2007 Michigan Beach Locations and Beach Closings

Its 90 degrees in the shade on a wonderful breeze free weekend day. You have the car packed with necessities for a terrific day at the beach. An hour and a half later, driving through bumper to bumper traffic, also lined up going to the beach, you finally arrive. There's a half mile walk across the baking blacktop parking lot and the beach in packed like sardines. You can't wait to get into the cooler water.

As you get closer, angry comments can be heard from the crowd. And, after wasting all that time, you find that the local Public Health Department has closed the beach due to high bacterial content in the water. Not again, this is the fifth time this summer!

The most frequent sources of disease-causing microorganisms are from sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoff, sewage treatment plant malfunctions, boating wastes and malfunctioning septic systems.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) pamphlet (below); "Pollution in beach water is often much higher during and immediately after rainstorms because water draining into the beach may be carrying sewage from overflowing sewage treatment systems. Rainwater also flows to our beaches after running off lawns, farms, streets, construction sites, and other urban areas, picking up animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides, trash and many other pollutants. Many of these pollutants can end up in the water at our beaches."

Michigan is blessed to have 1126 public beaches located throughout the State. Local Public Health Departments perform weekly tests of each beach and monitor for fecal coliform bacteria, an indicator of bird and mammal wastes in the water. These bacteria are easily monitored and are an indicator that more serious pathogenic organisms may be present in the water. Testing results are obtained between 24 to 72 hours depending upon which test was performed and the parts per million of bacteria.

As of June 9, 2007 the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website reports 4 beach closures. **

• Sugar Island Township Park located on the St Mary's River for Septic Overflow
• Fox Lake Park beach located on Fox Lake for high bacterial count
• CSC Blossom Heath beach located on Lake St Clair for high bacterial count
• Boat Launch on the Kawkawlin River for high bacterial count

**"Disclaimer: Information found on this Web site is entered and maintained by health departments and water quality monitoring authorities for their corresponding monitoring locations. All information should be checked for validity by contacting the respective authority."

Typical beach monitoring is for Fecal Coliform Bacteria associated with sewage and these pathogenic organisms

• Bacteria: Gastroenteritis (includes diarrhea and abdominal pain), salmonellosis (food poisoning), cholera.
• Viruses: Fever, common colds, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, respiratory infections, hepatitis.
• Protozoa: Gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis (including diarrhea and abdominal cramps), dysentery.
• Worms: Digestive disturbances, vomiting, restlessness, coughing, chest pain, fever, diarrhea.

If your local beach is frequently closed, these websites contain alternatives.

The State of Michigan Beach Monitor contains a list of beaches by County. Not all beaches are public. Please make sure you've choosen a public beach. Using the basic location search gives the best results. You can also click on your County on the beach guard home page to bring up an alphabetical list.

Michigan.org also provides a complete list of Michigan Public Beaches and some information on most locations.

Earth911.org offers a free service to email you any contamination notices about beaches in your County. This service is located on the top right corner of the linked page. (several States are available on this site)

Your County Health Department is the best place to search for recent information on beach closings. A List of Public Health Departments is available Here.

While you're at the beach, or on any water for that matter, please practice safe swimming. Here are some suggestions from the CDC

CDC Prevent drowning.

CDC Healthy Swimming

Swimmers Itch warning. State of Michigan information.