragansett
Ocean Beach-Stub Jetty, South
Side
San Diego Oceanside Harbor 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Oceanside Municipal Beach-
Cassidy Street

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Forester Street
Oceanside Municipal Beach-St.
Malo Beach
Wisconsin Street
Oceanside Pier Area-Pier View
Way
Oceanside Pier Area-Surfrider
Way
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 Diego Bay-Silver Strand
San Diego not tier 1 4/yr 0 NA 0
(Bayside)
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
South Carlsbad State Beach-
Batiquitos Lagoon Outlet
Cerezo Drive
Encina Creek Outlet
Palomar Airport
Poinsettia Lane
Ponto Drive
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
San Diego Swami’s Park 1 1/wk 17 0% 0
Tecolote Shores-Tecolote
Playground, Watercraft Area
Tecolote Shores-Tecolote
Shores, swim area
San Diego Tide Beach Park not tier 1 4/yr 52 2% 4
San Diego Tijuana River 1 1/wk 0 NA 43
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife
Refuge-N of Tijuana River
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife
Refuge-Tijuana Rivermouth
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
Tourmaline Surfing Park-
San Diego not tier 1 1/wk 43 5% 4
Tourmaline Surf Park
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
Windansea Beach-Playa Del
Norte
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
Baker Beach, Lobos Creek at
San Francisco 1 1/wk 85 36% 36
Lower Parking Lot
Baker Beach, Opposite Seacliff
2 Pumping Station
San Francisco Baker Beach, Upper Parking Lot 1 1/wk 88 8% 7
Candlestick Point-Jack Rabbit
Beach
San Francisco Candlestick Point-Sunnydale Cove 1 1/wk 76 32% 19
Candlestick Point-Windsurfer
Circle
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Pismo State Beach, Oceano-
San Luis Obispo no data 1/wk 54 0% 0
OCB11
OCB12
OCB13
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Black Point-Still Water Cove
Sonoma 1 1/wk 43 9% 8
Regional Park
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
Still Water Cove Regional Park
Sonoma 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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.
Notes
1 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.

Connecticut

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Connecticut Percent Exceedance
that were sampled weekly and had no more than one closure event
6%
during the previous swim season are assigned Tier 1 status, beaches 6.0
5% 5%
that were sampled weekly and had two or three closure events during
4% 4.5
the previous swim season are assigned Tier 2 status, and beaches
that were not sampled weekly or that had more than three closure 3.0
events during the previous swim season are assigned Tier 3 status.2
1.5
Sampling frequency and monitoring station locations are not
necessarily adjusted or changed when a beach’s tier status changes.1
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
CT.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
(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
the standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 6% in 2007 and 5% in 2006.

Standards 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 Connecticut
values that generate geometric mean results greater than 35 cfu/100 ml. Sources of Contamination
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-
Stormwater 81%
sample maximum or the geometric mean to trigger closing and advisory decisions, Sewage 0%
while for other local health departments and the CT DEP, the single-sample Wildlife 0%
maximum triggers advisory and closing decisions, and exceedance of the Other 0%
Unknown 19%
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

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
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 consecutive 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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
New London Waterford Town Beach 1 1/wk 43 2% 0
New London White Sands Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0
Notes
1 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.

Delaware
2nd in Beachwater Quality

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Delaware Percent Exceedance
Program has a vessel in the water year-round to monitor oil spills,
3%
harmful algae blooms, sewage treatment discharges, nutrient 3.00
runoff, and industrial discharges.
2% 2.25
The DNREC determines sampling practices, locations, stan
dards, and notification protocols and procedures throughout the 1.50
1% 1%
state.2 Samples are taken in knee-deep water.1 Marine beaches with
0.75
lifeguards are monitored twice a week.
Once an advisory or closing is issued, resampling to confirm the
2006 2007 2008 2009
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%).
standard increased to 2% in 2009 from 1% in 2008 and 2007 and 3% in 2006.

Standards 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. Monitoring results at these beaches are adjusted downward to account for nonhuman sources at these beaches
DE.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

before the water quality standard is applied. (Monitoring data are reported
Delaware
before this adjustment is made.) For Slaughter Beach, the correction 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 Stormwater 98%
Sewage 0%
State policy is to issue advisories when fecal bacteria counts exceed either Wildlife 0%
the single-sample or geometric mean standard. There are limited overriding
1 Other 0%
factors, such as leaking sampling containers or excessive sediment in samples, Unknown 2%
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Sussex Atlantic Beach Near Gordons Pond 1 1/wk 60 0% 0
Sussex Bethany Beach 1 1/wk 60 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower
Sussex 2 1/wk 60 17% 35 (330)*
Road Bayside
Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower
Sussex 1 1/wk 60 0% 0
Road Ocean Site
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
North Indian River Inlet Beach, Delaware
Sussex 1 1/wk 60 0% 0
Seashore State Park
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
Notes
1 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.

Florida

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Florida Percent Exceedance
in one county may not be as important as beaches left
6%
unmonitored in another county. 6.0
5%
Sampling frequency does not increase after an advisory is issued.
4% 4% 4.5
Results: In 2009, Florida reported 633 coastal beaches, of which 3.0

305 (48%) were monitored once a week; 328 (52%) were not 1.5
monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the
percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maxi
2006 2007 2008 2009
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 monitoring 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.
standard increased to 5% in 2009 from 4% in 2008 and 2007, and 6% in 2006.
Advisories
Standards and Procedures: The Department of Health does not Florida Sources of Contamination
have the authority to close Florida beaches; instead, advisories (for (Number of Days) 1880
enterococcus exceedances) and warnings (for fecal coliform 1,504 1,436 1504
exceedances) are issued. All advisories and warnings are referred to 1,226
934 1128
in this report as “advisories.” In 2010, Florida started using the
term “advisories” exclusively. Florida applies the EPA standard for 567 752
enterococcus of a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and
376
a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml, as well as a fecal coliform
single-sample standard of 400 cfu/100 ml. 0
Stormwater Sewage Wildlife Other Unknown
In most coastal counties, officials issue an advisory if any one
Total days associated with sources exceeds reported total
of the three standards is exceeded. However, if a sample exceeds a closing/advisory days because more than one source of
standard and the county can conduct a follow-up sample within contamination was reported for some events.
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 addition, 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 consecutive weeks.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Panama City Beach Pier (Edgewater
Bay 1 1/wk 26 0% 0
Beach)
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
Canaveral National Seashore/Playalinda
Brevard 1 none 0 NA 0
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Horizon Way Beach (aka Parkshore
Collier 1 1/wk 26 0% 0
Beach)

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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)*

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Boca Grande Lighthouse/Seagrape
Lee 1 1/wk 26 0% 0
Beach
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
Holiday Inn Public Beach Access
Lee 1 none 0 NA 0
Ft Myers Beach
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
Public Beach Access #17-Ft Myers
Lee 1 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Public Beach Access #23-Ft Myers
Lee 1 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Lee Sanibel Beach Access #4 no tier none 0 NA 0
Lee Sanibel Causeway Beach 1 1/wk 28 11% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Lee Sanibel Lighthouse Park Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0
Lee South Seas Captiva no tier none 0 NA 0
South Seas Plantation Captiva -
Lee 1 1/wk 26 0% 0
Redfish Pass
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
City of Anna Maria Access (Anna Maria
Manatee 1 none 0 NA 0
Island)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
John Pennekamp State Park Cannon
Monroe 1 1/wk 26 4% 0
Beach
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
Amelia Island Plantation (AIP) Beach
Nassau 1 1/wk 26 8% 7
Club
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Fort Desoto ⁄2 Way B/N Fort and
1
Pinellas 1 none 0 NA 0
N. Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Anastasia State Park (St. Augustine
St Johns 1 1/wk 27 0% 0
Beach)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 NOAA, Current Participation Patterns in Marine Recreation, November 2001.
2 David Polk, Florida Department of Health, personal communication, June 2010.

Georgia

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 centimeters. Beaches that are monitored the most frequently
often are easily accessible and often have large populations nearby,
tourist accommodations, and the most amenities. Georgia Percent Exceedance
The monitoring frequency for a beach increases when an
4% 4% 4%
exceedance occurs. States that monitor more frequently after an 4
exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance
3
rates and lower closing/advisory days than they would have had
2%
if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance 2
was found.
1
Results: In 2009, Georgia reported 41 coastal beaches, 17 (41%)

2006 2007 2008 2009
of which were monitored once a week, 9 (22%) once a month, and
1 (2%) less than once a month; 14 (34%) 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, 4% of all reported beach monitoring
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.
standard increased to 4% in 2009 from 2% in 2008 and 4% in 2007 and 2006.
Advisories
Standards 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
GA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

for forgoing an advisory when an exceedance is found, and resampling to con
Georgia
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 Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
under permanent advisory since 2006.1 The Health Department can issue Wildlife 0%
a closing in the case of an immediate threat to public health, such as a Other 0%
sewage spill. Unknown 100%
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 addition, 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 consecu
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 Elizabeth Cheney, Beach Water Quality Manager, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, personal communication, June 2010.

Hawaii

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 bacterial 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 Hawaii Percent Exceedance
for 45 Beaches Reported 2006–2009 11.25
their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance
9%
was found. 9.00
6.75
Results: In 2009, Hawaii reported 462 coastal beaches, 51 (11%)
of which were monitored more than once a week, 57 (12%) once 4% 4% 4.50
a week, 21 (5%) every other week, 13 (3%) once a month, and 2%
2.25
104 (23%) less than once a month; and 192 (42%) were not
monitored, and there was no monitoring information for 24 (5%)
2006 2007 2008 2009
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%).
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.
HI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
Warnings and Advisories
Standards 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 Hawaii
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. Stormwater 99%
Sewage 1%
Hawaii tests for human health pharmaceuticals, wastewater compounds, Wildlife 0%
and isotopes of nitrogen that are found in sewage sludge if the source of Other 0%
elevated bacteria levels cannot be found. The pharmaceuticals cotinine (a Unknown 0%
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Kalapana Beach (new) (Harry K. Brown
Big Island 3 2/yr 4 0% 0
Beach Co. Pk.)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Kauai Ha’ena Beach Co. Park 2 none 25 4% 32
Kauai Hanakapi’ai Beach 2 none 0 NA 32
Hanalei Beach Co. Park-End of Weke
Kauai 1 2/wk 42 40% 32
Road
Hanalei Beach Co. Park-Hanalei Bay
Kauai 1 2/wk 43 16% 32
Landing
Hanalei Beach Co. Park-Hanalei Bay
Kauai 1 2/wk 88 6% 32
Pavilion
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Kiowea Park (Kamehameha Coconut
Molokai 2 none 0 NA 0
Grove)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Illinois

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Illinois Percent Exceedance
beach is closed.
24%
24
Results: In 2009, Illinois reported 67 coastal beach segments,
15% 15% 16% 18
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; 12
15 (22%) were not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year,
6
NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded
the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples
2006 2007 2008 2009
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 maximum bacterial standards.
The beaches with the highest percent exceedance 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%).
standard increased to 16% in 2009 from 15% in 2008, 24% in 2007, and 15% in 2006.

Standards 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
IL.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

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
Illinois
concentrations are above or below the 235 cfu/100 ml standard 85% and 86% Sources of Contamination
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. Stormwater 1%
Sewage 8%
In addition to predicting the bacterial concentration at the beach, the Wildlife 7%
model predicts with a 99% confidence interval, or a lower and upper bound of Other 3%
Unknown 81%
bacterial 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% confidence interval prediction 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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Cook 12th Street 1 5/wk 73 19% 12
Cook 31st Street Beach 1 5/wk 72 21% 11

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Indiana

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Indiana Percent Exceedance
many variables, which include, but are not limited to, bather
15%
use, the proximity to known point and non-point sources, 13% 15.00
13%
and likely effects from heavy rainfall events.1 Seven Indiana
11.25
Dunes National Lakeshore beach sites (Kemil, Lake View, Mount 8%
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
2006 2007 2008 2009
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%).
standard decreased to 8% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 15% in 2007, and 13% in 2006.
IN.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
Standards 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 Indiana
no protocol for forgoing a closing or advisory when a single-sample exceedance Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 14%
on current conditions, turbidity, chlorophyll content, and color. A model Sewage 0%
called Project SAFE was used in 2009 for Ogden Dunes, Wells Street, Wildlife 0%
Other 0%
Marquette, and Lake Street beaches. Each morning, Monday through Friday, Unknown 86%
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
La Porte Duneland Beach Stop 31 3 3/wk 44 9% 8
La Porte Duneland Beach Stop 34 3 3/wk 44 9% 8
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Central
La Porte 2 1/wk 16 6% 0
Avenue Beach
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Dunbar
La Porte 3 1/wk 16 6% 0
Beach
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Mount
La Porte 1 1/wk 16 6% 0
Baldy
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-State Park
La Porte 2 1/wk 16 6% 0
Road/Kemil Avenue Beach
La Porte Long Beach Stop 20 3 3/wk 42 5% 5

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Porter
Porter 2 1/wk 16 6% 0
Beach
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
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-Lakeview
Porter 2 1/wk 15 0% 0
Beach
Porter Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-West Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0
Notes
1 Michelle Caldwell, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, personal communication, June 2010.

Louisiana

• 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 Louisiana Percent Exceedance
Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH). for 21 Beaches Reported 2006–2009 38.75
31%
31.00
Monitoring 25%
23.25
Sampling Practices: Monitoring is conducted from April 1
16%
through October 31. 15.50
The LDHH determines sampling practices, locations, 8%
7.75
standards, and notification protocols and practices at Louisiana
beaches monitored through the BEACH Act. Samples are collected
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
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%).
Advisories
Standards 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
LA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

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 Louisiana
of these three standards can trigger an advisory, but the fecal coliform standard Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 0%
in Louisiana result from exceedance of the enterococcus geometric mean Sewage 0%
criterion. If Louisiana issued beach advisories based only on the enterococcus Wildlife 0%
Other 0%
single-sample maximum criterion, as many states do, close to half of the Unknown 100%
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.
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 consecutive 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

Monitoring Total
Parish Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
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)*

Monitoring Total
Parish Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Maine

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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, municipalities, 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
Maine Percent Exceedance
a beach management entity that can meet the program’s protocols
and conditions.
12%
Monitoring sites for each beach are selected where swimmers 11% 12
are found as well as at sources of freshwater inputs to the beach 9%
9
including storm drains and at sites where local knowledge of 7%
any conditions affecting water quality at that beach exists.2 6
For areas experiencing chronic bacterial pollution, additional 3
monitoring sites are added throughout the watershed, and/or
wet‑weather monitoring is conducted to help determine the
2006 2007 2008 2009
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%).
ME.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

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.

Standards 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 enterococcus 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
Maine
monitoring results; other factors that are taken into account include the risk of Sources of Contamination
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 Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
park.1 The only beach managers who automatically post an advisory or closing Wildlife 0%
after one sample exceeds standards are the state park beach managers who Other 0%
Unknown 100%
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.
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.
bacteria levels from unknown sources of contamination.
Maine 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 Keri Lindberg, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant, personal communication, May 2010.

Maryland

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Percent Exceedance
Maryland’s beach monitoring program recommends that local
health departments sample the following day after a beach is closed
9%
or placed under advisory. 9.00
6.75
Results: In 2009, Maryland reported 72 coastal beaches, 28 (39%)
4% 4.50
of which were monitored once a week, 26 (36%) every other week, 3%
and 18 (25%) once a month. For the fifth consecutive year, 2%
2.25
the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples 2006 2007 2008 2009
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%).
standard increased to 3% in 2009 from 2% in 2008, 4% in 2007 and 9% in 2006.

Standards 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
MD.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
standard for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml at Tier 1 and Tier 2 beaches and
Maryland
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 Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
standards are valid, a notification can be issued without resampling. If the
1
Wildlife 0%
validity of the sample is in doubt, local health departments may resample Other 0%
before issuing an advisory. Unknown 100%
Maryland does not have preemptive rainfall advisory standards, but the
MDE is working with local health departments to develop a tool to document
precipitation at their beaches so that they can analyze water quality data versus
precipitation.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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
North Beach Site #1 (State Park
Worcester 1 1/wk 27 0% 0
Boundary)
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
Notes
1 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.

Massachusetts

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 collected
in three feet of water, one foot below the surface of the water.1 State
water quality regulations require that all public and semipublic
Massachusetts Percent Exceedance
freshwater and marine bathing beaches in Massachusetts be moni
tored during the bathing season for bacterial contamination. The2
8%
sampling frequency for Massachusetts’ beaches is based on use and 8
the potential for pollution problems. If a beach has been monitored
5% 5% 6
weekly for two years with no exceedance being found, and a sanitary
survey reveals no potential sources of pollution at that beach, the 3% 4
beach managing entity may be allowed to sample less frequently. 2
Beachwater quality samples are required to be taken at the areas
of greatest bather load. However, beach operators are encouraged
2006 2007 2008 2009
to sample where outfalls and other sources of contamination are
present as well as the area of greatest bather load.1 When an exceed
ance 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
standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Kings at Stacy Brook in Essex County
(71%), Cockle Cove Creek-Parking 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%).
MA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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.
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.
Closings
Standards and Procedures: Beaches are closed to swimming when either Massachusetts
the single-sample maximum or the geometric mean standard standards are Sources of Contamination
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 single-sample maximum of enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml or a
5-sample geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml. Stormwater 6%
There is no protocol for allowing a beach to remain open after an exceed Sewage 0%
Wildlife 0%
ance is found, and resampling to confirm an exceedance is not done before Other 0%
issuing a closure. Unknown 94%
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.
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 compared
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Barnstable 29 Commercial Street 2 1/wk 16 13% 2

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
New Silver (Silver Beach Improvement
Barnstable 2 1/wk 12 0% 0
Association)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Pocasset Beach Improvement
Association
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Wings Neck Trust Association (North
Beach)
Wings Neck Trust Association (South
Beach)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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)*

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Michigan

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Michigan Percent Exceedance
Depending on the local health department, the monitoring
5% 5%
frequency of a beach that has been closed or placed under advisory
can be increased. In most cases, resampling is conducted the day a 4% 4%
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.
2006 2007 2008 2009
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.
MI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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.

Standards 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. Michigan
Some health departments issue preemptive rainfall advisories, with Sources of Contamination
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

Stormwater 6%
lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 29% to 342 days in 2009 from Sewage 2%
265 days in 2008, 198 days in 2007, 124 days in 2006, and 234 days in 2005. Wildlife 17%
In addition, there were 3 extended events (205 days total) and 1 permanent Other 0%
Unknown 75%
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.
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore-
Alger no data none 0 NA 0
Chapel Beach
Alger no data no data 0 NA 0
Hurricane Campground Beach
Miners Beach
Mosquito Beach
Sand Point
Twelvemile Beach
Alger Public Shoreline Beach-Au Train Bay 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Au Train to
Alger 3 none 0 NA 0
Five Mile Pts
Public Shoreline Beach-East County
Alger 3 none 0 NA 0
Border area
Public Shoreline Beach-Grand Sable
Alger 3 none 0 NA 0
Dunes
Alger Rathfoot Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0
Alger Roadside Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Sand Point to Miners Castle Point-
Alger no data no data 0 NA 0
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
Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Allegan 3 none 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach
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
Negwegon State Park-Ossineke
Alpena 3 none 0 NA 0
South Point
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Keweenaw Bay Village Public
Baraga 3 none 0 NA 0
Roadside Park
Baraga L’Anse Township Park 3 none 0 NA 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Baraga L’Anse Waterfront Park 1 1/wk 29 0% 0
Baraga Mouth of the Huron River 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Cooper
Country Huron Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-Northwest
Abbaye Peninsula
Baraga Public Shoreline Beach-Point Abbaye 3 none 0 NA 0
Baraga Public Shoreline Beach-Sand Point 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-SE End of
Huron Bay
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
South Linwood Beach Township
Bay 1 3/wk 51 10% 6
Park
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
Grand Mere State Park-Rosemary
Berrien 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Grand Mere State Park-Shoreline
Beach
Grand Mere State Park-Waverland
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Bill Wagner Memorial Campground
Charlevoix 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
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
Cheboygen State Park-Lighthouse
Cheboygan 3 none 0 NA 0
Point
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Betsey Seaman Memorial Park-
Chippewa 3 none 0 NA 0
Drummond Island
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
Hiawatha National Forest-Nodoway
Chippewa no data no data 0 NA 0
Point Area
Hiawatha National Forest-North of
Big Pine Picnic
Hiawatha National Forest-North
Pond
Hiawatha National Forest-Pendills
Bay
Hiawatha National Forest-Pendills
Lake
Hiawatha National Forest-Point
Iroquois Light
Hiawatha National Forest-
Tahquamenon Bay
Hiawatha National Forest-Waiska
Bay
Hiawatha National Forest-West of
Salt Point
Hiawatha National Forest-
Government Island
Lake Superior State Forest-
Munuscong Lake
Public Shoreline Beach-Browns
Creek Area
Chippewa Public Shoreline Beach-Brush Point 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Marsh Lake
Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Northwest
of Two Mile Lake
Public Shoreline Beach-Point Aux
Frenes

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Public Shoreline Beach-Raber Bay
stretch
Public Shoreline Beach-Weatherhog
Lake East Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Weatherhog
Lake West
Public Shoreline Beach-West of
Whitefish Point
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
Tahquamenon Falls State Park-River
Mouth Unit
Chippewa Whitefish Point 3 none 0 NA 0
Chippewa Wilderness Beach 3 none 0 NA 0
Big Bay De Noc/ Fishdam River
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Access
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
Gladstone Bathing Beach/Van Cleve
Delta 1 1/wk 3 0% 0
Park
Indian Town Lake USFS-Public
Delta no data no data 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach
Little Bay De Noc Public Beach
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Access
Delta Portage Bay Forest Campground 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Charboneau
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Point
Public Shoreline Beach-County
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Road 481
Public Shoreline Beach-East Wilsey
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-Fishdam
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
River
Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Gilnet Haven 3 none 0 NA 0
Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Indian Point 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Indian Town
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Lake USFS
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
Public Shoreline Beach-North End
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
of Kregg Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-North of
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Stonington

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Ogontz Bay 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Peninsula
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Point
Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Point Detour 3 none 0 NA 0
Delta Public Shoreline Beach-Portage Bay 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Portage
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Peninsula
Public Shoreline Beach-St. Vital’s
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Island
Public Shoreline Beach-USFS West
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Wilsey Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-West Side
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
of Kregg Bay
Delta Sac Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Delta Sac Bay County Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Twin Springs Campground and
Delta 3 none 0 NA 0
Bathing Beach
USFS West Wilsey Bay-Public
Delta no data no data 0 NA 0
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
Wilderness State Park-East of the
Emmet 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Emmet Wilderness State Park-Sturgeon Bay 3 none 0 NA 0
Wilderness State Park-West of
Emmet 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Public Shoreline Beach-West of
Gogebic 3 none 0 NA 0
Black River
Grand Traverse Acme Roadside Park (DNR) 3 none 0 NA 0
Acme Roadside Park and Beach
Grand Traverse 3 none 0 NA 0
MDOT
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
Kroupa Road Access M-22 South of
Crain Hill Road
Grand Traverse Leffingwell Point Beach 3 none 0 NA 0
Grand Traverse Mouth of Boardman River 3 none 0 NA 0
Old Mission-Center Road Natural
Area
Old Mission-MDOT Right of Way-
South of M-37
Old Mission-Old Mission Point
State Park
Grand Traverse Old Mission Lighthouse 3 none 0 NA 0
Old Mission Peninsula Twp Park-
East of Lighthouse
Old Mission Peninsula Twp Park-
West of Lighthouse
Grand Traverse Old Mission Road 3 none 0 NA 0
Peninsula Volunteer Fire Station
Point #2
Grand Traverse Power Island Bay Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Rose Street Access at Peninsula
Drive
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Public Shoreline Beach-Le Chance
Houghton 3 none 0 NA 0
Creek
Public Shoreline Beach-McLain
State Park
Public Shoreline Beach-S. of
Portage Entry
Public Shoreline Beach-Southwest
County Border
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
Port Crescent State Park-Camping
Huron 1 1/wk 33 9% 1
Area
Huron Port Crescent State Park-Day Use 1 1/wk 30 3% 0
Huron Sleeper State Park 1 1/wk 30 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Alabaster Township Douglas Drive
Iosco no data 1/wk 21 0% 0
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
Huron National Forest North-Public
Iosco no data no data 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach
Huron National Forest South-Public
Iosco no data no data 0 NA 0
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
Tawas Point State Park
Iosco 1 1/wk 22 0% 0
Campground
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
Public Shoreline Beach-Big Traverse
Keweenaw 3 none 0 NA 0
Bay
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Glen Arbor/Manitou Boulevard
Leelanau 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
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
MDOT Roadside Park & Beach
M-22 N of Cherry Bend D
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
Northport Haserot Beach, Rose
Street
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
Sleeping Bear Dunes-CR 651 Good
Leelanau no data no data 0 NA 0
Harbor Bay
Sleeping Bear Dunes-CR 669 Good
Harbor Bay
Sleeping Bear Dunes-DH Day
Campground
Sleeping Bear Dunes-Esch Road
Beach
Sleeping Bear Dunes-Glen Haven
Beach
Sleeping Bear Dunes-North Bar
Lake MI Beach
Sleeping Bear Dunes-Peterson
Road Beach
Sleeping Bear Dunes-Platte Point
Bay
Leelanau Smith Street Beach Northport 3 none 0 NA 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Leelanau Stoney Point County Roadside Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Suttons Bay Marina Park & Beach
South
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
Mouth of the Two Hearted River
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
Campground
Luce Muskallonge Lake State Park Beach 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Blind
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
Sucker Flooding Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Coast Guard
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
Line Road
Public Shoreline Beach-County Rd
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
407
Public Shoreline Beach-County Rd
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
412 and Crisp Pt
Public Shoreline Beach-Little
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
Sucker/Two Hearted River
Public Shoreline Beach-Three Mile
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
Creek Area
Public Shoreline Beach-West
Luce 3 none 0 NA 0
County Border Beach
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
Coast Guard Pier Boat Launch and
Mackinac 3 none 0 NA 0
City Park
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
Hiawatha National Forest-Carp
Mackinac no data no data 0 NA 0
River Access

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Public Shoreline Beach #2-Little
Hog Island area
Public Shoreline Beach #2-Manitou
Paymen Highbanks
Hog Island area
Hog Island area
Hog Island area
Public Shoreline Beach-Epoufette
Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-Fox Point
Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Little Hog
Island area
Public Shoreline Beach-Manitou
Paymen Highbanks
Public Shoreline Beach-MDNR
Matrix Point Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Morean
Township, Section 25
Public Shoreline Beach-Naubinway
Area
Public Shoreline Beach-Pointe Aux
Chenes Bay
Public Shoreline Beach-Seiners
Point
Public Shoreline Beach-South of
Brevort River
Public Shoreline Beach-State Forest
Matrix Point
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
H.C.M.A.-Metropolitan Beach
Macomb 1 2/wk 312 15% 20
Metropark
Macomb H.C.M.A.-Huron Point 3 none 0 NA 0
Macomb New Baltimore Park Beach 1 2/wk 135 7% 40
St. Clair Shores Blossom Heath
Macomb 1 2/wk 141 50% 0 (154)*
Beach
St. Clair Shores Memorial Park
Macomb 1 2/wk 124 34% 26 (51)*
Beach
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
Public Shoreline Beach-Big Huron
Marquette 3 none 0 NA 0
River
Public Shoreline Beach-Little
Marquette 3 none 0 NA 0
Presque Isle
Mason Bass Lake Outlet Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
Mason Buttersville Park Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
Ludington State Park Campground
Mason 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
Beach
Ludington State Park Public
Mason 3 none 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach North
Ludington State Park Public
Mason 3 none 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach South
Manistee National Forest
Mason no data no data 0 NA 0
Campground Beach
Manistee National Forest-Public
Shoreline Beach N
Manistee National Forest-Public
Shoreline Beach S

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Mason Pere Marquette Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0
Mason South Pier Beach 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
South Summit Beach-Sunset
Mason 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
Boulevard Beach
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
East Twin Beach/Albert Township
Montmorency 3 none 0 NA 0
Park
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
Muskegon State Park-Shoreline
Muskegon 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach North
Muskegon Old Channel Beach 1 1/wk 15 7% 0
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park-
Muskegon 1 1/wk 15 7% 0
Campground
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park-Public
Muskegon 1 1/wk 15 0% 0
Beach Area
Muskegon Pere Marquette Park 1 1/wk 31 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Lighthouse Beach at Silver Lake
Oceana 1 1/wk 36 0% 0
State Park
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
Ontonagon Township Park and
Ontonagon 1 1/wk 29 0% 0
Campground
Ontonagon Porcupine Mountain State Park 3 none 0 NA 0
Porcupine Mountain State Park-
Ontonagon 1 1/wk 29 0% 0
Union Bay
Porcupine Mountain Wilderness
Ontonagon 3 none 0 NA 0
State Park-West
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
Holland State Park-Lake Michigan
Ottawa 1 1/wk 48 2% 0
Beach
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
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park-
Ottawa 3 none 0 NA 0
Shoreline Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Public Shoreline Beach-False
Presque Isle 3 none 0 NA 0
Presque Isle Harbor
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
Public Shoreline Beach-Goudreau’s
Schoolcraft 3 none 0 NA 0
Harbor
Public Shoreline Beach-S. of
McDonald Lake
Schoolcraft Public Shoreline Beach-Thompson 3 none 0 NA 0
Public Shoreline Beach-Thompson
Village
Schoolcraft Roadside Park Beach 1 1/wk 0 NA 0
Schoolcraft Rogers Beach 1 1/wk 13 8% 8

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Minnesota

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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 swimming beaches on Lake Superior, and
the water at these beaches is monitored in a program separate from
Minnesota Percent Exceedance
the MPCA. This summary describes the MPCA’s standards and
practices, but beaches in the Grand Portage Reservation are
9%
included in the monitoring and notification data. 9.00
Samples are collected at a depth of 6 to 12 inches in water that
6.75
is knee deep. In Minnesota, beaches are assigned high, medium, 5%
4% 4% 4.50
and low priority based on the potential for impacts from storm
water runoff, bather and waterfowl loads, and the location of 2.25
wastewater treatment outfalls and farms.
When a beach is placed under advisory, monitoring occurs daily 2006 2007 2008 2009
(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.
MN.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Minnesota
Standards 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 single-sample 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 30-day period. When a sample
exceeds either the single-sample or geometric mean bacteria standard, an Stormwater 45%
Sewage 0%
advisory is issued. There is no protocol for delaying or forgoing an advisory Wildlife 0%
when a sample exceeds standards. Other 0%
Unknown 55%
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 consecutive 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.
bacteria levels.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park/Corundum
Lake 3 none 0 NA 0
Point Beach
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park/Crazy Bay
Lake 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park/Gold Rock
Lake 3 none 0 NA 0
Point Beach
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park/Split Rock
Lake 3 none 0 NA 0
Point Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
North Shore Drive Wayside Rest/72nd Avenue
St Louis 3 none 0 NA 0
East Beach
North Shore Drive Wayside Rest/Cant Road
St Louis 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Park Point 20th Street/Hearding Island Canal
St Louis 1 2/wk 46 20% 25
Beach
St Louis Park Point Beach House 1 2/wk 39 8% 3
Park Point Franklin Park/13th Street South
St Louis 1 2/wk 72 0% 0
Beach
St Louis Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach 1 2/wk 36 0% 0
Park Point New Duluth Boat Club/14th Street
St Louis 1 2/wk 39 8% 7
Beach
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
Notes
1 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.

Mississippi
22nd in Beachwater Quality

• 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 Environ
mental Quality (MDEQ) conducts Mississippi’s beachwater quality monitoring program in conjunction with the State
Beach Monitoring Task Force.
Monitoring
Sampling Practices: Mississippi’s beaches are monitored year-round, 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.
Mississippi Percent Exceedance
Once a beach is placed under advisory, the monitoring
frequency increases until two consecutive samples meet standards
14%
and the beach is reopened.1 States that monitor more frequently 14.0
after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent 11%
10%
9% 10.5
exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they
would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after 7.0
an exceedance was found. 3.5
Results: In 2009, Mississippi reported 22 coastal beaches, all of

2006 2007 2008 2009
which were monitored once a week. For the fifth consecutive year,
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%).

Standards 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 single-sample maximum standard
of 104 cfu/100 ml. No geometric mean standard is applied when determining whether a beachwater sample exceeds
bacterial standards.
MS.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

When a sample exceedance is discovered, a resample is required. When two
Mississippi
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 Stormwater 71%
Sewage 6%
swimming at beaches for 24 hours following significant rainfall (characterized Wildlife 0%
by noticeable runoff ). Swimmers are particularly advised to avoid swimming Other 0%
near storm drains, which are present at nearly all of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Unknown 23%
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.
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 Emily Cotton, Regional Biologist, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, personal communication, June 2010.

New Hampshire
1st in Beachwater Quality

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 New Hampshire Percent Exceedance
notification protocols and practices at coastal beaches throughout
3%
the state. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Sampling 3.00
frequencies at beaches in New Hampshire are based on beach
2.25
history, microbial pathogen sources, and beach use.
The DES Beach Inspection Program monitors all known and 1.50
1% 1% 1%
suspected discharge sources at designated coastal beaches.3 When a
0.75
sample exceeds water quality standards, the DES resamples water
daily from the beach to determine when bacteria levels have
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
in 2009 were New Castle TB (5%), Seabrook Harbor Beach (4%), and State Beach (3%) in Rockingham County.
the standard was 1% in 2009, the same as in 2008 and in 2007, and 3% in 2006.
Advisories
Standards 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
NH.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

exceed the standard or when one sample exceeds 174 count/100 ml a beach
New Hampshire
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 Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
from and upcurrent of sewage outfalls, have never been impacted by a sewage Wildlife 0%
spill. They are sampled when a spill is reported, but a preemptive advisory is not Other 0%
issued. Preemptive rain advisories are not issued at beaches in New Hampshire. Unknown 100%

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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.
NH.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

New Jersey

• 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 New Jersey Percent Exceedance
on beaches.2 The multiagency Floatables Action Plan, which has
5%
been in place for 19 years,1 involves several means of controlling
4% 4%
floating debris, such as helicopter surveillance to locate slicks,
skimmer vessels fitted with nets that collect floating debris, 3%
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 the harbor and
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
Monitoring
Sampling 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
NJ.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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 maximum
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.
standard increased to 4% in 2009 from 3% in 2008, and 5% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.
Closings
Standards 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 New Jersey
immediately. If the second sample exceeds the standard, the beach is closed. Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 0%
bathing standard. If high bacteria concentrations are found at an ocean or bay Sewage 3%
station, sampling is conducted linearly along the beach to determine the extent Wildlife 0%
Other 3%
of the affected area. This “bracket sampling” can result in an extension of a Unknown 93%
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

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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Shark River Beach & Yacht Club (Neptune
Monmouth 1 1/wk 22 9% 3
Township)
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
Wharfside Manor Condos (Monmouth
Monmouth 3 1/wk 20 10% 0
Beach)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

New York
23rd in Beachwater Quality

• 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
New York Percent Exceedance
system is combined with stormwater pipes, which can discharge
a mixture of rainfall runoff and raw sewage into area waterways
11%
during and immediately after precipitation.2 These excess flows 10% 10% 11.00
contain floating debris comprised of litter and toilet-generated 8%
8.25
waste such as hygiene products, as well as heavy pollutant loads.
When discharged to the New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex, 5.50
the floating debris tends to collect into slicks that can wash up on 2.75
beaches. The multi-agency Floatables Action Plan employs several
means of controlling floating debris, such as: helicopter surveil
2006 2007 2008 2009
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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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
NY.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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%).
in 2009 was 10%, up from 8% in 2008, 11% in 2007, and 10% in 2006.

Standards 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 New York Sources of Contamination
(Number of Days) 1686.2
series of five or more samples collected during a 30-day period.2
1,349
When water quality monitoring reveals an exceedance of bac 1349.0
terial standards, the beach manager either notifies the public or
1011.7
resamples if there is reason to doubt the validity of the original
sample result. Resampling is performed within 48 hours after the 674.50
routine monitoring results indicated an exceedance. If the resample 243
237 337.25
exceeds the water quality standard, a closing or advisory is issued. 20 23
New York City does not issue an advisory or closing based solely 0.00
Stormwater Sewage Wildlife Other Unknown
on monitoring results, but rather uses administrative review and
Total days associated with sources exceeds reported total
management tools when evaluating beach status for the determina closing/advisory days because more than one source of
contamination was reported for some events.
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
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

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
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Westcott Beach State Park-Camping
Jefferson 2 1/wk 0 NA 0 (365)*
Beach
Kings Coney Island Beach Brighton 15th-6th 2 1/wk 19 5% 3
Coney Island Beach Brighton 6th-Ocean
Kings 2 1/wk 19 0% 3
Parkway
Coney Island Beach Ocean Parkway-
Kings 2 1/wk 19 0% 3
W. 8th
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Nassau Jefferson Boulevard Beach 3 2/mo 10 0% 0
Jones Beach State Park-West End
Nassau 2 1/wk 18 0% 2
Beach
Nassau Jones Beach State Park-Zach’s Bay 1 2/wk 21 10% 1
Jones Beach State Park-Central Mall
Nassau 2 1/wk 36 0% 2
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine
Suffolk 3 2/mo 12 0% 0
Center
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Huntington Beach Community
Suffolk 1 3/wk 35 9% 8
Association
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Robert Moses State Park Beach-Suffolk
Suffolk 2 1/wk 77 5% 3
County

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Southampton Peconic Beach & Tennis
Suffolk 3 1/mo 7 14% 0
Club
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Westchester VIP Club 2 1/wk 17 6% 0
Westchester Westchester Country Club Beach 1 1/wk 18 6% 0
Notes
1 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.

North Carolina

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 North Carolina Percent Exceedance
the surface. Samples obtained from piers must be taken at the
5%
location of the most used area 6 to 12 inches below the water’s
surface. North Carolina has prioritized its beaches based on usage 4% 4%
and potential for contamination. Tier 1 beaches are adjacent to 3%

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
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
NC.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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).
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.
increased to 4% in 2009 from 3% in 2008, 5% in 2007, and 4% in 2006.
Advisories
Standards 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 North Carolina Sources of Contamination
these values are intended to represent the number of organisms in (Number of Days) 275
a sample. From May 1 to September 30, North Carolina’s water 220
220
quality standards at its Tier 1 beaches are a single-sample maxi
mum of 104 mpn/100 ml and a running monthly geometric mean 146 165
of 35 mpn/100 ml. At Tier 2 beaches, the standard is a single-sample
110
maximum of 276 mpn/100 ml, and at Tier 3 beaches, the standard
is a single-sample maximum of 500 mpn/100 ml.3 During April 55
and October, the standard for Tier 1 beaches is generally the same 0 2 0
0
as the standard for Tier 2 beaches.1 However, the NCDENR can Stormwater Sewage Wildlife Other Unknown
opt to apply Tier 1 standards during those months if the water Total days associated with sources exceeds reported total
closing/advisory days because more than one source of
temperature is warm enough for high recreational usage. 2
contamination was reported for some events.
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 triplicate, 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

contaminated 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
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.
bacteria levels.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Dock on S. side of Hwy 92 bridge on the
Beaufort 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
W. side of Bath
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
Pamlico River-Junction of Upper Goose
Creek and Dinah’s Landing
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
Pamlico River-Tripp Point Recreational
Area
Pamlico River-Washington-Railroad
Trestle
Beaufort SE of Austin Pt-Pamlico River 2 2/mo 19 5% 0
Sound access at the intersection of E.
Beaufort 1 2/mo 35 17% 0 (92)*
Main St. and Tooley St., Belhaven
Beaufort W of Hills Point-Pamlico River 2 2/mo 19 5% 0
Boat ramp at the intersection of SR
Bertie 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
1500 and Vincent St.
Beach access between Bald Head
Brunswick 1 1/wk 29 0% 0
Harbor entrance & Bald Head Cr.
Beach Access near Capt. Jack’s on
Holden Beach
Cape Fear River, beach area adjacent to
Brunswick 2 2/mo 20 5% 0
Southport municipal pier
Caswell Beach public access off Caswell
Beach Rd.

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Brunswick East Beach area-Beach access #42 1 1/wk 29 0% 0
Brunswick Ferry Road public access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Greensboro St. emergency vehicle
access/ Stormwater outfall pipe
Brunswick ICW, marker #59 near Holden Beach 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
ICW, soundside access at E. end of
ocean Isle Beach
ICW end of Beach Drive at Bonaparte’s
Landing
Intracoastal Waterway, beach area
Brunswick adjacent to Howells Pt Wildlife boat 2 2/mo 20 5% 1
ramp
Intracoastal Waterway, beach area
between marker #28 & marker #29
Intracoastal Waterway, marker #67 near
Holden Beach
Intracoastal Waterway, shoreline
Brunswick adjacent to Ocean Isle Wildlife boat 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
ramp
Intracoastal Waterway, waterfront park
at end of NE 52nd St
Lighthouse Park; Ed Zaleski Way-Oak
Island
Brunswick Middleton Public Access-Oak Island 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Oak Island Wildlife ramp off Fish Factory
Rd
Ocean pier at 30th Place West and
Beach Dr.
Brunswick Ocean pier at Causeway and First St. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Ocean pier at Main St. and Sunset
Blvd.
Ocean pier at Ocean Blvd. and
Durham St.
Ocean pier between 14th and 15th
Place East and Beach Dr.
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
Public access at Dawson Street-Ocean
Isle Beach
Public access at Dolphin Street Holden
Beach
Public access at Driftwood Street-Ocean
Isle Beach
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
Public access, 46th St/SE and E. Beach
Drive-Oak Island

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Public access, 58th St/SE and E. Beach
Drive-Oak Island
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
Public access, west end of Oak Island
Drive-Oak Island
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
100 yds. NE Gallant’s Channel Bridge by
Carteret 3 2/mo 20 5% 0
shore
21⁄4 miles north of Cape Pt near Barden
Carteret 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Inlet
Carteret 400 yds SE of Bean Island off Core Banks 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
50 yards east of NC Marine Fisheries
Dock
Carteret Adams Creek off Silver Dollar Rd 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
AO-Public Beach Access, Inlet Rd.,
Carteret West side junction of Coast Guard and 1 1/wk 35 3% 0
Inlet Dr.
Bogue Inlet mouth of Coast Guard
Channel
Carteret Bogue Sound-Archer Point 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Bogue Sound-Boat Landing Tourist
Center
Bogue Sound-Canal Leading to Moonlite
Bay
Bogue Sound-E side of mouth of Gales
Creek
Bogue Sound-Goose Creek, off
campground
Bogue Sound-W Salter Path, ~200 yds
off of Wam Squam Ln
Carteret Cape Lookout Coast Guard Dock 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Cedar Is-Bch area SE of Wildlife Ramp
adjacent to Ferry Landing
Carteret Core Sd.-Shell point off Harkers Island 2 2/mo 20 5% 1
Deer Crk-Public access end of Bogue
Sound Dr
Carteret Fort Macon, Park Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Harker’s Island bridge at swimming
area

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Headen Ln. Salter Path-Soundside
~200 yds. offshore
Carteret ICW, marker #44 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Carteret ICW, Ski Beach, channel to Bogue Inlet 2 2/mo 20 5% 1
Indian Beach-Public Beach Access at
mile marker 12
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 7 ⁄2, oceanside
1
1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Carteret Mile post 19 ⁄2, oceanside
1
1 1/wk 102 4% 0
Carteret Mile post 41⁄2, oceanside of Pelican Dr. 1 1/wk 34 3% 0
Morehead City-drain pipe at
16th Street
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
Newport River-Public access NW of
Bridge
Carteret North River-at hwy 70 bridge 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
North side mouth of Town Creek in
Beaufort
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
Pine Knoll Shores-Just east of mile
marker 81⁄2-Hwy 58 east
Public access near Fawn Drive in
Emerald Isle
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
West end of Sugarloaf Island, Morehead
City
Western tip of Bird Shoals on Rachel
Carson Reserve
Carteret Whitehurst Island E of marker 24 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Chowan River Wildlife Ramp, east side
Chowan 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
of Bridge
Craven Hancock Creek dock at wildlife ramp 3 2/mo 19 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Mouth of Slocum Creek, North Side
Craven 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
Beach
Neuse River-200 yds. N of mouth of
Craven 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
North West Creek
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
100 yds offshore in sound near
Currituck intersection of Hwy 12 and Albacore St. 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Corolla
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
100 yrds ENE of Little Bridge,
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Causeway, Nags Head
100 yds offshore at Island Creek Ct.-
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Avon, NC
100 yrds offshore at North Holiday Rd.-
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Rodanthe
100 yds offshore at Sunset Strip Dr.-
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Frisco, NC
100 yds. offshore of 7517 S. Va. Dare
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Trail, Nags Head
Dare 2 mi SW of Frisco Vol Fire Dept 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
3
⁄4 miles N. of sound access across from
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
ramp #29
500 yds. offshore, 100 yrds. S of E side
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
of Wright Memorial Bridge
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Beach access 11⁄2 miles N of Kitty Hawk
Dare 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Pier
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
Drainpipe at S Nags Head/Federal Park
Dare 1 1/wk 34 6% 0
Border
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
Kitty Hawk Bay Wildlife Ramp in Jet Ski
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
riding area
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
Roanoke Sound, Dunube St D/P South
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Nags Head
Dare S-turns just N of Rodanthe 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Shallowbag Bay-Swim Platform Manteo
Dare 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Bridge
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Southern Shores private soundside
Dare 1 1/wk 111 8% 8
access
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
Ocracoke-1st public access SW of state
Hyde 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
ferry
Swanquarter Bay-end of docks on
Hyde 3 2/mo 23 17% 13
SR 1136
Area behind the northern end of
New Hanover 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Masonboro Island
Banks Channel-Waynick Blvd.-Between
New Hanover 1 1/wk 111 9% 44
Snyder and Seashore Streets
Banks Channel-Waynick Blvd.-between
Taylor and Bellamy Streets
Banks Channel-Waynick Blvd. approx.
150 yds N of Lula St.
Banks Channel, swimming beach south
New Hanover 2 2/mo 19 0% 0 (56)*
of Coast Guard station
Beach access at Periwinkle Lane in
Carolina Beach
Cama Access, corner of Waynick Blvd.
New Hanover 1 1/wk 111 12% 2 (56)*
and Sunset Ave (Wrightsville Beach)
New Hanover Cape Fear River, W. end of Snows Cut 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
Carolina Beach Inlet-N. end of Carolina
Beach
Fort Fisher Beach State Park access off
Loggerhead Rd.
Fort Fisher-Beach Adjacent to NCWRC
Ramp
N. end of Wrightsville Beach at public
access #2 off Lumina Dr.
New Hanover Ocean Pier at K. Ave. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Ocean pier at Nathan St. and S. Lumina
Dr.
New Hanover Ocean pier at Salisbury St. public access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Public access at the Hanby Beach Storm
Drain
Public beach on Masonboro Sd-end of
Florida Ave in Carolina Beach
New Hanover Public beach access at Hemlet Ave. 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Stone Street public access-oceanside
Wrightsville Beach
Trails End public access on Masonboro
Loop

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Vehicle access, 600 yds. N. Carolina
Beach Pier at Dune Mark
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
Bogue Sd.-1⁄2 mile S of Bear Inlet,
Onslow 2 2/mo 22 9% 1
soundside
Onslow N. Topsail Bridge-Wildlife Ramp 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
Onslow N. Topsail, Emergency Vehicle Access 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
New River at mouth of Southwest
Onslow 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Creek
Onslow New River, Wilson Park 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
Onslow Beach-Public access ~ ⁄4 mile
1
Onslow 2 2/mo 23 4% 2
south of Onslow Beach Bridge
Public access, mouth of NE Creek-
Onslow 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
New River
Onslow Public access, North Topsail 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Regional public access at mile marker
Onslow 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
12 on New River Inlet Rd.
Regional public access at mile marker
Onslow 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
17 on New River Inlet Rd.
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
Public beach S side of Dawson Crk
Pamlico 1 1/wk 108 12% 70
Bridge
Public beach SW Mouth of Whittaker
Pamlico 2 2/mo 20 5% 0
Creek N of Marker #3
Pamlico Vandemere Creek 2 2/mo 19 0% 0
Pasquotank River-E.C. Coast Guard
Pasquotank 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
Station Beach
Pender ICW, Hwy. 210 bridge at Surf City 2 2/mo 20 5% 0
Public access #O-10 at Ocean Blvd and
Pender 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Crews Ave.
Pender Public access #O-3 at mile marker 3 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Public access #S-1 at end of Shoreline
Pender 1 1/wk 71 3% 0
Dr. (soundside station)
Public access at Broadway St. & N.
Pender 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Shore Dr.
Public access at S. Shore Dr. and
Pender 1 1/wk 34 0% 0
Kinston Ave.

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Albemarle Sd.-Bull Bay Swimming Area
Tyrell 3 2/mo 19 0% 0
4H Camp
Notes
1 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.

Ohio

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling Practices: The monitoring season varies from location to location, depending on which entity is con
ducting 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
Ohio Percent Exceedance
conducted at the area of the beach used most by the public.
Nearly all beaches are already sampled daily or as frequently as
21% 21%
laboratory availability will allow. The monitoring frequency does 19% 21.00
17%
not increase after a bacterial exceedance has been found.
15.75
Results: In 2009, Ohio reported 62 coastal beaches, 7 (11%) 10.50

of which were monitored daily, 38 (61%) more than once a 5.25
week, and 17 (27%) once a week. For the fifth consecutive
year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples
2006 2007 2008 2009
that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards
(all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent
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 moni
tored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 20 beaches, the percent of
samples exceeding the standard decreased to 17% in 2009 from 21% in 2008, 19% in 2007, and 21%
in 2006.
OH.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
Ohio
Standards and Procedures: Local jurisdictions have the authority to close
beaches and to issue advisories. Ohio uses the E. coli single-sample 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 Stormwater 0%
Sewage 0%
cases in 2009. Wildlife 0%
A predictive model called Nowcast uses environmental factors including Other 0%
Unknown 100%
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 Nowcast-based 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 concentra
tions 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.
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.
Ohio 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

oregon
3rd in Beachwater Quality

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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,
Oregon Percent Exceedance
and notification protocols and practices throughout the state.
All samples are collected and processed by an Oregon Department
8%
of Environmental Quality employee who travels the coastline in 8
a mobile lab. Samples are collected at ankle to knee depth in the 6%
6
middle of typical bathing areas. Beaches are prioritized for sampling
based on the number of people recreating in the water, previous 3% 4
water quality data, known and suspected point and non-point 2
1%
pollution sources, and public comments.
Water samples are taken near known or potential pollution
2006 2007 2008 2009
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 monitoring 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
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. 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.
OR.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
Advisories
Standards 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 Oregon
issuing advisories. Sources of Contamination
Public notification for beach advisories occurs if a single sample result exceeds
Oregon’s action limit. Resampling, in lieu of issuing public notification, 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
Stormwater 40%
laboratory error that required resampling prior to the issuance of an advisory.1 Sewage 19%
The state does not have preemptive standards for rainfall but does issue pre Wildlife 0%
emptive advisories after a known sewage spill or major pollution event where Other 0%
Unknown 42%
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor-
Curry 1 none 0 NA 0
China Beach
Curry 1 none 0 NA 0
Lone Ranch Beach
Curry 1 none 0 NA 0
Whaleshead Beach
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
Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic
Lane 1 none 0 NA 0
Viewpoint

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Lane Neptune Beach 1 none 0 NA 0
Oregon Dunes National Rec Area-Horsfall
Lane 1 none 0 NA 0
Beach
Lane Oregon Dunes National Rec Area-South Jetty 1 none 1 0% 6
Oregon Dunes National Rec Area-Umpqua
Lane 1 none 0 NA 0
Dunes
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Pennsylvania
21st in Beachwater Quality

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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. Pennsylvania Percent Exceedance
When a sample is found to exceed bacterial standards, beaches
9%
are resampled for three consecutive days in order to lift advisories 9.00
and/or restrictions as soon as possible.1 States that monitor more
6.75
frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher 5%
percent exceedances and lower total advisory days than they would 4% 4.50
have had if their sampling frequency did not change after an 2%
2.25
exceedance was found.
2006 2007 2008 2009
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 maximum
in 2009 were Beach 1 West Extension (20%), Beach 1 West (16%), and Barracks Beach (10%).
standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 2%in 2007, and 9% in 2006.
Restrictions and Advisories

Standards 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
PA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
are also advised about the necessary precautions to take should they choose to
Pennsylvania
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 Stormwater 100%
Sewage 0%
rainfall exceeds 0.5 inch in a 24-hour period.2 Beaches are also preemptively Wildlife 0%
posted with restrictions when there is a known sewage spill and when high Other 0%
waves and strong winds out of the west are present.2 Unknown 0%
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.
PA.2 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Rhode Island

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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., stormwater Rhode Island Percent Exceedance
outfalls, septic/sewer connections, population density, location of for 39 Beaches Reported 2006–2009 25
nearby sewer plants) and high usage, and to facilities that have 20%
20
exhibited poor water quality in the past.
Monitoring efforts are focused on areas of greatest concern and 12%
13% 15
target sample collection for times when high bacteria counts are
8%
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 2006 2007 2008 2009
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 monitoring samples that
exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent
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%).
RI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Newport County had the highest exceedance rate (25%) in 2009, followed by Washington (18%), Kent (14%), and
Bristol (12%).
standard increased to 20% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 8% in 2007, and 12% in 2006.

Standards 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. Rhode Island
Typically, if sampling results exceed the standard, a beach is closed. How Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 0%
history of sample results for that beach and rainfall.2 On rare occasions, if Sewage 0%
environmental factors do not suggest fecal contamination, the beach may Wildlife 0%
remain open while it is resampled. Other 0%
Unknown 100%
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 contami
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

South Carolina

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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
South Carolina Percent Exceedance
monitoring program based on level of use and water quality
history. Most Tier 1 beaches have stormwater outfalls.
8%
Sampling is deliberately conducted at swashes and outfalls. 7% 8
Beaches whose water quality has fallen below standards or that 6%
6
have been under a rainfall advisory are sampled daily and reopened
4%
when the standards are met. States that monitor more frequently 4
after an exceedance is found or after heavy rains tend to have 2
higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory
days than those that do not alter their sampling schedule after an
2006 2007 2008 2009
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.
decreased to 4% in 2009 from 7% in 2008, 6 %in 2007, and 8 %in 2006.
Advisories
Standards 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
SC.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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 South Carolina
Tier 1 beaches. Work to improve the accuracy of this model is underway. Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 17%
Sewage 0%
Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 10 events Wildlife 0%
Other 83%
lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased 33% to 48 days in 2009 from 36 Unknown 0%
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
The Sands at Port Royal-across from
Beaufort 3 none 0 NA 0
landing
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
North Santee River-south end of South
Georgetown 3 none 0 NA 0
Island
Georgetown Pawleys Island Beach 2 2/mo 30 0% 0
Sandbar offshore of south end of Cedar
Island
Georgetown South Island-north end 3 none 0 NA 0
South Santee River-south end of Cedar
Island
Horry Arcadia Beach 1 1/wk 84 1% 0
Horry Briarcliffe Acres Beach 1 1/wk 63 3% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
South Carolina State Park and
Horry 1 1/wk 87 15% 1
Campground
Horry Springmaid Beach 1 1/wk 23 9% 2
Horry Surfside Beach 1 1/wk 157 10% 4
Notes
1 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. BEACH Grant Semi-Annual Update. November 2009.

Texas

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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
Texas Percent Exceedance
departments issue beach advisories when the bacterial standard is
exceeded. Samples are generally collected about one foot below the
9%
surface in water that is knee deep and in an area of high activity. If 8% 9.00
the majority of this recreational activity occurs at a depth
6% 6.75
significantly different than two feet, then samples can be collected 5%
at the location of greatest swimmer activity. Also, if the two-foot 4.50
sampling depth occurs more than 50 meters from shore, samples 2.25
can be collected 50 meters from shore or at the location of greatest
swimmer activity. Recreational beach segments that are used most 2006 2007 2008 2009
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 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, 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
decreased to 5 percent in 2009 from 6% in 2008, 9% in 2007, and 8% in 2006.
TX.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

Standards 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. Texas
V. vulnificus causes a bacterial infection that may be contracted by eating Sources of Contamination
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 Stormwater 24%
in Galveston Bay, as it is a primary health consideration with regard to oyster Sewage 0%
Wildlife 2%
consumption and harvesting as well as skin contact. Other 3%
Texas does not have preemptive rainfall standards. In the case of a known Unknown 71%
sewage spill, the decision to issue a preemptive closing or advisory would be

made by local government.1
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.
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
South Padre Island (Town of South Padre
Cameron 1 1/wk 724 0% 1
Island)
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 Craig Davis, Texas General Land Office, personal communication, May 2010.

Virginia

• 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).
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Virginia Percent Exceedance
after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent
3%
exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they 3.00
would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after
2% 2.25
an exceedance was found.
1.50
1% 1%
Results: In 2009, Virginia reported 47 coastal beaches, 44 (94%)
0.75
of which were monitored once a week, and 3 (6%) of which were
not monitored. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at
2006 2007 2008 2009
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.
the standard increased to 3% in 2009 from 2% in 2008 and 1% in both 2007 and 2006.

Standards 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
VA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010

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, Virginia
or sewage spills.1 Sources of Contamination

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 Stormwater 0%
tion, there were no extended or permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended Sewage 0%
events are those in effect more than 6 but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; Wildlife 0%
Other 0%
permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. Unknown 100%
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
10th View, Behind Quality Inn,1010 W
Norfolk 1 1/wk 20 0% 0
Ocean View Ave
Norfolk 13th View, North End 1 1/wk 20 0% 0
21st Bay St., North End Behind Ships
Captain Restaurant
Norfolk 5th Bay St., North End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6
Norfolk Capeview Ave., North End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6
East Community Beach, End of East
Ocean View Ave.
Norfolk North Community Beach 1 1/wk 20 10% 6
Ocean View Park, East Side of Parking
Lot
Norfolk Sara Constance Park, East End 1 1/wk 20 5% 6
Northampton Kiptopeke State Park 1 1/wk 36 0% 0

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
1 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.

Washington

• 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.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 Washington Percent Exceedance
county. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Beaches are chosen
6%
for monitoring based on use and the degree to which the flow 6.0
of tides and currents ensures that the water at the beach is
4% 4% 4.5
exchanged with other water, as well as the potential risks of
3%
fecal pollution from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, 3.0
stormwater drains, freshwater discharges, marinas, pet waste,
1.5
livestock, marine mammals, and shore birds.2
An effort is made to take samples at outfalls and other sources
2006 2007 2008 2009
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).
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%).
WA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
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%).
the standard decreased to 3% in 2009 from 4% in 2008 and 2007 and 6% in 2006.

Standards 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 Washington
three locations at each beach, and the bacterial count for the simultaneous Sources of Contamination
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
Stormwater 0%
1,000 cfu/100 ml, the state usually recommends posting an advisory Sewage 46%
immediately, without waiting for a resample to confirm the exceedance. Wildlife 0%
Other 0%
Washington has no preemptive rainfall advisory standards, but advises the Unknown 54%
public to avoid water contact for 24 hours after heavy rains.

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).
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
no
Clallam Ediz Hook Boat Launch none 0 NA 0
data
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
no
Clallam La Push First Beach none 0 NA 0
data
Clallam La Push Marina #1 3 none 0 NA 0
La Push Second Beach, Olympic
Clallam 2 none 0 NA 0
National Park
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
no
Clallam Makah Marina none 0 NA 0
data
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Ozette Beach Access, Olympic National
Park
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
Shipwreck Point Natural Resource
Conservation Area
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Chance a la Mer/Ocean Shores Main
Grays Harbor 2 1/wk 26 0% 0
Entrance
City of Hoquiam, Moon Island Road,
Grays Harbor 3 none 0 NA 0
Airport Way
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 Harbor Audubon Society, Raft
River
Grays Harbor Audubon, Humptulips,
Chenois Creek
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Grays Harbor Ocean Shores Bulkhead 3 none 0 NA 0
Grays Harbor Ocean Shores Marina 3 none 0 NA 0
Ocean Shores, Marina View Drive Beach
Access
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
Pacific Beach, Ocean Grove, Roosevelt
Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Ebey’s Landing National Historical
Island 3 none 0 NA 0
Reserve
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Langley Waterfront Park, The Inn at
Island 3 none 0 NA 0
Langley
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Downtown Port Townsend Business
Jefferson 3 none 0 NA 0
District
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Kalaloch Beach and Campground,
Olympic National Park
Jefferson Kinney Point, Beach 404A 3 none 0 NA 0
La Push Third Beach, Olympic National
Park
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
Northeast Quilcene Bay Tidelands
Access
Jefferson Northwest Maritime Center 3 none 0 NA 0
Northwest School of Wooden Boat
Builders
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
South Bay Community Association
Parcels
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Herrings House Park (Tualtwx)/
King 3 none 0 NA 0
Terminal 107 Park
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Brownsville Elementary School North
Kitsap 3 none 0 NA 0
Parcel
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Kitsap County Consolidated Housing
Authority
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Murden Cove, Blue Heron Hill
Homeowners
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
Port of Brownsville Marine Park and
Marina
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Hoodsport, Beach 43 (N Hoodsport
Mason 3 none 0 NA 0
Hatchery)
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
Oakland Bay and Chapman Cove
Mason 3 none 0 NA 0
Exclusive
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Cape Disappointment Coast Guard
Pacific 3 none 0 NA 0
Station
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
North Willapa Bay-Cascade Land
Conservancy
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
South Bend Fishing Access and Boat
Launch
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
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Boat
Launch
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
KPN Olman Vaugh Bay Sandspit,
Pierce 3 none 0 NA 0
Beach 18
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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 Juan Preservation Trust, Waldron
San Juan 3 none 0 NA 0
Island
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
Shaw Island County Park Tidelands
(DNR-296)
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
Smugglers Cove and Sunset Point
Community
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research
Skagit 3 1/wk 21 10% 0
Reserve
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Notes
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
Department 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.

Wisconsin

• 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 Depart
ment of Natural Resources coordinates Wisconsin’s beach monitoring program and administers the BEACH Act grants.
Monitoring
Sampling 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 knee-deep 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 Wisconsin Percent Exceedance
Additional sampling is required following large rain events or
17%
other major pollution events,2 and beaches are resampled 15% 17.00
immediately after an advisory or closing is issued. States that 13%
12.75
monitor more frequently after an exceedance is issued will tend to
have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/ 7% 8.50
advisory days than they would have had if their sampling
4.25
frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.
2006 2007 2008 2009
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
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%).
the standard decreased for the third consecutive year to 7% in 2009 from 13% in 2008, 15% in 2007, and 17%
in 2006.
WI.1 Natural Resources Defense Council Testing the Waters 2010
Standards 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 high-priority 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 Wisconsin
samples along the beach before analyzing for bacteria, and some take an average Sources of Contamination
value of multiple samples analyzed separately; aclosing and advisory decisions
are made for the entire beach based on the composite or average results. For
some long beaches, composite sampling is not encouraged because of the
beach’s sampling history. Local health departments with jurisdiction over these
Stormwater 20%
beaches are encouraged to close entire beaches or beach segments based on Sewage 0%
individual sample exceedances.3 Wildlife 0%
At the discretion of local beach managers, some beaches are closed or placed Other 0%
Unknown 80%
under advisory after rainfall exceeds a predetermined threshold, such as 1 inch
of precipitation in a 24-hour period. In other locations preemptive advisories
or closures are issued after sewer or stormwater overflows or incidences 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 conjunct
ion with the WI DNR (US EPA Virtual Beach) to issue advisories and closings as necessary seven days a week at Upper
Lake State Park.
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.
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
Point Beach State Forest-Concession
Manitowoc 2 2/wk 25 0% 0
Stand Beach
Point Beach State Forest-Lakeshore Picnic
Area Beach
Point Beach State Forest-Lighthouse Picnic
Area Beach
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

Monitoring Total
Frequency Samples
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
Kohler Andrae State Park Nature Center
Sheboygan 1 4/wk 57 12% 9
Beach
Sheboygan Kohler Andrae State Park North Beach 1 4/wk 57 12% 9
Kohler Andrae State Park North Picnic
Beach
Kohler Andrae State Park South Picnic
Beach
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
Notes
1 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.

NRDC's Testing The Waters 2010

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Testing the Waters

A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot

Project Design and Development

NRDC President: Frances Beinecke

Copyright 2010 by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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Polluted Water Makes Beachgoers Sick

Polluted Water Hurts Coastal Economies

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Improved Beachwater Monitoring Standards Can Better Protect

Prevention is the best way to Curb Beach Pollution

Cutting Global Warming Pollution Can Help AVOID Beachwater Pollution

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Recommendations for Improving Beachwater Quality and Protecting

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

Gulf 3,134 4,336 2,657 3,148 +18%

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Beach Closings/Advisories and Pollution Sources

Closing/advisory days 2.88

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

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

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

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

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

IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, 6%

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Sources of Beachwater Pollution

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Sewage Treatment Plants

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WILDLIFE AND PET WASTE

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEACHWATER POLLUTION

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The Impacts of Beach Pollution

Diseases Caused by Pathogens in Bathing Waters

Table 2-1. Pathogens and Swimming-Associated Illnesses

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

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Threats to Swimmers from Harmful Algal Blooms

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

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