The lack of rain is making it harder for some Indiana residents to cool off this summer, with four beaches at state parks closed indefinitely because of low water levels.
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Category Archives: Beaches
Wrack washes ashore on Tybee Island, HHI beaches
TYBEE ISLAND, GA (WTOC) -
A supermoon and a tropical storm has caused a lot of natural debris to wash up on some area beaches.
On Tybee Island, dried marks grasses, known as wrack, and sargrassum seaweed is washing ashore. Officials say that debris is good for the beaches by is making some tourists unhappy.
Tybee officials spent Friday scrapping beaches on the northern end of the island after the Department of Natural Resources told Tybee that they could resume scrapping. They ordered them to stop earlier because of complaints.
Wrack is also washing up on the lowcountry beaches. State officials say it helps stop erosion, especially this time of the year with all of the storms.
Seaweed and wrack can be removed as long as it is below the high tide line.
Copyright 2012WTOC. All rights reserved.
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Tsunami debris turning B.C. beaches into 'landfills'
A surge of debris washing up on the shores of B.C. coastal islands and believed to be from the 2011 Japanese tsunami is prompting calls to launch what would be the biggest beach cleanup Canada has ever seen.
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Hot weather draws crowds to beaches
Many arrived at the state's beaches early to find a place to park and stake out their spot on the beach. They also wanted to soak up some sun before conditions became oppressive with temperatures soaring into the 90s and muggy air creating a heat index of up to 100.
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Cheap Fun: Seattle beaches and wading pools
Should you notice David Hasselhoff kicking up sand in slow-motion this weekend possibly sporting a parka over skintight red trunks try not to panic. Starting Saturday, lifeguards all around Seattle will take to their posts as beach season officially opens along with Seattle Parks wading pools (cue the disclaimer) weather permitting.
Lifeguards will be posted noon-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Aug. 26 at East Green Lake, Magnuson, Madrona and Pritchard Beach parks and through Sept. 3 at Matthews, Madison, Mount Baker, Seward and West Green Lake beaches.
As for wading pools, pick a warm day, any day, and head for Green Lake, Lincoln, Magnuson, Van Asselt or Volunteer park, or three days a week at 10 other locations. (For details, check the hotline, updated daily, at 206-684-7796.)
More information: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/beaches.asp and http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Aquatics/wadingpools.htm.
Sandy Dunham, Seattle Times features staff
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NE beaches fill as people try to stay cool
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- Nevermind heading to the beach, everybody is already there. Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester was packed before noon with die-hards like Michelle Pike, who knows the drill.
I worked last night. Got all my beach stuff prepared. Packed it all up. Got up at 6:30 this morning. Got the car ready. Left at 8:30. Off we came," said Michelle Pike. "I didn't think it would be any hotter here than it is at home. We do not have central air so I thought this was a good choice."
Traffic was backed up for a good two miles before 10:00 this morning.
We are regulars and it always fills up. But this is the weekday," a woman said.
The parking lot wasclosed to the public before 10:30. It was good for the city but that is about it.
Lifeguards were also busy dealing with lost children and keeping their eyes on swimmers.
"They are busy. I've seen them running up and down. But they all have their walkie talkies. They're all in communication," said Carole McNair.
There is only so much room. There is about a thousand spaces. You put about 400-450 non-residents. The rest are for saved for residents. Its a crap shoot, said Mark Habeland, who works for the city of Gloucester collecting money at the entrance to the beach.
But families familiar with this always have a plan b for staying cool.
Were going to try Wingaersheek we figured, or were gonna go to the hotel and rent a room for the day. Were with the car in front of us to try to rent a room for the day. We will work it out somehow, a woman said.
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Beaches open for swimming
By STACY LANGLEY Tribune Staff Writer
HURON COUNTY With an exceptionally warm kick-off to the summer season underway, officials from the Huron County Health Department report all local beaches are open and within safe limits for swimming.
The results issued for all 13 area beaches tested have revealed they are well below the 300 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water.
There has only been one beach closure since testing started five weeks ago. That closure was at Port Crescent State Park Day-Use during the third week of testing.
The summer beach testing program is funding by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
This weeks test results are:
Bird Creek County Park 2.2894
Caseville County Park 7.5863
Harbor Beach City Park 3.4028
Jenks County Park 5.6367
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Beaches extend hours to help beat the heat
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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Onondaga County is trying to help people beat the heat by extending beach hours at Jamesville Beach and Oneida Shores. The two locations will be open until 8 p.m. today and tomorrow. That's two hours longer than normal.
Regular weekend hours for Jamesville Beach and Oneida Shores are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the rest of the week.
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Beaches packed with people looking to beat the heat
OCEAN CITY--It's the first official day of summer and people were already looking to beat the heat during the first heat wave of the season. Large crowds headed to the beach in Ocean City looking for some much needed relief.
They came armed with chairs and umbrellas, ready to face the day while attempting to beat the heat. Id rather be here than home, said Dawn Benyola from Williamstown.
Terrible at home, said Stanley Hoff about the temperatures he left behind in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.
Looking to escape the heat, they came in droves and showed up early to claim their piece of sand. We got here at 10 and there was hardly anybody here, said Benyola, looking around, then all of a sudden, everybody started coming in. It got crowded real fast, but I can't blame 'em.
Many found the relief they were looking for in and around the ocean. The water's great, 74 degrees, said Hoff, fresh out of the water, body surfings great.
Lifeguards kept a watchful eye over the dozens of swimmers who frolicked in the refreshing surf, but those on the beach will tell you just being by the water provided a nice break from the heat. It's definitely cooler cause of the breeze, said Ashlyn Hewitt, visiting from North Carolina.
But even with the nice sea breeze, everyone was being sure to stay hydrated during this oppressive heat, because hey- they've got a lot planned for this sunny beach day. We're going in the water, yeah - playing, playing in the sand, finding seashells, said Lizzie Wolf and her cousin Samantha Hewitt, excited for a day at the beach.
I might just go in the water, play, make sandcastles, said Danielle Benyola excited to spend the day by the shore
While Wednesday was hot. Thursday should be even hotter- but the good news is the heat wave should end late Friday, when we're expected to see a drop in both the heat and humidity, something many are already anxiously anticipating.
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Beaches Are Open, Ice Cream Is Cold
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The beaches are open on this hot day.
Today is the kind of day to stay inside, turn on the A/C and stay cool, but some people are bound to head to a local beach and all of the state swimming areas are open, except for Pachaug State Forest, at Voluntown.
Green Falls Pond, at the park in Voluntown, was closed as of June 13 for dam work. The swimming area will reopen when water levels rise back to normal levels, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Its also a great day to grab an ice cream and there are many places in the state to enjoy a cone or a bowl.
View Home Grown Connecticut Ice Cream in a larger map
Cooling centers are also open in several communities.
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E. coli closes Chippewa County beaches
Readmore: Local, Health, Water Issue, Outdoors, News, E. Coli, E. Coli Outbreak, Bacteria Outbreak, Chippewa County, Chippewa County Beaches, E Coli at Beaches, Beaches Closed, Chippwewa County Beaches Closed, Northern Michigan Beaches Closed, No Body Contact Advisory
CHIPPEWA COUNTY -- Several beaches inChippewaCountyhave been closed due to elevated levels of E. coli.
The beaches that are closed include Four Mile beach in Soo Township, Sherman Park in Sault, Brimley State Park in Superior Township and Sugar Island Township Park in Sugar Island Township.
There are also advisories listed for areas within the North Shore of Sugar Island and areas within the Waiska Bay and Back Bay in Superior and Bay Townships.
In addition to the beach closures, the Chippewa County Health Department has also posted a "No Body Contact Advisory" for areas within the Waiska Bay and Back Bay. People in these areas should avoid body contact with surface waters.
For up to date information, visit theChippewa County health department's website.
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Open beaches an issue in Texas Supreme Court race
GALVESTON - The Texas Supreme Court's decision weakening the state Open Beaches Act has become a key issue in the race for one of the two contested Supreme Court seats in the Nov. 6 election.
San Antonio attorney Michele Petty stood in front of a battered beach home in Surfside last weekend to criticize her opponent, Justice Nathan Hecht, for siding with the majority in Severance v. Patterson, the case that led to the controversial decision.
"Texans have shown their love for their beach and they want access to the beach, and the Texas Supreme Court has ignored that," said Petty, who would be the only Democrat on the court if she defeated Hecht. Hecht did not respond to a request for comment.
The Open Beaches Act historically has been interpreted to allow the public beach to move landward with erosion, a concept known as a "rolling easement." The court said the rolling easement does not apply if the erosion is sudden, as in the case of a storm. Although the decision applied only to West Galveston Island, it potentially could affect other areas of the coast.
"We now have private beaches in Texas where the public can be excluded," Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said after court issued its 5-3 decision in April. The ninth justice, Chief Judge Wallace Jefferson, did not participate.
Patterson, a Republican, would not go as far as supporting Petty, but said, "It's an issue and the voters need to be aware of it."
Unpopular decision
The decision was widely opposed by state officials, including state Attorney General Greg Abbott, who said it was based on "nothing."
Petty is hoping to tap in to popular support for the Open Beaches Act. An overwhelming majority voted to make the act part of the Texas Constitution in 2010.
Hecht and Judge Don Willett are the only two judges up for re-election who sided with the majority in the Severance case. Willett is unopposed. Incumbent Judge David Medina, who dissented, is in a Republican primary runoff election July 31 with John Devine, a former district judge from Harris County.
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Secret seaside: Beaches of Falsterbo, Sweden
At the end of a hard days sunbathing, you can refresh yourself with a cocktail at Kaptensgatan or an aperitif at Da Aldo, an ice-cream parlour and caf.
Aldo himself will tell you how he arrived in Sweden in 1996 with a single suitcase containing his precious ice-cream-making equipment. Its not just his ice creams for which he is famed either theres his coffee too as four years later he was named the countrys best barista.
More recently he moved his gelateria to the coast where the clientele could appreciate what I wanted to do. You dont have to be Wallander to work out that he means people who can pay top whack, but what else would you expect from the place they call the Swedish Riviera?
If you find Falsterbo and neighbouring Skanr too sedate, then nearby Fotevikens is just the antidote. A convincing reconstruction of a 12th-century Viking settlement, this living museum comes with a large cast of fishermen, blacksmiths, weavers and warriors.
Another of the areas gems is amber. Large pieces regularly wash up around the peninsula, many of which have found their way into the small and fascinating amber museum at Kmpinge. The staff will also give you tips on the best places to go fossicking. I wasnt successful on my hunt, but never mind, there are few stretches of coast in northern Europe where a beachcombing expedition can make you feel like Robinson Crusoe.
What to avoid
Dont get stressed if theres a traffic jam on the way into town it will be because the bridge over the canal at Ljunghusen is up. It gives you time to admire the outdoor gallery of bronzes along the Hllviken waterfront.
Swedes tend to eat early, so the lunch buffet may be looking a little thin if you turn up at 2pm. Its also a good idea to book restaurants well in advance.
Confusion over the right name for this part of the world: the region is Skne (pronounced Scoh-nah), also translated in English as Scania, like the trucks. Sdersltt is the south-western corner of the province, and often appears on tourist brochures.
GETTING THERE
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DCR announces early lifeguarding at DCR beaches
BOSTON -- Tuesday, June 19 --In anticipation of this weeks high temperatures , Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Ed Lambert announced early lifeguard services at various DCR beaches and wading pools three days early beginning this Wednesday, June 20.
Lifeguard coverage will be available at these beaches on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday:
Boston:
Carson Beach in South Boston
Castle Island Beach in South Boston
Pleasure Bay Beach in South Boston
Artesani Wading Pool in Brighton
Ryan Wading Pool in Mattapan
North:
Nahant Beach Reservation (will have limited guarded areas)
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Ten naturally different beaches around the world
Looking for something a little unconventional to see this summer? Beaches don't always have to be white sand and still seas -- here, a look at ten unique alternatives.
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Rip Currents Claim Lives in Fla.
An outbreak of rip currents at beaches in Florida has claimed several lives and endangered dozens more in recent days, prompting the National Weather Service to extend its public warnings to beachgoers.
Over this past weekend, two people drowned and more than 70 had to be rescued from rip currents in a single Florida county on the Atlantic coast, officials there told ABC News.
A 14-year-old boy went missing Sunday after getting caught in a rip current while swimming with friends at New Smyrna Beach, Fla. His body was found on shore Monday morning. Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Tammy Marris told ABC News that the teens were swimming at an unguarded beach, over 300 yards away from the nearest lifeguard.
The same day the boy went missing, a 66-year-old man died after getting caught in a rip current just off another beach in Volusia. He was pulled in by lifeguards but fell unconscious during the rescue process and did not recover, Marris said. Authorities have not released the identities of either victim.
The deaths follow another pair of fatal incidents that took place on Florida's opposite coast along the Gulf of Mexico the previous weekend.
There, 42-year-old Sonia Westmoreland died June 9 after she was caught in a rip current while trying to rescue her daughter and her daughter's two friends. The girls were saved by their father but Westmoreland was "blue around the mouth and non-responsive" when officers arrived, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. She died several days later.
Also on June 9, a 23-year-old Mississippi man drowned while swimming at an unguarded beach in Pensacola, Fla., according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Getty Images/Perspectives
Though the weekend is over, the threat from rip currents is not, according to the National Weather Service, which said there is a high rip current risk until 8 p.m. tonight in Volusia County. Other Atlantic beaches including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach also faced a high risk until Monday afternoon.
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NOAA surveys Alaska beaches for tsunami debris
JUNEAU, Alaska
Government scientists are in the midst of a 10-day trip, surveying southeast Alaska beaches for debris from last year's deadly tsunami in Japan.
While there have been several high-profile instances of debris from the tsunami reaching U.S. shores, groups that routinely clean ocean trash from Alaska beaches have reported a difference in the volume and type of debris they're seeing this year, leading them to believe more debris from the disaster has arrived.
A five-member team for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is due back in Juneau on Sunday. NOAA's Jeep Rice said the hope is for the cruise to average four to six sites a day, with the team split into two crews. However, he said weather will be a factor, with many of the sites opening directly to the ocean and surf expected to limit activity some days. He said some sites also will be very difficult to walk along.
Some of those sites will be less than a kilometer, he said.
NOAA, in a news release, said all human-related marine debris will be counted and cataloged. The team plans to confer with marine debris experts on the West Coast about its findings, NOAA spokeswoman Julie Speegle said.
Surveys of coastline farther north and west are planned for later this summer in Alaska. Rice said NOAA plans to pay particular attention to Kayak Island, located in the Gulf of Alaska, which he said was completely cleared of debris last summer, and any other sites that NOAA can confirm had been recently cleaned.
NOAA said tsunami debris surveys will be conducted periodically during the next couple years.
Rice characterized the current trip as a preliminary assessment to get a sense of what's arriving. Rice said the trip will help inform future cleanup efforts.
The team includes a NOAA contractor and University of Alaska student.
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Beaches open after syringes wash up
LONG BEACH ISLAND All beaches along Long Beach Island were open to swimming on Sunday, a day after most were closed because medical waste and other debris washed up on shore.
State Department of Environmental Protection officials say the beaches were closed early Saturday afternoon after roughly 50 syringes were found. They were among various debris that also included large amounts of eelgrass, wood and plastic.
The DEP says the wash-ups occurred as the result of discharges from stormwater control systems. Heavy rain last week coupled with extreme high tides caused the systems to overflow, and officials say syringes are sometimes found in these discharges.
No injuries were reported.
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Long Beach Island Re-Opens All Beaches To The Public
(Credit: Lauren Sullivan)
LONG BEACH ISLAND, N.J. (AP) All beaches on Long Beach Island were open to swimming on Sunday, a day after many were closed after medical waste and other debris washed up on shore.
Health officials say about nine miles of beaches, from Barnegat Light to Ship Bottom, were closed around 12:30 p.m. Saturday after several home-generated insulin syringes and other waste was found during beach-cleaning operations at high tide. Also found floating in the water were large amounts of eel grass, wood and some plastics.
Officials say recent storms, high tides and wind conditions likely spread the debris. They also believe some of it may have come ashore from combined sewer overflow systems or from the inner shorelines of the New York/New Jersey harbor areas.
No injuries were reported.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Jersey beaches reopen after debris cleanup
The Long Beach Island Health Department has reopened 13 miles of beach from Barnegat Light to Beach Haven after closing the stretch on Saturday when medical waste, trash and debris washed ashore.
Daniel Krupinski, a senior inspector at the health department, said that township employees worked on Saturday and early Sunday to clean the beaches. Krupinksi said the decision to reopen the beaches in six towns was made around 9:15 a.m. Sunday.
"The beaches are clean," Krupinski said. "The ocean is an ever-changing environment, and we're going to continue to monitor it."
The closed beaches included: Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Surf City and Ship Bottom.
Authorities surmise that the debris may have come from the sewer overflow systems or from the inner shore lines of harbor areas in New York and New Jersey.
Contact Darran Simon at 856-779-3829 or dsimon@phillynews.com, or follow him on Twitter @darransimon.
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