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What's New
Buffalo State lake's center funding nearly doubles
Buffalo Business First (1/17)
The Great Lakes Center at Buffalo State College received a boost in grant funding during fiscal year 2011 that helped the institute fund 17 projects in the Great Lakes region.

Test of algae pump deemed success
Democrat and Chronicle (1/16)
Last summer's test of a pump system to remove troublesome algae from Ontario Beach in Charlotte, NY, has been declared a success.

Would a flag system help reduce the number of drownings in the Great Lakes? Some state lawmakers say yes
Muskegon Chronicle (1/13)
Some municipal officials say proposed state legislation that would require a system of colored flags to be placed at public beaches on the Great Lakes may do little to reduce drownings.

Lake associations push for help in invasive species fight
Minnesota Public Radio (1/13)
Minnesota Lake Association members show widespread support for higher fees to fight species such as zebra mussels or Asian carp, aquatic invaders that pose a serious threat to local economies.

State might require warnings at beaches
The Times Herald (1/7)
A bill in the state Senate would require all Great Lakes beaches, such as Lighthouse Beach in Port Huron, Mich., to display flags indicating swimming conditions.

4 area beaches may be removed from Wisconsin 'impaired waters' list
Green Bay Press-Gazette (1/5)
Four area Lake Michigan beaches may be off the state's proposed biennial "impaired waters" list, but phosphorus problems are causing two other bodies of water to be newly listed.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Updated: February 3, 2012
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