Beach Warnings On The Rise
A new report says there was a record number of closings and health advisory days at American beaches last year because the water wasn't safe for swimming.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, there were some 25,000 closings and advisories at numerous bay areas, beaches on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and at spots along the Great Lakes in 2006. The number is more than ever recorded in the survey's 17-year history.
The main causes were storm runoff and sewage spills.Full Report: Testing The Waters
The report, which consists of data complied from 3,500 beaches, singles out six beaches as "beach bums" for violating public health standards standards 51 percent or more of the time samples were taken:
- California: Avalon Beach (north of Green Pleasure Pier) (53%) and Venice State Beach (57%)
- Maryland: Hacks Point (60%) and Bay Country Campground and Beach (56%)
- New Jersey: Beachwood Beach West (60%)
- Illinois: Jackson Park Beach (54%)
The news is not all bad. The following were named "beach buddies" for monitoring beach water quality regularly, violating public health standards less than 10 percent of the time, and for taking significant steps to reduce pollution:America's Cleanest Beaches: The Clean Beaches Council's Blue Wave Campaign
- North Carolina: Kure Beach and Kill Devil Hills Beach
- Wisconsin: Sister Bay Beach and North Beach
- California: Laguna Beach
- Michigan: Grand Haven City Beach and Grand Haven State Park beaches
- Maine: Libby Cove, Mother's, Middle, Cape Neddick, Short Sands and York Harbor