WORK began this week to save shrinking beaches at Aspendale and Mentone with thousands of tonnes of sand being added to the foreshore.

The $680,000 project will see sand from Mentone that had been washed down to Mordialloc trucked back to Mentone, while Aspendale beach will be renourished using sand sourced from a quarry in South Gippsland.

>> Have you tried out the new sand? Tell us what you think below.

Carrum state Liberal MP Donna Bauer said the State Government and Kingston Council were determined not to see a repeat of a controversial renourishment at Half Moon Bay last year, which saw residents protest against the use of sand that was darker and different in consistency to the natural sand on the Black Rock beach.

"The sand being brought in for Aspendale is of a very high quality and highly compatible in terms of colour and feel with what's already there," she said.

Sandringham state Liberal MP Murray Thompson said the renourishment would enable the beaches to be used all year round.

Kingston Mayor Cr John Ronke said sand renourishment was important for the future of the coast.

"We're very lucky in Kingston to have 13km of foreshore to enjoy all year round, especially in summer when our beaches attract thousands of visitors," he said.

"However, in Kingston there is an overall loss of sand to the south as a result of wave direction, which is why these works are necessary."

The works on both beaches began on Monday and will take up to six weeks to complete.

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TELL US: Quality sand nourishes Aspendale and Mentone beaches

Study shows public not well warned when pollution is high

No parking spots were available around noon as people were in the water and sand at York's Long Sands Beach on a beautiful Tuesday in Maine.Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com

PORTLAND, Maine Several beaches in York as well as Crescent Beach in Kittery were in the Top 20 of state beaches that most frequently failed water quality tests in 2011. Short Sands Beach and Cape Neddick Beach were in the Top 10.

Environment Maine released new beach water safety data Tuesday and called on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to better inform the public when pollution levels exceed the state's health limits.

"Clean beaches are not only part of summertime fun, but they are also critical to our health, as well as to Maine's tourism and fishing economies," said Emily Figdor, director of Environment Maine, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.

"The public has a right to know when the water is safe and clean, and when it's not," Figdor said at a news conference held Tuesday at East End Beach.

"That's why I was astounded to hear the false and misleading statements made by the Department of Environmental Protection last week."

The Maine DEP issued a prepared statement Friday stating definitively that beach managers will post an advisory or a closure notice when bacteria levels exceed established health limits. The announcement also stated that more than two-thirds of Maine beaches had no water quality issues in 2011.

Figdor took issue with the guarantee that an advisory would be issued and the resulting conclusion about safety.

Environment Maine released Tuesday state data from the Natural Resources Defense Council's 22nd annual beach water report, "Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches."

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Several southern Maine beaches fail water quality tests

'''UPDATE 11.30am:''' Two popular city beaches closed after an early morning shark warning have been re-opened.

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Shark warning for Perth beaches

Fourth of July revelers heading to the beach this week might want to check out a leading environmental groups report that found water quality at the nations vacation beaches last year was the third poorest in more than two decades. Louisianas beaches were rated the nations most contaminated, with 29 percent of water samples showing elevated bacteria levels, more than three times the national average of 8 percent, according to the annual study by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The states ranking was dragged down by five beaches in Cameron Parish listed among the 15 worst repeat offenders for persistent contamination problems from stormwater runoff and sewage pollution, the report said.

High bacteria levels were found in 44 percent of water samples collected at the five Cameron Parish beaches. In Grand Isle, the public and state park beaches fared much better, with elevated bacteria counts found in 9 percent of nearly 250 samples collected at seven locations.

Testing results at some favorite beach getaways for New Orleans area residents along the Gulf Coast showed an 8 percent contamination rate in Bay St. Louis and no bad samples at Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores and Pensacola. In Gulf Shores, the public and state park beaches were five-star beaches across the country by the report.

The study was based on beach water testing at 3,000 locations for bacteria found in human or animal waste.

The number of days beaches were closed or were subject to water-quality advisories was the third highest since the environmental group began issuing annual reports 22 years ago. The second highest total of beach closures and warnings occurred in 2010, the report said. That was the year of the BP oil spill.

The report urges the federal Environmental Protection Agency to impose stricter water quality standards this fall when it revises criteria that have been in place since 1986.

If people were swimming in water that meets their proposed standards, approximately 1 in 28 risk getting sick, said Jon Devine, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. We think that is too much of a risk. EPA needs to go back and come up with a stronger standard that protects more people when they go to the beach and consider other health effects.

Devine said the most common ailments are gastrointestinal illnesses, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

The 10-page report, titled Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, and a searchable database of testing results can be viewed at http://www.nrdc.org/beaches.

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Bacteria levels make some Louisiana beaches dicey, environmental group warns

Authorities have re-opened two Perth beaches which had been shut following the detection of a five metre shark this morning.

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Shark detected off Perth beaches heading south

Published: Monday, July 2, 2012 at 11:16 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, July 2, 2012 at 11:16 a.m.

A new report from the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council ranked Louisiana last out of 30 states for its beach water quality.

Samples taken at Louisiana beaches in 2011 found levels of bacteria considered unsafe for swimming 29 percent of the time, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council report. That's the highest in the country.

Clean beaches are vital to our local, regional and national coastal economies, said Steve Fleischli, acting director of the council. If we want to keep our oceans and tourism industries thriving and healthy, we need our local and federal leaders to step up and adopt smart policies that protect our water, our health and our beach businesses.

Beach water pollution can cause a range of illnesses in swimmers including stomach flu, skin rashes, pink eye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems. For senior citizens, small children and people with weak immune systems, these infections can be fatal.

Five Louisiana beaches were listed as repeat offenders for having persistent bacterial contamination problems. Those beaches were all in Cameron Parish, including Constance Beach, Gulf Breeze, Little Florida, Long Beach and Rutherford Beach.

Beaches were ranked with one to five stars depending on their water quality, the frequency of water quality monitoring and public notification when problems came up.

No beaches in Louisiana achieved the best five-star ranking, but beaches at South Padre Island in Texas and Gulf Shores, Ala., did.

The report looked at 26 testing locations in Louisiana, including Fourchon Beach and Grand Isle. Elmer's Island was not tested for bacteria in 2011 because it had only recently opened to the public. Testing will begin on Elmer's Island this year.

Fourchon Beach had a clean slate, with no water samples testing positive for unsafe levels of bacteria. Fourchon, a private beach, is closed to the public because of the BP oil spill. Of the seven locations tested on Grand Isle, waters in the state park tested the worst, exceeding safe bacteria levels 18 percent of the time.

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La.'s beaches worst for water quality

AUGUSTA, MaineState officials say the water quality at Maine's 61 public access beaches, comprising more than 30 miles of the state's coastline, is the best it's been since 2008.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says the good news for beachgoers follows a 2011 season in which more than two-thirds of Maine's 61 coastal public-access beaches had no water quality issues that led to an advisory or closure. Beaches were open and safe for swimming 98.2 percent of the time last year.

Beaches are monitored weekly by volunteers, municipal staff and state park employees from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Water samples are analyzed for bacteria that suggest the presence of fecal contamination from humans and animals, including dogs and waterfowl.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Maine's beaches called cleanest since 2008

MADISON, CT (WFSB) -

State parks and beaches are expected to reach maximum capacity over the weekend, as temperatures are forecasted to reach 90 degrees and higher.

With the Independence Day holiday next week, many travelers are already heading to beaches like Hammonnasset State Park in Madison.

"We do this every year," said David Rodriguez of East Hartford. "It's a family tradition."

This year, however, more are flocking toConnecticut beaches as temperatures are hitting record numbers. Connecticut has already had a heat wave in June, and a second one may be in progress.

"It's hot, but it's summertime, so it kind of comes with the territory," said Chris Randall, of New Haven, who was first in line at Hammonnasset State Park, early Saturday morning. "Anything we can do for a little relief is good."

Officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said theyare expectinghigh turnout at beaches along the Connecticut coast and at parks around the state. If this happens, officials said they would have to start turning people away.

D.E.E.P. officials also expressed concern about high ozone levels, especially in coastal areas of Connecticut. People with asthma or other respiratory issues are being urged to avoid these areas until the risk isn't so high.

In addition to health concerns relating to the high ozone levels, environmental officials are continuing to be cautious of high bacteria levels in the waters at state beaches in Connecticut. Several beaches were closed earlier in the week, as tests deemed the water unsafe for swimmers.

Beachesat Rocky Neck in Niantic, Sherwood Island's East End in Westport, as well as Silver Sands in Milford and Kettletown in Southbury were closed for several days, before environmental tests returned on Thursday proved that water at theparkswas safe. The swimming area at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth was also closed because of bacteria, but didn't open again until Friday.

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State beaches expected to reach maximum capacity this weekend

12:56 PM

By Eric Russell erussell@pressherald.com Staff Writer

Public beaches along Maines coastline likely will be flooded with visitors this weekend as temperatures are expected to creep into the 90s.

click image to enlarge

More than two-thirds of the 61 beaches monitored by the DEP had no water quality issues in 2011, an improvement from 2010, when almost half of all beaches had at least one advisory.

John Patriquin / Staff Photographer

The ocean water at those 61 beaches, which collectively stretch more than 30 miles, will be the cleanest and safest it has been in four years, according to data released by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The Maine Healthy Beaches program monitors recreational water quality as a way to protect public health. Its funded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and receives staff support from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, water samples are analyzed every week for the enterococcus bacteria, which indicates the presence of fecal contamination from humans and animals. If bacteria levels exceed limitations sets by the EPA, beach managers will post an advisory. If levels are extremely high, beaches have to be closed.

Last year, the program found that beach advisory days had declined by nearly 50 percent from the previous summer. More than two-thirds of the 61 beaches had no water quality issues in 2011, an improvement from 2010, when almost half of all beaches had at least one advisory.

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DEP says Maine beaches cleanest in years

Maui is called The Valley Island, but in most travelers minds, its beaches are synonymous with the Hawaiian island. In the annual Best Beach contest held since 1991, Maui has won four times five, if you stretch the definition of Maui. Maui County includes the islands of Molokai and Lanai, and a beach on Lanai won in 1997.

And Maui isnt done. A remote beach in an area once favored by Oprah Winfrey made this years Top 10 and is likely to win the top spot eventually.

Its not all good news for Maui. A U.S. Geological Survey report says Maui has the highest rate of beach erosion in the state. Data from 1899 to 2007 show Maui beaches averaged 6.7 inches of sand lost each year. The worst impact is on the north shore near Paia. Erosion rates are somewhat higher in the Kaanapali area than in Kihei or Wailea.

As to the rankings, Ive criticized the methodology of the contest put out each spring by Dr. Beach, Stephen Leatherman, a Florida oceanography professor. He has a big East Coast bias, but we cant argue with his favorites in Maui. Here are the big ones, along with the next champion in waiting. The year the beach won the contest is in parentheses.

D.T. Fleming Beach Park, Maui (2006): Ive taken my share of knocks at this great bodysurfing beach on the sometimes turbulent northwest shore of Maui. When youre feeling a bit winded from battling the waves, there are shade trees along parts of the mile-long strand. When you are ready to call it a day, head uphill to the bar at the Ritz-Carlton for some sundowner drinks and pupus.

Kaanapali, Maui (2003): The busiest beach on this list, its fronted by a string of hotels from the Sheraton on the north to the Hyatt on the south and the Whalers Village shopping mall in the middle. With all the fancy resort swimming pools, guests sometimes forget that a world-class beach is just on the other side of the walkway. Theres usually gentle surf and knockout views toward Lanai. My favorite spot is Black Rock at the north end of the beach, with its excellent snorkeling and the crazies jumping off the rock.

Wailea Beach, Maui (1999): Wider, hotter and less crowded than Kaanapali to the north, Wailea is also fronted by luxury hotels and rocks in portions, but wide sands in other areas. The drop-off is gradual here, making it good for kids if the waves arent up. The view here is also outstanding, with views toward the tiny Molokini crater dive spot and the island of Kahoolawe, once used for Navy target practice.

Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui (1991): The first best-beach on Leathermans list is still one of the islands prettiest, though in the intervening decades, development has taken over the slope just above the beach, replacing palm trees and greenery with hotel and condo units. Though it has lost some of its magic, the beach itself is still a beautiful crescent of blond-colored sand fronting clear aquamarine waters.

Hulopoe, Lanai (1997): Lanai is officially part of Maui County, governed from the Maui town of Wailuku. If you want to get political, it could be included in Mauis best-beach count. Theres actually a geological basis for inclusion with the other beaches. Lanai and Molokai were once part of Maui Nui, the massive, ancient volcanic island that collapsed into the sea millions of years ago. Hulopoe is the best beach in the Hawaiian islands that barely anyone gets to. Its next to the Four Seasons Manele Bay on the former pineapple plantation island. There are trees for shade and picnic tables for get-togethers, and a nice mix of tourists and locals.

Hamoa Beach (No. 5 in 2012): Travelers really, really have to want to visit this beach. Its just beyond the Travaasa Resort at the end of the twisting, 52-mile Hana Highway from Kahului. The beach is framed by coconut palm trees that give shade on hot days. The beach is actually the side of an old volcanic crater. The area has been a favored getaway for celebrities for nearly a century. Aviator Charles Lindbergh is buried in a churchyard nearby, writer Ernest Hemingway called it one of the most beautiful beaches hed seen, ex-Beatle George Harrison lived not far away, and TV host-magnate Oprah Winfrey owns property on this side of the island, although her main residence is now upcountry near Kula. If all goes according to the trend, Hamoa should reach the No. 1 designation later this decade.

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Guide to the best beaches in Maui

28-Jun-12, 6:07 AM | Agence France-Presse

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

WASHINGTON - US beaches can be dirty places, making about 3.5 million people sick each year from sewage in the water, said an annual study Wednesday that rates American beaches by how dirty they are.

The Natural Resources Defense Council report included 3,000 beaches nationwide and listed 15 "repeat offenders" that have turned up again and again in the pollution rankings.

Those included four beaches in Louisiana, Avalon and Doheny State Beaches in southern California, and select waterfront beaches in Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin.

Overall, the total number of beach closures and water quality advisories nationwide last year was the third highest in 22 years of monitoring, said the study.

"America's beaches are plagued by a sobering legacy of water pollution, including bacteria-laden human and animal waste," said NRDC Water Program Director Steve Fleischli.

"So when people dive into the ocean, it can make them sick with a range of waterborne illnesses including stomach flu, skin rashes, pink eye, ear nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems."

Louisiana tallied the highest number of dirty samples (29 percent) that exceeded national standards for designated beach areas in 2011.

The southern state famed for its seafood and music and whose shoreline was among those sullied by the BP oil spill in 2010 ranked last out of 30 states measured for beachwater quality.

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American beaches laden with sewage, bacteria: study

The wicked drought that plagued Texas last year had an upside: cleaner beaches.

With the state in the grips of its driest year on record, less polluted runoff from Houston and other cities poured into coastal waters.

As a result, the number of times Texas beaches were closed or had posted advisories because of high bacteria levels in 2011 dropped by nearly half from the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which has prepared the report for 22 years, said Texas' cleaner waters were partly because of the record dry spell. Overall, the state ranked eighth for water quality among the 30 in the survey.

"It is the silver lining of the drought," said Ellis Pickett, a longtime surfer and advocate for the Texas coast.

A high bacteria count in the water at beaches increases the risk of ear infections, skin rashes and stomach illnesses for swimmers.

Texas had one its worst years for water quality in 2010, with 704 instances in which officials closed beaches and posted advisories, largely because of flooding along the Rio Grande.

The number of closings and advisories dropped to 384 last year as Texas dried out. The statewide average rainfall totaled just 14.88 inches for 2011, well below the average of 27.92 inches per year over the last century, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

"Heavy rainfall will exacerbate the problem," said Steve Fleischli, the NRDC's water program director.

The difference from year to year was most apparent at South Padre Island, where flooding in 2009 increased bacteria levels for several days at a time. In the latest report, the popular South Texas beach was one of only 12 nationwide to receive the NRDC's highest rating of five stars.

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Texas beaches aided by drought

Enlarge Reed Saxon/AP

San Juan Creek meets the Pacific Ocean at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, Calif. The poor water quality off Doheny State Beach put in a list of worst beaches in the U.S.

San Juan Creek meets the Pacific Ocean at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, Calif. The poor water quality off Doheny State Beach put in a list of worst beaches in the U.S.

If you thought sharks were the scariest threat at the beach, you might consider the lowly bacteria lurking in shore waters instead.

For the 22nd year in a row, the Natural Resources Defense Council has issued a report on the nation's filthiest and cleanest beaches. And the group found that the number of days beaches were closed or under health advisories last year hit 23,481. That total is the third-highest in the report's history, only one notch better than last year's results.

Bacteria in the water are the main safety issue. The group's beach ratings factor in various potential health hazards, including pollution levels and the quality of beach monitoring.

In findings that echo rankings released in the last few years, Avalon and Doheny beaches in California and several beaches in Louisiana were among the worst again.

Newport and Bolsa Chica beaches in California, Hampton Beach in New Hampshire and Gulf Shores Public Beach in Alabama were lauded for keeping dangerous bacteria levels low and aggressively monitoring water quality. In all, 12 beaches got 5-star ratings from NRDC.

Despite the group's reports, there's been little improvement in water quality. "The rate at which beach samples are worse than the recreational national standards is static," NRDC's Jon Devine said in a briefing about the findings. "Unfortunately, what we think that indicates is a real need for policy shifts to move those numbers."

Harmful water bacteria often come from animal or human waste. The germs can cause diarrhea, skin rashes, stomach flu and respiratory problems. The risks are higher for young children, according to the report, who generally spend more time swimming and dunk their heads underwater more often.

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A Guide To The Cleanest And Filthiest U.S. Beaches

Florida beaches ranked fifth out of 30 states surveyed for beach water quality, according a new report by the National Resources Defense Council.

The study, which compiles beach water monitoring data from public health officials from across the country, ranked 30 states based on the frequency of water monitoring and the level of bacterial and environmental pollutants in beach water.

Based on national beach water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the report ranked Delaware with the some of the nation's cleanest beaches and Louisiana with some of the dirtiest. The report also individually ranks 12 of the cleanest beaches and 16 of the dirtiest.

While no Florida beaches rank among the cleanest beaches, none ranked amongst the dirtiest. Overall, the state's beaches received high marks for frequency of monitoring and reporting and for clean water quality.

However, the report highlighted concerns over the elimination of Florida state's beach monitoring program, a trend occurring across the country as state budgets shrink.

"It is a concern that some states are cutting back on testing," said Jon Devine, the environmental advocacy groups senior water attorney. "Congress has chronically underfunded the beach act in previous years and that cuts support for beach monitoring and notification."

The Natural Resources Defense Council issues the report every year just before the July 4 holiday to inform beachgoers about the water quality at beaches.

With nearly 10 trillion gallons of untreated waste water spilling into the nations beaches, the health risks associated with swimming in contaminated water are real and include minor sickness like stomach flu, diarrhea, skin rash, and ear infections to more serious problems which involve neurological disorders.

Steven Fleischli, the acting director of the water program at the council, urged beachgoers to use the study as guide for which beaches are safe to swim in this summer. He also asked that the public do its part in keeping beaches clean.

"In their own lives the public can be stewards of the beach," Fleischli said.

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Florida beaches rank high in water quality, escape nation’s dirtiest list

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How clean are S. Fla. beaches? National environmental group issues ratings

Beaches in South Florida scored high for cleanliness compared to their counterparts around the United States, according to the latest annual scorecard by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report released Wednesday, which may surprise those who have picked their way past cigarette butts, fast-food wrappers and other debris on South Florida beaches, focused on bacteria counts from water sampled by state and local governments around the United States.

Of 46 testing sites in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, 18 had perfect scores. Of the rest, the vast majority failed to meet health standards 2 to 4 percent of the time, a much better record than the national average.

You can look up your beach by address, zip code or state here.

Nationwide, water samples exceeded national bacteria standards 8 percent of the time. But the vast majority of South Florida beaches scored well below that number, with many racking up no high bacteria counts at all. Of the 19 worst offenders among the nations beaches, in which more than 25 percent of water samples exceeded national bacteria standards, none were located in Florida. California and Louisiana dominated that list.

The main source of high bacteria counts, which indicate the present of human or animal waste, is stormwater runoff, although sewage breaks have also caused bacteria to spike. Swimming in contaminated water can put you at risk of gastrointestinal illnesses.

The worst beaches in Palm Beach County were Phil Foster Park, which exceeded safe bacteria levels in 19 percent of water samples, and Dubois Park, which exceeded them in 7 percent of samples. But several beaches had no high bacteria counts, despite regular tests.

Broward didnt have any major offenders, but one reason for this may be that the county's water isn't tested as frequently. Broward's water was tested twice a month, while inMiami-Dade Countythe water is tested once a week and in Palm Beach County it is tested twice a week.

The worst beaches in Broward, with high bacteria counts in 4 percent of tests, were at Commercial Boulevard, Custer Street in Hollywood, Minnesota Street in Hollywood and Northeast 16 Street in Pompano Beach. Several beaches never had high bacteria counts, including Bahia Mar, Deerfield Beach, John U. Lloyd Beach State Park and Oakland Park Boulevard.

Miami-Dade had a few beaches with high counts, including, not surprisingly Hobie Beach (aka Dog Beach), with high bacteria counts in 10 percent of water samples, Samson Park in Sunny Isles Beach, 7 percent and Crandon Park-South, 7 percent. Among the cleanest beaches were Cape Florida Park, Golden Beach, Matheson Hammock and 93rd Street in Surfside.

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How clean are South Florida beaches? National environmental group issues ratings

WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- If you're headed to the seashore this summer, the last thing you want to hear is that you and your family could bring home a nasty disease after taking a dip in the ocean.

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Annual Beaches Report Finds Water Quality Lacking Along U.S. Shores

By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent Two Scituate beaches have been closed after testing showed abnormally high counts of bacteria in...

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Two Scituate beaches closed due to high bacteria counts

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How clean are South Florida's beaches?

Jump in, the water's fine

Daytona Beach got four out of five stars in a national water quality report on 200 popular vacation beaches. It scored high marks for:

- Less than 5 percent of water samples had bacteria levels higher than national standards in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

- Local officials post advisories without re-sampling.

- Closings/advisories are posted online and at the beach.

The city's beach only got four stars because water quality is monitored less frequently than once a week, a result of budget cuts in the Health Department.

The report also showed that sites in Flagler County, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach never had bacteria levels higher than state standards in 2011.

SOURCE: National Resources Defense Council

DAYTONA BEACH -- Beaches in Volusia and Flagler counties received high marks again this week from a national environmental group that rates water quality at vacation beaches around the country.

Daytona Beach -- one of 200 popular U.S. beaches highlighted in the survey -- was given four out of five stars in the report released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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Volusia, Flagler beaches get high marks for water quality