Seaweed has littered most Anna Maria Island beaches since Tropical Storm Debby in late June. MARC R. MASFERRER/Bradenton Herald.

HOLMES BEACH -- It's green. It smells. And it attracts bugs.

It also will become the first impression of area beaches for thousands of visitors staying in Manatee County for the Republican Nation Convention next week.

Tourism officials are concerned a seaweed problem they label as the worst in decades will scare off RNC attendees expected to sneak off for a quick beach visit at some point during their stays.

After a one-week hiatus, the seaweed is back. And it looks like it's here to stay at least through the convention.

The county has been working daily to rake the beaches, but turtle nesting season has restricted those efforts some. About 20 minutes after the shore has been cleared, more of the deep-sea algae is washing right back up, said Cindy Turner, director of Manatee County Parks and Recreation.

"I have never seen anything like this in the 12 years I have been director of parks and recreation here," she said. "We're doing everything we can to control the issue."

Turner said it's still unclear exactly what triggered the seaweed explosion, but it all began directly after Tropical Storm Debby.

Although not harmful, the dead leafy stuff has become a nuisance for Anna Maria Island resorts and restaurateurs now fielding complaints from their guests. As the GOP convention nears, business owners fear those grievances will only amplify.

The topic became the focus of a Manatee Tourist Development Council meeting Monday morning at Holmes Beach City Hall, where an update on the county's mitigation efforts was presented.

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Seaweed on Manatee beaches a growing concern with RNC nearing

Cork County Council has advised against swimming at the beaches due to concerns about levels of the E coli bacteria in the water.

The council said further sampling was carried out today at Youghal, Claycastle, Redbarn, Coolmain, Garretstown, Oysterhaven and Garryvoe beaches.

They said the results of the tests will be available on Wednesday evening.

Public notices banning swimming were first posted last Friday.

Cork County Council said the closures were introduced as a precautionary measure after heavy rainfall over the last two months caused the levels of E coli at the beaches to breach EU mandatory permitted values.

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Cork beaches remain closed pending test results

The Irish Times - Monday, August 20, 2012

OLIVIA KELLEHER

A NUMBER of Corks best known beaches remained closed to bathers yesterday after dangerous levels of E.coli were found in the water.

Due to heavy rainfall over the last two months Cork County Council has warned that levels of E.coli at a number of Cork beaches have breached EU permitted levels.

The local authority has banned swimming in blue flag beaches at Garretstown, Redbarn and Garryvoe. Other beaches affected include the Front Strand and Claycastle in Youghal, Coolmaine near Kilbrittain and Oysterhaven.

The closures are a precautionary measure until the water quality has been restored.

The HSE and the Environmental Protection Agency have been contacted.

Youghal councillor and county mayor Barbara Murray says the system of water sampling needs to be changed.

You dont just do this on a Monday and decide you are not going to do it again until the following Monday. So I would be suggesting that it would be done on a more regular basis, and that the results be brought in as soon as possible, said Ms Murray.

Further inspections are to be carried out on the beaches today.

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Dangerous E.coli levels close some of Cork's best-known beaches

20 August 2012 Last updated at 08:33 ET

Swimmers have been advised to continue to avoid using seven beaches in County Cork.

Cork County Council said the beaches were closed on Friday after heavy rain over the past two months caused E coli levels to breach EU values.

The council said the result of tests carried out on the water on Monday should be known by Wednesday.

The beaches affected are at Youghal, Claycastle, Redbarn, Coolmaine, Garretstown, Oysterhaven and Garryvoe.

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E coli closes seven Cork beaches

Swimmers and surfers in Co Cork face another day of frustration following the closure of seven beaches over concerns about bacteria levels.

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Bacteria: Beaches remain closed

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Sunday, August 19, 2012, 12:41

OLIVIA KELLEHER

A number of Corks best known beaches remain closed to bathers today after dangerous levels of E.coli were found in the water.

Due to the heavy rainfall over the last two months, Cork County Council have advised that levels of E.coli at a number of Cork beaches have breached EU mandatory permitted values.

The Local Authority has banned swimming in blue flag beaches at Garretstown, Redbarn, and Garryvoe. Other impacted beaches include The Front Strand and Claycastle in Youghal, Coolmaine near Kilbrittain, and Oysterhaven.

The closures are a precautionary measure until the quality has been restored. The HSE and the Environmental Protection Agency have been contacted.

Youghal Councillor and County Mayor Barbara Murray says the system of water sampling needs to be changed.

You dont just do this on a Monday and decide you are not going to do it again until the following Monday, she said.

So I would be suggesting that it would be done on a more regular basis and that the results be brought in as soon as possible. This is the livelihoods for a lot of people. Tourism is what it is all about here in Youghal. We need to get our beach up and going as soon as possible.

Further inspections are to be carried out on the beaches tomorrow. Public notices are in place asking bathers not to swim in the effected beaches until further notice.

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Bathing ban at seven Cork beaches

US Pet Owners Can Choose from the Nation’s Top Beaches.Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) August 18, 2012 Before summer comes to an end, Protect Your Bubble announces its picks for top dog friendly beaches helping pet owners find the best beaches to enjoy the sun, surf and sand with their four legged friends. These beaches were chosen for their beautiful scenery, nearby pet activities and amenities and relaxed ...

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Leading Pet Insurance Provider Protect Your Bubble Announces Top Dog Friendly Beaches

The beaches of Martin and St. Lucie counties have been the place to be this month for anglers interested casting into bait schools to catch drag-taxing jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel and even tarpon.

Its all about finding the black streaks in the water just off the beach clouds of bait fish that have included glass minnows and pilchards in recent weeks and probably will include finger mullet in the weeks ahead.

Jim Cargill of Hobe Sound Bait & Tackle said he found jacks, Spanish mackerel, blue runners and tarpon (along with dozens of pelicans) feeding on one of those big black clouds of bait fish near the Hole in the Wall just inside St. Lucie Inlet recently.

During a walk on Hobe Sound Beach last weekend, I found the dark streak of bait just out of casting distance for my light spinning rod holding a chrome 7/8-ounce Gotcha lure on 30-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. Tarpon were rolling near the bait.

Schools of bait fish were holding tighter to the beach at Hobe Sound the weekend of Aug. 4, when beach anglers were happily fighting jacks and Spanish mackerel for much of the day, said Steve Barron, a Hobe Sound angler who enjoys walking the beach with his spinning rod.

On the north side of St. Lucie Inlet, anglers are finding plenty of action when they find the bait along the beaches of Hutchinson Island.

Theres a black line running up and down the beach, said Henry Caimotto of the Snook Nook in Jensen Beach, who recommends looking for the bait schools from Bathtub Beach at the south end of Hutchinson Island to Walton Rocks Beach farther north.

Caimotto rattled off a list of fish following the bait schools along Hutchinson Island: snook, tarpon, bonitos, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, whiting and croakers. He recommends casting from the beach with a 7-foot spinning rod holding a D.O.A. Bait Buster or shiny chrome casting spoon. A fly rod will work when the conditions are right.

The along-the-beach bait run is a precursor to the fall mullet run, when the fish feeding frenzy typically shifts into high gear along the beaches.

When the mullet will begin to run is an age-old question, but they usually start sometime in September, depending on the weather.

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Anglers find action casting into bait fish schools along Treasure Coast beaches

Three of the affected beaches, Redbarn in Youghal, Garretstown near Kinsale and Garryvoe near Castlemartyr, are Blue Flag designated.

The Front Strand and Claycastle in Youghal, Coolmaine near Kilbrittain and Oysterhaven have also been closed.

The closures are a precautionary measure until the quality has been restored.

The levels of bacteria found, which can cause food poisoning, are said to exceed EU permitted guidelines.

The council said the Health Service Executive and the Environmental Protection Agency have been contacted.

It said the beaches are to be re-sampled on Monday as it is felt possible weather related factors have not yet passed.

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Seven Cork beaches close due to high E.coli levels

There will be a reduced number of lifeguards on duty at Fairfield's beaches for the remainder of the season, the Parks and Recreation Department has announced, because some of the staff will be returning to school.

There also will be reduced hours for Penfield Pavilion and the boat houses at Penfield and Jennings beaches.

Lifeguards will be on duty at Jennings and Penfield beaches and Lake Mohegan through Sunday, Aug. 26, but there will be no lifeguards from Monday, Aug. 27, through Friday, Aug. 31. Lifeguards will be on duty at these beaches from Saturday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Sept. 3, for Labor Day weekend, but there will be no lifeguards for the remainder of the season after Labor Day.

Southport, Sasco and South Pine Creek beaches will not be staffed for the rest of the season starting Monday, Aug. 20, and the swimming areas will be reduced to between red flags posted at the shoreline.

Swimming will be "at your own risk" at beaches where no lifeguards are on duty, officials said.

Penfield Pavilion will be open full-time from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with lockers closing at 7:45 p.m., through Sunday, Aug. 26. Hours will then change to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with lockers closing at 5:45 p.m., from Monday, Aug. 27, through Friday, Aug. 31, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., lockers closing at 6:45 p.m., from Saturday, Sept. 1, to Monday, Sept. 3, for Labor Day weekend.

The pavilion will be open on weekends only after Labor Day Weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., lockers closing at 5:45 p.m., through Sunday, Sept. 16.

All lockers must be emptied and keys returned by Sunday, Sept. 16. Any locker with materials left in it will be emptied and the contents put in storage. There is no guarantee of security over the winter.

The boat houses at Penfield and Jennings beaches will operate on a regular schedule through Sunday, Aug. 26, and then will be open from noon to 5 p.m. from Monday, Aug. 27, through Friday, Aug. 31. They will be open on weekends only after that from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Saturday, Sept 1, through Monday, Sept. 3, and Saturdays, Sept. 8 and 15, and Sundays, Aug. 9 and 16.

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Beaches to have reduced staffing, hours for season's end

Fewer Presque Isle State Park beaches will be open for swimming as some of the park's lifeguard staff goes back to school.

The following beaches are scheduled to be open from this Monday through Thursday: Beaches 6, 7 (Waterworks Beach) and 11 from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.; and Beaches 8 (Pettinato Beach) and 10 (Budny Beach) from noon until 7:30 p.m.

The following beaches are scheduled to be open on Aug. 24: Beaches 6, 7 and 11, from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Beachfront concession stands at Beaches 6, 8, 10 and 11 will remain open. For updates and/or beach information, call lifeguard headquarters at 833-0526, or refer to signs at the park entrance for daily updated information.

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Presque Isle State Park releases list of open beaches

Article posted: 8/17/2012 1:50 PM

Two beaches in McHenry County have been closed after tests conducted by the McHenry County Department of Health found elevated bacteria levels.

The two closed beaches are Indian Trails at Woods Creek Lake in Lake in the Hills, and Wonder Woods 4, 5200 Wonder Woods Drive, in Wonder Lake. Also, Veterans Park beach, 332 W. State Road in Island Lake is under advisory status, health department officials said.

The beach water samplings were conducted Wednesday at 37 licensed beaches. These beaches will be re-sampled. To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licensed beaches on the 13 lakes in McHenry County are tested every two weeks for E. coli throughout the summer to determine water quality. Additional and more frequent sampling is done when elevated bacterial levels are found.

All beach water results and locations are readily available at the MCDH webpage http://www.mcdh.info (click Environmental Health, quick links, beach testing results.) Call (815) 334-4585 for more information.

Originally posted here:

Two McHenry County beaches closed

QUINCY, Mass. -

Eight Quincy beaches have been closed to swimming after tests showed higher-than-normal levels of bacteria.

According to the Department of Public Health's website, Quincy's Avalon Beach, Chikatawbot Beach, Heron Beach, Delano Avenue Beach, Broady (Baker) Beach, the beach at the Germantown Fire Station, Orchard Beach and Nickerson Beach were all closed to swimming on Thursday.

The beaches were retested on Thursday and results were expected Friday.

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Bacteria closes 8 South Shore beaches

Welcome to Florida and its beaches, with white sand and warm breezes . . . and clumps of seaweed rotting in the sun.

With the Republican National Convention 10 days out, this is not exactly the first impression we wanted to make. But in recent weeks, beachgoers, fishermen and experts have reported unusually large clusters of seaweed dumped in patches between St. Pete Beach and at least as far north as Clearwater. It's squishy and slimy and doesn't smell good.

Some locals call the seaweed a fact of life. Experts call it sargassum or "gulfweed," a brown algae of a variety normally found in deeper water. Tropical Storm Debby might at least be partially responsible for pushing it inland.

Some cities are cleaning it up. Others are letting nature do the job.

Either way, it won't be washing out with the next tide.

Clearwater Beach has had thick bands pile up in recent weeks, prompting complaints from at least one resident. While city employees rake the beach daily, officials got a special permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to remove larger amounts of seaweed than usual, said city spokeswoman Joelle Castelli.

On Thursday afternoon, northern stretches of the beach still had large amounts of seaweed on them. The most heavily visited portion of the beach around Pier 60 was relatively free of seaweed, however, with several beachgoers professing surprise that anyone had complained.

"I live up here, so I look out on the beach all the time," said Walt Chase, who lives in a residential building that abuts the sand north of Pier 60 on Mandalay Avenue. He said he had noticed no excess seaweed or bad smell.

Neither did Rick Falkenstein, co-owner of the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant on St. Pete Beach.

"The gulf sheds, like a dog," Falkenstein said. "It's nothing new and nothing to be concerned about."

See more here:

Deep-water seaweed drifts ashore to Pinellas beaches

Rockledge and South Beaches/Greater West Melbourne Little League teams in semifinals.

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Rockledge, South Beaches score Little League Series semifinal berths

In the wake of the heavy rain on Wednesday, eight beaches in Quincy and one in Braintree have been closed to swimming because of bacteria contamination.

Avalon, Chickatabot, Heron, Delano (Back), Broady (Baker), Germantown Fire Station, Orchard and Nickerson beaches in Quincy and Smith Beach in Braintree are over the limit for bacteria.

Avalon Beach has 30 times the contamination considered safe. Broady, Germantown and Orchard are more then 18 times over the limit.

The bacteria levels at Smith Beach are twice as high as recommended for swimming.

The water is being retested and results will be available Friday afternoon.

All other beaches on the South Shore are open.

See water quality test results for each community and for Cape Cod, the South Coast and North Shore.

For more on Quincy beaches, call 617-376-1288, or visit tinyurl.com/ledger-quincy-beaches. For more on Wollaston Beach, call 617-626-4972.

Seventy-five salt water beaches on the South Shore are tested for enterococci, intestinal bacteria found in humans and animals. High levels of enterococci indicate the waters may also contain other disease-causing microbes that are present in sewage but are more difficult to detect. Bacterial colonies are filtered from three ounces of water and placed on a gel infused with nutrients and chemicals designed to promote growth. Left in an incubator, the single cells isolated on the filter grow explosively, forming colonies visible to the naked eye.After one day, the colonies are counted and if they exceed 104 colonies, the beach is closed to swimming.

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8 beaches in Quincy, 1 in Braintree closed

The South Beaches Senior Little League team defeated Auckland, New Zealand, in the World Series on Wednesday.

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South Beaches Sr. Little League team cruises past New Zealand

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:02 pm | Updated: 9:55 pm, Wed Aug 15, 2012.

Beaches, Ponte Vedra schools open Monday by Chuck Adams, Staff Writer The Beaches Leader, Inc.

School bells ring Monday for all Duval County students including those who attend Beaches schools. The four Ponte Vedra Beach schools Ponte Vedra, Landrum, Ocean Palms and PVPV/Rawlings also welcome students Monday.

See the complete story in your e-Edition.

Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:02 pm. Updated: 9:55 pm.

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Beaches, Ponte Vedra schools open Monday

GALVESTON - State officials confirmed Monday that a toxic algal bloom known as red tide is responsible for thousands of dead fish that washed ashore on Galveston Island the day before.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists found the algae Karenia brevis, one of several types of toxic algae that cause red tide, in concentrations high enough to kill fish in samples taken at Surfside Beach and Galveston Island, said Winston Denton, a biologist with the agency's marine fisheries division and a member of its "spills and kills" team.

Biologists are continuing to gather information to determine the extent of the red tide and its concentration, but they can't say yet whether further fish kills will occur or how long the algal bloom will last, Denton said.

A red tide last year covered most of the Texas Gulf Coast and Galveston Bay, forcing a closure of the oyster beds to harvesting, Denton said.

The red tide of low-to-moderate concentrations last year arrived in August and lasted until February but caused no fish kills, he said.

The Texas State Health Services Department's seafood safety division halted oyster harvesting in Galveston Bay because of red tide at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Health Department spokesman Chris Van Deusen said. Van Deusen said the economic impact would be relatively light because harvesting by the oyster industry and the public is at a low point this time of year.

Parks and Wildlife said reports of hundreds of dead fish came on Saturday, but on Sunday dead fish littered the beach by the thousands. Dead flounder and stingrays were reported Friday in Kemah and Bacliff, but Denton said more testing remains to determine whether the deaths were caused by red tide or low oxygen levels in the water.

Reports of dead fish came from Quintana Beach in Brazoria County to the mouth of the Colorado River, the department said on its web site.

Most of the dead fish were menhaden, Denton said, which are more susceptible than other species to red tide. The fish are common and swim in large schools, he said.

In Galveston, Parks Board Executive Director Kelly de Schaun said crews worked overnight to clean the beaches most frequented by the public and the western end of the island, which had the largest concentrations of dead fish. A second, smaller wave of dead fish arrived Monday morning and was removed, she said.

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Red tide being blamed for fish kill at Galveston beaches

Hillsborough County issued health advisories Wednesday for beaches at Picnic Island and Cypress Point due to bacteria.

This should be considered a potential risk to the bathing public, the county said.

Samples the county took Monday were above threshold established by the Environmental Protection Agency for enterococci bacteria. The beach will be re-sampled Aug. 20 and when re-sampling indicates water quality is satisfactory, the advisory will be lifted.

Enterococci bacteria are normally in intestinal tracts of humans and animals, and might cause human disease, infections or rashes. The presence of the bacteria indicates fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

Beachgoers can go to the state Department of Health's Internet Beach Water Quality website http://www.floridashealth.com/beachwater to find more information on beaches.

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Bacteria levels close beaches at Picnic Island, Cypress Point