Wondering how can you check up on water monitoring, beach classifications and know what 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 six swimming beaches at state parks in New York are closed, according to the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Two of those closure are due to heavy rainfall and the others due to harmful algal bloom, according to the report.
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?
Taughannock Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake in Tompkins 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.
Verona Beach State Park on Oneida Lake in Oneida County
Cumberland Bay State Park on Lake Champlain in Clinton County
Point Au Roche State Park on Lake Champlain in Clinton County
No swimming beaches within New York state parks are currently operating under an advisory status
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: 6 NY state beaches closed for swimming due to algae or rain: See the list
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
