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Beaches in the Great Lakes Region What's New | General Resources | Monitoring State and Provincial Resources | Related Resources 
What's New Hot weather brings harmless but ugly 'scum' to Lake Michigan shoreline The Muskegon Chronicle (6/26) Researchers found that a thick, greenish substance floating on portions of Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Grand Haven consists only of "natural, organic material." Proposed federal legislation would mean real-time data about beach bacteria The News-Herald (6/22) Sponsored by Ohio Senator Voinovich, the "Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act" will help local and state entities to better provide bacterial count information on a near real-time basis and to ensure adequate warning for unsafe beach conditions. The last four miles: Friends of the Parks unveils a plan for an entirely-open Chicago lakefront Chicago Tribune (6/9) Chicagoans love to brag about their open, people-friendly lakefront. In reality, 4 of the city’s 30 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline are unavailable to the public—cordoned off by an intimidating combination of high-rises, “Private Property” signs and fences topped by razor wire. Bacteria lurk as swimmers hit Lake Erie The Toledo Blade (6/8) With schools on summer vacation, families soon will flock to Lake Erie beaches to swim while trying to avoid gut-wrenching encounters with bacteria. Beaches meet water quality standards The Northwest Indiana Times (6/4) All Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore beaches are open and safe for swimming according to the National Park Service's weekly beach monitoring report released Thursday morning. Results from samples collected Wednesday indicate that bacteria levels were within water quality standards. Wisconsin Beach Health (6/19) Wisconsin Beach Health allows access to information on Great Lakes and inland beaches in Wisconsin, including daily beach advisories.
General Resources BEACH Watch Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The BEACH Program oversees implementation of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000, which awards grants to states for improving the quality of coastal recreation waters. Blue Wave Campaign Clean Beaches Council Provides an annual list of beaches which have been certified as clean and healthy for the start of the upcoming summer beach season. The beaches on this year’s list have met a new, stricter 56-point set of pilot criteria for cleanliness and environmental health, including tough standards for litter. Citizen's Center for Beach Health Alliance for the Great Lakes Offers help to citizens and civic groups to understand why beaches close and what people can do to keep them healthy. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency GLNPO primarily focuses on monitoring lake ecosystem indicators; helping communities address contaminated sediments; promoting pollution prevention through projects such as the Canada-U.S. Binational Toxics Strategy; and providing assistance for Lakewide Management Plans and community-based Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern. The Interim Swimmability Index U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The purpose of the swimmability index is to assess E. coli and fecal coliform contaminant levels in nearshore recreational waters, and to infer potential harm to human health through body contact with nearshore recreational waters. This indicator supports Annexes 1, 2 and 13 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. U.S.-wide Beach Water Quality Monitoring System Earth 911 This partnership effort between Earth 911, Oceana, the Surfrider Foundation, and participating states and communities displays recent water quality conditions at your local beaches. The site also offers community-specific actions to help keep local beaches and coastal waters clean and safe. Visualizing the Great Lakes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) A slide collection featuring beaches from around the Great Lakes.
Monitoring Coastal Cleanup / Beach Sweep Alliance for the Great Lakes Find out how to Adopt-a-Beach and see highlights from annual cleanups in Wisconsin, Ilinois, Indiana and Michigan. Summary of Great Lakes Beach Closings 1981-1994 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) The Beach Closing Summary presents the findings of 14 years of annual surveys of Great Lakes bathing beaches. Testing the Waters Annual Survey Natural Resources Defense Council Full text and tables of NRDC's annual survey of water-quality monitoring and public notification programs at U.S. beaches.
State and Provincial Resources ILLINOIS Illinois Bathing Beach Closings Illinois Department of Public Health Information on beach inspections, beach and pool closings, and current beach statistics. Illinois Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council Illinois beach map and information on beach monitoring and closings. Illinois Beach State Park Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stretching leisurely for six and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois, the park encompasses the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state. Illinois Department of Public Health Online Illinois Department of Public Health Recent news and many more informational links. The Chicago Park District Swim Report Chicago Park District The Chicago Park District manages the city's 31 lakefront and one in-land beach for the enjoyment of Chicago families and visitors. INDIANA Indiana Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council Indiana beach map and information on beach monitoring and closings. Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program Indiana Department of Natural Resources The purpose of the Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) is to support coordination and partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies and local organizations for the protection and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in the Lake Michigan region. Indiana's Lake Michigan Beaches Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program Obtain current Lake Michigan water quality conditions at Lake, Porter and Laporte County beaches throughout the swimming season. West Beach Succession Trail Save the Dunes Council The West Beach Trails begin on the beach and end in an oak forest. MICHIGAN Macomb County Beach Closing Data The Macomb County Health Department This site provides beach testing results for the past three years. Click on the appropriate link to see beach-specific results. Michigan Beach Closings: Sources & Solutions Alliance for the Great Lakes When beaches close it is usually because of the risk to human health from viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and other microbes that enter Lake Michigan from many different sources. Michigan Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council Michigan beach maps and information on beach monitoring and closings. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Michigan Department of Environmental Quality This site contains information about Michigan public beaches and recreational-use waterways. Here you will find information about beach closings, monitoring efforts and E. coli test results. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality – Online Beach Monitoring System Michigan Department of Environmental Quality To search for a beach or other location, enter any part of the beach name or waterbody name into the search box on the top of this page and click "GO". Orchard Beach State Park RING! Online Situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, the park has 176 campsites, swimming beach and trails. NEW YORK New York Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council New York beach maps and information on beach monitoring and closings. State Parks/Camping/Day Use New York State Parks Surfrider Foundation – State of the Beach state report Surfrider Foundation The Surfrider Foundation State of the Beach report is our annual update on the health of our nation's beaches. It is intended to empower concerned citizens and coastal managers by giving them the information needed to take action. OHIO Alerts and Warnings Ohio Department of Health Ohio Beach monitoring and safety procedures. Beach Monitoring Sample Results Ohio Department of Health During the summer months selected public beaches along Lake Erie are sampled for E. coli bacteria. This site will allow you to view current sample results and provide you with information to help decide when it is safe to swim. Chaska Beach Conceived as a summer cottage resort, the beach, located in Huron, Ohio, is an integral part of the city today. Cleveland Lakefront State Park Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Sand beaches, tree-lined picnic areas and panoramic views of the lake are found within the park along the Lake Erie shoreline. Ohio Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council Ohio beach maps and information on beach monitoring and closings ONTARIO Sauble Beach Sauble Beach Chamber of Commerce Overlooking Lake Huron, the beach is a perfect summer vacation spot. Surf the Beaches Beach Magazine Provides a map of beaches in Toronto and other related information. Toronto and Region Conservation - Lake Ontario Waterfront Toronto and Region Conservation Lake Ontario waterfront information. Wasaga Beach Located at the southern tip of Georgian Bay, it is the longest fresh water beach in the world. Windsor/Essex Beach Information Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Current beach information for the Windsor/Essex region of Ontario. PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices Natural Resources Defense Council Pennsylvania beach map and information on beach monitoring and closings. Presque Isle State Park - Swimming Presque Isle State Park The park, located on the Presque Isle peninsula, has seven miles of sandy, guarded, bathing beaches, separated by natural wooded areas.
Related Resources GLIN: Boating in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Dunes in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Hunting and Fishing in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Lighthouses in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Parks in the Great Lakes Region
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