Beaches along Great Lakes to get lifesaving aids

Kits with lifesaving aids such as ring buoys and youth life jackets will appear at 10 public beaches along Lake Michigan in an effort to prevent drowning due to dangerous currents, officials announced Monday.

Michigan Sea Grant said the kits will be installed this summer. Additional support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to put similar equipment on beaches in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania during the next two years.

A database assembled by Michigan Sea Grant and the National Weather Service shows 138 swimmers drowned in the Great Lakes in the past 12 years including 69 in Michigan in incidents blamed at least in part on rip currents.

Michigans Great Lakes coasts, and the shore of Lake Michigan in particular, have become the epicenter of drowning-related deaths in the Great Lakes region, said Elizabeth LaPorte, Michigan Sea Grants communications and education services director.

Dangerous currents occur throughout the Great Lakes and are common along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Rip currents are strong, narrow currents that move away from the shore. Trying to swim against a rip current can quickly lead to exhaustion.

Many Great Lakes beaches dont have trained lifeguards on duty. Each of the beach safety kits will contain a ring buoy, a throw bag and U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for youths. Cards encouraging people to closely watch children at the beach also will be distributed.

We want people to enjoy the Great Lakes and to be safe at the beach, and this outreach effort will help raise awareness, said Michigan Sea Grant Director Jim Diana, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment.

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Beaches along Great Lakes to get lifesaving aids

Southend's beaches miss out on Blue Flag status for second year

Southend's beaches miss out on Blue Flag status for second year

7:00am Wednesday 21st May 2014 in News By David Trayner

ALL Southends beaches have won top awards for cleanliness but still fail to meet the strict standards needed for Blue Flag status.

Keep Britain Tidy has awarded all seven beaches around Southend Seaside Awards, which recognise quality, management, cleanliness and safety.

But Southend Council failed to enter any of the beaches for the charitys internationally-recognised Blue Flag status as it admits water is not yet clean enough.

Lynn Jones, the councils resort services manager, said: We did not apply for Blue Flags in 2014, but are very pleased to have picked up seven seaside awards which reflect the quality, management, cleanliness and safety of our beaches.

To win a Seaside Award all beaches must meet the required European Union standards, which ours have for a number of years and continue to do so.

However, to achieve a Blue Flag, water quality has to be considered excellent for around 90 per cent of the time over four years. This is under the much tougher revised bathing water directive.

The last three of the towns beaches to have Blue Flag status, East Beach and Shoebury Common in Shoebury and Three Shells in Southend, lost the award last year.

The Environment Agency warned Bell Wharf Beach in Leigh and Chalkwell Beach could miss new EU standards coming into force next year.

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Southend's beaches miss out on Blue Flag status for second year

Beautiful Beaches in Thailand – Maya Bay, ‘The Beach’ on Ko Phi Phi Leh – Video


Beautiful Beaches in Thailand - Maya Bay, #39;The Beach #39; on Ko Phi Phi Leh
This is filmed at Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh , the beach from the movie #39;The Beach #39; with Leonardo DiCaprio. Stunning vertical cliffs capped with green foliage...

By: Bo Kvistad

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Beautiful Beaches in Thailand - Maya Bay, 'The Beach' on Ko Phi Phi Leh - Video

North East beaches are among the best – and now it's official!

The North East's beaches have won four Blue Flag and eight Seaside awards from Keep Britain Tidy

The North East has some of the best beaches in the country, new awards show.

A number of beaches on Tyneside have been given awards by Keep Britain Tidy, with four - Longsands and King Edwards Bay in Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and Sandhaven Beach in South Shields - rewarded for their exceptional cleanliness and water quality with a coveted Blue Flag.

Its fantastic news for everyone who loves visiting the seaside that 12 beaches will be flying a flag in the North East that guarantees the public the best facilities and the cleanest beaches this summer, Richard McIlwain, of Keep Britain Tidy, said.

We know that for many holiday makers and daytrippers clean, safe beaches, with good water quality and facilities are important factors in deciding which beach to visit and the continuing quality of management at these beaches is a real testament to the dedication, hard work and investment that local authorities and other beach managers put in year after year.

Steve Dryden

Readers' pictures of the best beaches in the North East

We have some fantastic coastline and we know that communities up and down the country love their beaches.

They provide opportunities for people to get outside, relax and have fun for free, while visitors to our beaches often provide support for local jobs and inward investment at sea front resorts.

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North East beaches are among the best - and now it's official!

Jersey beaches in great shape

MANTOLOKING, N.J. -

The Jersey shore's beaches are in their best shape in years heading into the Memorial Day weekend, the result of a massive replenishment project after Superstorm Sandy and some simple good luck: a series of brutal winter storms that took it easy on the coastline.

Most of the storms did little or no damage to the shoreline and instead dropped snow over inland areas without causing significant erosion along the coast.

Couple that with the federal beach replenishment underway along most of the Jersey shore, and you've got a potentially primo beach season as the second summer following Sandy nears.

"The beaches actually came through the winter pretty well," said Jon Miller, a coastal expert at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. "We had a rough winter in terms of snow and cold, but the nature of the storms was such that they didn't cause a lot of erosion. Most of the storms took a land route rather than over water. Part of it was just dumb luck."

New Jersey's luck was all bad during the Oct. 29, 2012, storm that damaged or destroyed 360,000 homes and businesses, causing an estimated $37 billion in damage. Houses were pulverized, boardwalks smashed into kindling, beaches were washed away and a roller coaster was pitched into the ocean.

But this past winter, the five biggest storms didn't generate the kind of wave action that caused so much damage during Sandy, experts said.

Another major factor in the robust condition of the beaches is the ongoing replenishment project that pumps sand from offshore sites onto the beaches. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is restoring the beaches to their pre-Sandy condition.

For most spots, that means 150 to 200 feet of sand.

Sandy Hook, Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach are all in good shape following replenishment work, which is ongoing in Long Branch. Miller said several beaches to the south of Long Branch, including Deal and Loch Arbour, are "the missing link" because they had not previously been replenished and have very little sand right now. They are due to be replenished this fall or winter.

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Jersey beaches in great shape

Scientists enlist border collies to chase off beach-polluting gulls

Dogs arent usually associated with clean beaches.

But new research has recognized border collies for their ability to chase off gulls that foul beach water and sand with their droppings.

The experiment was launched two years ago by researchers at Central Michigan University who were asked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to find new ways to control a surging population of gulls that gather on the shores of the Great Lakes.

Not only do the birds swoop down to snatch sandwiches from picnickers and annoy beach-goers, they also poop right where people swim. That makes them a major source of E. coli, bacteria health officials test for as an indicator of pathogens that can make swimmers sick. When elevated levels are detected, authorities post warnings or close beaches.

Elizabeth Alm, a microbiologist at Central Michigan University who led the research, said a review of the literature on the subject found a variety of bird-exclusion techniques using wires, strobe lights, lasers and pyrotechnics -- but few that would be suitable for a public beach.

Enter the border collie.

She and other researchers at the university were familiar with the breeds reputation for intelligence, agility and hard work. So they decided to audition them. Could they use their keen herding abilities and intense gazes toscare off the offending gulls and lower bacteria levels at the beach?

To find out, the researchers leased two trained border collies that had previously been used by the U.S. Air Force to keep geese off runways.

During the summers of 2012 and 2013, scientists assigned each dog to patrol a stretch of public beach on Lake Michigan, leaving two other nearby sections of beach dog-free as a control.

The researchers counted gulls and measured bacteria levels to conclude that border collies were highly effective at warding off gulls from beaches. Samples showed the beaches patrolled by a border collie had significantly lower counts of bacteria than those without dogs.

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Scientists enlist border collies to chase off beach-polluting gulls

East Anglia: Beaches receive international award

Southwold beach and pier.

Callum Maclean Tuesday, May 20, 2014 12:01 AM

Some of the regions beaches have been named as some of the cleanest and best in the country.

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Charity Keep Britain Tidy has today announced the winners of the 2014 Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.

Ten beaches in the East of England have gained the Blue Flag award, and 16 have received the Seaside Award.

The beaches have been rewarded for their facilities, cleanliness, and the the case of the Blue Flag recipients, meeting the highest international standard of water quality. Across the country 56 beaches were awarded the Blue Flag, and 112 picked up the Seaside Award.

The Blue Flag winners in the region were Southwold Pier and Lowestoft South Claremont Pier in Suffolk, Clacton-on-Sea, Dovercourt Bay, Frinton on Sea and Brightlingsea in Essex, and Cromer, Sea Palling, Sheringham and Mundesley in Norfolk.

Richard McIlwain, Programmes Director for the charity said: Its fantastic news for everyone who loves visiting the seaside that 10 beaches will be flying a flag in the East of England that guarantees the public the best facilities and the cleanest beaches this summer.

Sue Allen, Wanevey District and Southwold town councillor said: Its another string to Southwold and Waveneys bow.

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East Anglia: Beaches receive international award

Jersey shore beaches are in the best shape in years heading into 2nd post-Sandy summer

Published on May 19, 2014

Jersey shore beaches are in the best shape in years heading into 2nd post-Sandy summer

MANTOLOKING, N.J. - The Jersey shore's beaches are in their best shape in years heading into the Memorial Day weekend, the result of a massive replenishment project after Superstorm Sandy and some simple good luck: a series of brutal winter storms that took it easy on the coastline.

Most of the storms did little or no damage to the shoreline and instead dropped snow over inland areas without causing significant erosion along the coast.

Couple that with the federal beach replenishment underway along most of the Jersey shore, and you've got a potentially primo beach season as the second summer following Sandy nears.

"The beaches actually came through the winter pretty well," said Jon Miller, a coastal expert at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. "We had a rough winter in terms of snow and cold, but the nature of the storms was such that they didn't cause a lot of erosion. Most of the storms took a land route rather than over water. Part of it was just dumb luck."

New Jersey's luck was all bad during the Oct. 29, 2012, storm that damaged or destroyed 360,000 homes and businesses, causing an estimated $37 billion in damage. Houses were pulverized, boardwalks smashed into kindling, beaches were washed away and a roller coaster was pitched into the ocean.

But this past winter, the five biggest storms didn't generate the kind of wave action that caused so much damage during Sandy, experts said.

Another major factor in the robust condition of the beaches is the ongoing replenishment project that pumps sand from offshore sites onto the beaches. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is restoring the beaches to their pre-Sandy condition.

For most spots, that means 150 to 200 feet of sand.

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Jersey shore beaches are in the best shape in years heading into 2nd post-Sandy summer

Waving the flag for Isle of Wight beaches

Yaverland beach is one of the Isle of Wight beaches to win a Blue Flag award. Picture by Robin Crossley.

THE Isle of Wight is king of the 'sand castle for top beaches.

The Isle of Wight reaffirmed its crown as the countrys number one destination for quality beaches after retaining its four Blue Flags and 13 Seaside Awards received in 2013.

The prestigious Blue Flag scheme and Seaside Awards which were previously known as Quality Coast Awards are run by the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

The Blue Flag acts as a guarantee to tourists that a beach or marina they are visiting is one of the best in the world.

Sandown, Ventnor, Yaverland and Colwell beaches have all retained their Blue Flags as well as being given Seaside Awards.

Other beaches to receive the accolade were Cowes, East Cowes, Springvale, Seagrove, Gurnard, Ryde East, St Helens, Totland and Shanklin.

All the award-winning beaches have been rewarded for their fantastic facilities, cleanliness and, in the case of the Blue Flag awards, meeting the highest international standard of water quality.

Isle of Wight Council executive member for tourism Cllr Shirley Smart said: "Yet again the Isle of Wight comes out top in the prestigious Blue Flags and Seaside Awards scheme which is excellent news.

"With the increase in tourists we have seen over the last year, this can only further enhance the Islands reputation as a top holiday destination."

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Waving the flag for Isle of Wight beaches

Climate change destroying Philippine beaches?

MANILA - President Aquino on Monday sounded the alarm on possible loss of Philippine beaches due to the effects of climate change.

In a speech to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change, President Aquino pointed out that Philippine tourist destinations are at risk from the effects of climate change.

"It is true: We have some of the best beaches and dive spots in the world. Sadly, these areas are also the ones most vulnerable to climate risk-whether in the form of loss of biodiversity or coastal erosion. Our immediate response: To plan ahead and reduce the impact of the effects of climate change on our tourist destinations, amongst others," he said.

Aquino said the Philippine government has included climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as disaster risk reduction and management, among the major considerations for future development.

He said his administration plans to mainstream climate change adaptation with local, sectoral, and national plans "all of which will consequently guide the development of tourist destinations and tourism activities per locality."

"With the increasing risks of climate change, this is something we encourage other ASEAN-member countries, as well as countries around the world, to look into," he said.

Aquino pointed out that climate change may come at the cost of national development if unchecked.

"Ignoring this problem means that the increasingly frequent and intense storms will continue to make landfall in our countries; changes in temperatures will continue to decrease our water supply and threaten our food security; and island countries, such as those in the South Pacific, will continue to worry that, within the span of a few decades, their countries may be consumed by the rising water levels and, eventually, cease to exist."

He also used the occasion to tout the administration's achievements in tourism.

Last year, the Philippines welcomed 4.68 million international tourists or nearly ten percent higher than the previous year.

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Climate change destroying Philippine beaches?

United States Coast Guardsmen patrol beaches throughout the United States with th…HD Stock Footage – Video


United States Coast Guardsmen patrol beaches throughout the United States with th...HD Stock Footage
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See This HD Video Of Lefkada Beach Greece, One Of The Best Beaches In Europe – Video


See This HD Video Of Lefkada Beach Greece, One Of The Best Beaches In Europe
See This HD Video Of Lefkada Beach Greece, One Of The Best Beaches In Europe Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/user/VideosFromGr facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VideosFromGr Pinterest: http://ww...

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See This HD Video Of Lefkada Beach Greece, One Of The Best Beaches In Europe - Video

Jersey Shore minus Snooki

Cape May, which began as a resort for well-heeled people who arrived by steamer and stagecoach from Philadelphia and Baltimore, has Victorian homes that are designated as a National Historic Landmark.iStock

Cape May beaches have white sand and gentle surf.iStock

Back in the day, Grant Street summer station allowed visitors to be able to step off the train and be within walking distance to the surf.Cape May Historical Society

Remains of 1878 fire, which destroyed many of Cape May's buildings, but that paved the way for the building of Victorian homes that stand today.Cape May Historical Society

When I see Cape Mays wide beaches and brightly painted Victorian homes, I am reminded why I love coming here.

Its not just the beautiful scenery; it's the feel of home and the warmth of the people that make this place unlike other beach resorts.

Cape May, 160 miles from New York City, is a beach resort at the southernmost tip of New Jersey. It attracted 87 million visitors last year alone, but you wont find the likes of Snooki and her friends here.Bar scenes are subdued, and people dont wear neon.

To really understand its beauty, you need to hop back in time.

Cape May began as a resort getaway for well-heeled people who arrived by steamer and stagecoach from Philadelphia and Baltimore. It grew with the introduction of the railroad, but its beautiful Victorian homes didnt appear until after 1878, when a massive fire wiped out more than 30 blocks and forced the village to rebuild.

Today the entire town, including its beachfront, is a designated National Historic Landmark.And while it has some of the best beaches in New Jersey, and arguably the East Coast, you dont have to wait for the hot months of summer to take advantage of all it has to offer.

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Jersey Shore minus Snooki