Before heading to a swimming beach within a New York state park, be sure to check which locations are open or closed? The New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation tracks it all and updates the public on its website. New York has 67 state-owned swimming beaches and all are tested regularly to determine the public’s risk of coming in contact with waterborne diseases. The beaches are tested at least once a week for bacterial levels of impaired water quality, according to state officials.
Currently five swimming beaches at state parks in New York are closed and two others are operating under an advisory, according to the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Of those closed, two are due to harmful algal bloom and the others due to exceedance of E.coli, bacteria in the water. Test results are available roughly 24 hours after samples are taken and results are posted daily at state park offices, online and at the beach.
Which NY beaches are currently closed for swimming?
Stony Brook State Park in Steuben County
Robert H. Treman State Park in Tompkins County
Buttermilk Falls State Park in Tompkins County
Note: The Jennings Pond swim area within the park remains open. The swimming spot at the base of Buttermilk Falls is closed.
Gilbert Lake State Park in Otsego County
Verona Beach State Park on Oneida Lake in Oneida County
Which NY beaches have advisory status?
Cayuga Lake State Park in Seneca County
Chenango Valley State Park in Broome County
What sparks a beach closure in NY state parks?
State officials close beaches within state parks when there is a known or anticipated risk to public health or safety. Whenever this occurs, signs are posted and the public notified 18 to 24 hours after an elevated concentration of bacteria occurs.
The causes of elevated bacteria levels are not always clear. They may be related to land uses in the watershed; stormwater runoff; naturally occurring sand or soil bacteria; or other factors.
Closure decisions are based upon monitoring results in combination with other factors that influence water quality, including water conditions including sewage overflows, cold temperatures, or high waves; environmental conditions, including thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds; and historical data.
What bacteria does NY test for?
Freshwater samples are analyzed for E. coli and ocean samples are tested for enterococcus.
A freshwater sample result equal to or above 235 E.coli colonies/100 ml exceeds the state standard. This applies to all regions of the Empire state except Long Island.
An ocean sample result equal to or above 104 enterococci colonies/100 ml exceeds the state standard. This applies only to the Long Island region.
How does NY classify beach closures after testing?
Beach closures are placed in one of two categories:
What are the most common reasons for beach closures in NY?
Common reasons for beach closures include:
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 5 NY beaches closed over water quality; 2 under advisory: See the list
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
