Rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nation's beaches so far this year.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. Rip currents have caused several deaths at U.S. beaches this summer, prompting warnings from lifeguards and weather forecasters for swimmers to be aware and keep themselves safe.

Six people died between June and July due to rip currents in New Jersey, including a 24-year-old Slovakian woman in the U.S. to work a summer job on the shore.

And rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nations beaches so far this year. Now, scientists are hoping swimmers pay closer attention to the narrow currents that pull them away from the shore, as rip currents have claimed 735 lives in the U.S. since 2002.

There were 40 rip current deaths nationwide by the end of July compared with 58 in all of 2016, data from the National Weather Service shows. Florida leads the nation with 11 so far this year. New Jersey and Texas had six and North Carolina had five.

What usually happens is a wave can knock them off their feet and start to pull on them, said Atlantic City Beach patrol Lt. John Ammerman. They dont relax and float with it. They generally panic and have trouble.

The desperation they create was illustrated in a video showing strangers on Panama City Beach in July forming an 80-person human chain to help rescue members of a family who had been pulled too far from shore.

Waves, tides and the shape of the ocean floor contribute to rip currents. But jetties, groins and piers create hot boxes where swimmers are especially at risk, said Greg Dusek, who studies tides and currents for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The New Jersey shore is dotted with these structures, and it is where six people died between June and July, including Zuzana Oravcova of Slovakia, who went for a swim in Point Pleasant Beach on July 30 but was swept away.

Two cousins, Emily Gonzalez-Perez, 12, and Mitzi Hernandez, 13, were pulled to sea and drowned when they went swimming at an unguarded beach in Belmar. Ramon Quinn, 15, died trying to rescue Kaliyah Hand, 16, who also drowned, off an Atlantic City beach.

He was a hero, till the end, even as he tried to save his friend, Quinns obituary read.

An Ohio teen died after he was caught in a rip current off Fripp Island in South Carolina in June. Eric Clark was swimming with friends when he disappeared. And Jevoney White, 19, drowned in July off Smith Point Beach on Long Island after he was caught in a rip current.

Rip currents often form where sand bars are near the shore, Dusek said, and they are easier to see from an elevated position.

You can spot them in areas where waves arent breaking, or where theres foam or muddy water being pulled offshore, he said.

Swimmers who get caught in rip currents are urged to stay calm and try to swim parallel to the shore to get out of its grip or float until getting a lifeguards attention.

Most rip current fatalities occur during the evening after the beach patrols have gone home for day, said National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Franck.

Scientists are studying whether replenishment adds to the problem and NOAA is working to improve its method of forecasting rip currents.

Were validating a new forecast model that predicts the probability of the hazard every few kilometers up to five days ahead. Dusek said. However, that likely will not be operational for a few years.

See more here:

Rip currents deadliest element claiming lives on US beaches - The Northwest Florida Daily News

An increase in visitors to Southold beaches this summer and in the past few years has prompted the Southold Town Board to consider altering the town code regulations on beach parking and raising fees related to beach use.

Town Councilman Bob Ghosio said he has noticed the number of complaints get higher this summer regarding the lack of parking at local beaches and more traffic heading to the beach.

Its becoming a summertime problem and we need to address it, said Ghosio. It has gotten worse and worse in the last few summers, and from what I can tell . . . we saw a lot more traffic this summer and a lot more parking problems than we have in the past.

One proposal, according to Ghosio, would create new shapes for beach stickers that would help beach workers and town officers who patrol beaches more quickly identify who should and should not be using beaches.

Board members discussed the issue at their Aug. 1 meeting, including possibly raising some of the towns beach parking permit costs.

Our permit costs are very low [compared with other towns]and we need to revise those, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said Friday.

Some of the fee increases the board is discussing include raising daily passes for beach use from $25 to $35 for nonresidents and from $40 to $75 for people leasing property in town for the duration of the lease. The board also is considering increasing seasonal beach passes for people staying at hotels from $40 to $100, and doubling nonresident seasonal beach passes from $150 to $300.

While there has been discussion about raising the beach pass fee from $10 to $15 for year-round residents, Russell said he felt the board would not support that.

Town Councilman Jim Dinizio said he wanted to wait until he had more information on the issue before offering his opinion, but noted he had heard of New Suffolk Beachs parking problems during the summer and wanted to find a way to alleviate that.

Russell added he preferred taking the idea of resident beach stickers off the table.

Local residents pay not just a sticker fee, but they do pay taxes and maintain beaches each year, so I would like to see that taken off the discussion to focus more on nonresident permits and nonresident beach access, said Russell. Those are fees that need to go up.

Read the rest here:

Southold considers fee increase, code change as beach usage rises - Newsday

While thousands of residents and visitors continue to take to Gloucesters beaches this summer, the city and a national nonprofit health group have formed a partnership to help beachgoers and others prevent melanoma, or skin cancer.

IMPACT Melanoma, formerly known as the Melanoma Foundation of New England, has provided four sunscreen dispensers to the Gloucester Health Department for public use as part of the nonprofits Practice Safe Skin program. The program is being funded through a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, according to an announcement from the city.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet most cases can be prevented, said Gloucester public health nurse Kelley Ries, The Gloucester Health Department, with support from the mayors office, is excited to partner with IMPACT Melanoma to provide residents and visitors with awareness, education and accessible sun protection measures.

In collaboration with the citys Department of Public Works, the sunscreen dispensers have been installed at Good Harbor Beach at both entrances the footbridge and at Witham Street and at Wingaersheek Beach, where visitors will find them at the main entrance and at Boardwalk 2.

Additionally, the Gloucester Health Department and IMPACT Melanoma will host a free sun safety beach day at Good Harbor Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. IMPACT Melanoma will provide educational materials and give-a-ways and offer a facial scan to help understand the damaging effects of the sun.

The specially designed dispensers are being installed across the country in all 50 states and are a part of IMPACT Melanomas Practice Safe Skin, a program that offers sunscreen as an effective preventive measure to help avoid sun over-exposure year round. Each sunscreen dispenser is equipped with four 1000 mL bags of SPF-30 sunscreen, broad spectrum UVA/UVB aquatic and marine safe.

The sunscreen is appropriate for people ages 6 months and up.

Boost for Pathways

A million-dollar roundtable is steering some its money to a Gloucester-based early-childhood learning and health program.

Pathways for Children, based on Emerson Avenue, has landed $10,000 grant from the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation to support its Pathways Moves program.

The foundation is the philanthropic arm of the the Premier Association of Financial Professionals, which aims to build strong families and communities around the globe and awards nearly $1 million in grants to more than 100 charitable organizations worldwide.

Pathways Moves is a component of Pathways School Age Care program, which which provides academic, social, emotional and recreational activities after school, during school vacations, and in the summer. Pathways Moves is designed to encourage students to develop an appreciation for physical activity and to understand the important role it plays in living a healthy and happy life, according to Sue Todd, Pathways president and CEO. The program allows kids to participate in wall climbing, yoga, Zumba, and other physical activities as well as nutrition education.

We are so grateful to the MDRT Foundation for supporting Pathways Moves, Todd said in a prepared statement. This grant not only encourages children to participate in fun, healthy activities, it also establishes an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle at a young age, which the children will carry with them throughout their lives..

The Manship legacy

Flatrocks Gallery in Lanesville is holding a free public gallery talk with Gloucester painter David Curtis and sculpture historian Rebecca Reynolds about the Manship family Saturday, Aug. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The gallerys current exhibition, The Manships, features the work of Paul Manship, a noted American 20th century sculptor whose most public work may be the 1934 bronze fountain statue of Prometheus at Rockefeller Center in New York City, and that of his son and daughter-in-law, John Manship and Margaret Cassidy, also accomplished artists.

This gallery show is also a celebration of a new nonprofit organization, which has a mission to preserve the Manship home and studio, which is nestled between two quarries on more than 15 acres in Lanesville. The initiative is called the Manship Artists Residency + Studios (MARS).

Honored veteran

The flag at the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of Vietnam War veteran Alfred C. Ballarin (Nov. 16, 1948-Aug. 6, 1974.

He joined the U.S. Navy on April 19, 1967, and served as a fireman with the mine countermeasure support ship USS Catskill (MCS-1). He was discharged on Sept. 13, 1968.

Ballarin was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his cousin Thomas Parisi.

Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran may call the Office of Veterans Services at 978-281-9740.

Here is the original post:

Talk of the Times: Sunscreen dispensers go up at beaches | Local ... - Gloucester Daily Times

A 73-year-old Florida man has been banned from several Florida beaches after a parent complained about business cards he was handing out that read, Sugardaddy seeking his sugarbaby. (TripAdvisor Image)

(FOX NEWS) A 73-year-old Florida man has been banned from several Florida beaches after a parent complained about business cards he was handing out that read, Sugardaddy seeking his sugarbaby.

Volusia County Beach Safety Capt. Tammy Maris confirmed Saturday that Richard Basaraba has been told to stay off all the countys beaches and walkovers for six months for violating an ordinance that prohibits soliciting on the beach.

Basaraba told The Daytona Beach News-Journal hes devastated by what he considers an overreaction by officials.

He said he wasnt trying to entice anyone into doing anything illegal when he handed a business card out to a group of girls on Daytona Beach on Saturday.

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Daytona Man, 73, Banned From Beaches After Passing Out Cards 'Sugardaddy Seeking His Sugarbaby' - SpaceCoastDaily.com

MARGATE Hannah Bychick was having a slow Saturday on Argyle Avenue.

Bychick works as a beach-tag attendant just feet from the remains of what was a nine-block lake on Margates beach, a product of flooding during rainstorms last weekend and man-made dunes built under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The dunes are part of a $63.3 million project to place 3.8 million cubic yards of sand onto 8 miles of beach on Absecon Island from Atlantic City to Longport.

But that flooding which has since been pumped back toward the ocean has left a muddy eyesore for residents and visitors, and Bychick said shes seeing it in the lack of people walking onto her block of the beach.

MARGATE Shirley Frankel, a city resident for the past 50 years, cant look at the ocean fr

As of 11 a.m., she said, she could count on her hand how many people have walked through the mud to the beach.

Its literally like four people, said Bychick, of Margate. People usually walk up and leave because its really gross.

Most people were avoiding the area altogether. A few managed to walk around the former lake to get to the ocean. Many people gathered at the end of the Ventnor Boardwalk, which ends at the Margate border, to get a look at the piece of land no one is walking on.

All Margate beaches were reopened this weekend for the first time since the flooding, with the exception of Huntington Avenue, which is hosting heavy equipment from the beach fill contractor, Weeks Marine of Cranford, Union County.

MARGATE Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez on Thursday issued a restraining

On Thursday, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez issued a restraining order to temporarily stop the dune project in the city for one week. Officials from the city, Army Corps and state Department of Environmental Protection are to meet on the issue, and the DEP and Army Corps have until Wednesday to file briefs on short- and long-term solutions to the drainage problems.

All parties are to return to Mendezs courtroom Friday for another hearing.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Russo, mayor of neighboring Longport, issued a statement late Friday saying it is yet unclear whether beach work will be diverted to Ventnor or Longport but that he would prefer it not start in Longport until after the summer, as was previously scheduled.

If that is not the case, the Borough of Longport will prepare contingency plans that all scheduled activities occur in a safe and meaningful manner, Russo wrote.

More here:

Crowds avoid Margate beaches where flooding occurred - Press of Atlantic City

Rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nation's beaches so far this year.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. Rip currents have caused several deaths at U.S. beaches this summer, prompting warnings from lifeguards and weather forecasters for swimmers to be aware and keep themselves safe.

Six people died between June and July due to rip currents in New Jersey, including a 24-year-old Slovakian woman in the U.S. to work a summer job on the shore.

And rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nations beaches so far this year. Now, scientists are hoping swimmers pay closer attention to the narrow currents that pull them away from the shore, as rip currents have claimed 735 lives in the U.S. since 2002.

There were 40 rip current deaths nationwide by the end of July compared with 58 in all of 2016, data from the National Weather Service shows. Florida leads the nation with 11 so far this year. New Jersey and Texas had six and North Carolina had five.

What usually happens is a wave can knock them off their feet and start to pull on them, said Atlantic City Beach patrol Lt. John Ammerman. They dont relax and float with it. They generally panic and have trouble.

The desperation they create was illustrated in a video showing strangers on Panama City Beach in July forming an 80-person human chain to help rescue members of a family who had been pulled too far from shore.

Waves, tides and the shape of the ocean floor contribute to rip currents. But jetties, groins and piers create hot boxes where swimmers are especially at risk, said Greg Dusek, who studies tides and currents for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The New Jersey shore is dotted with these structures, and it is where six people died between June and July, including Zuzana Oravcova of Slovakia, who went for a swim in Point Pleasant Beach on July 30 but was swept away.

Two cousins, Emily Gonzalez-Perez, 12, and Mitzi Hernandez, 13, were pulled to sea and drowned when they went swimming at an unguarded beach in Belmar. Ramon Quinn, 15, died trying to rescue Kaliyah Hand, 16, who also drowned, off an Atlantic City beach.

He was a hero, till the end, even as he tried to save his friend, Quinns obituary read.

An Ohio teen died after he was caught in a rip current off Fripp Island in South Carolina in June. Eric Clark was swimming with friends when he disappeared. And Jevoney White, 19, drowned in July off Smith Point Beach on Long Island after he was caught in a rip current.

Rip currents often form where sand bars are near the shore, Dusek said, and they are easier to see from an elevated position.

You can spot them in areas where waves arent breaking, or where theres foam or muddy water being pulled offshore, he said.

Swimmers who get caught in rip currents are urged to stay calm and try to swim parallel to the shore to get out of its grip or float until getting a lifeguards attention.

Most rip current fatalities occur during the evening after the beach patrols have gone home for day, said National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Franck.

Scientists are studying whether replenishment adds to the problem and NOAA is working to improve its method of forecasting rip currents.

Were validating a new forecast model that predicts the probability of the hazard every few kilometers up to five days ahead. Dusek said. However, that likely will not be operational for a few years.

Read more here:

Rip currents deadliest element claiming lives on US beaches - Destin Log

Carol Kozma Journal Staff Writer CarolKozma

A couple of weeks ago, Michelle Folco headed to the beach at East Matunuck. But when she got there at 9 a.m., she was turned away. The lot was full.

It was a little upsetting because I had to pay 20 dollars to park," in a different lot, even though she had paid for a season parking pass for the state's beach lots, she said.

Since then, Folco has not had any other issues finding a spot. But she said when she headed to the beach last weekend, she left early from Pawtucket to make sure she could park her car.

Attendance at the beach is calculated by multiplying the number of cars that use the state beaches parking lots by 3.2. There are probably more visitors, Paquette said, as some people park in other lots when the states lots are full and others who live nearby or rent a vacation house walk.

In general, each attendance has been rising over the past several years, with a high of about 1.2 million people in 2016 at the seven state beaches for which the state keeps records. As of July 18 this year, 506,378 people had visited the states beaches.

But from the 2012 season to the 2013 season, there was a sharp drop from 1,044,224 to 862,259.

At the time Robert Paquette, chief of the Rhode Island State Parks, attributed the decline to extensive rain in May and June of that year. Paquette said he did not believe that the state's doubling of beach parking fees two years earlier had affected attendance significantly; the fees were cut in half again in 2016.

In an interview this year, Paquette once again said that weather was the most significant factor in the filled parking lots:

We have these spikes and downturns because of weather, Paquette said.

There are about 9,000 parking spots at the states beaches. With more accurate forecasts easily available on smartphones, it's easy for beach goers to look ahead for the sunniest and clearest day.

When the forecast points to a busy weekend, the state plans ahead too.

We reschedule some lifeguards to come in earlier, Paquette said, adding that state workers also coordinate with ProPark, the parking lots contractor, to open lots at the busier beaches by 8 a.m., rather than 9.On busy days, lots sometimes fill up in less than two hours, Paquette said.

One day this summer, Bruce Hoch of Seekonk was at Scarborough State Beach with his grandson. He takes him to the ocean at least once a week.

"He loves the water," Hoch said.

They'll visit Scarborough, East Matunuck or Horseneck in Westport.

But Scarborough is where they come most often. Hoch said he doesn't have any issues with parking.

"I generally come down here fairly early in the morning," he said, around 10 or 10:30.

That same day, Gianna Alberti and Kathryn Wheeler came together to Scarborough from Burrillville.

They were at the beach even before it opened, waiting in line a half hour until 9 a.m. for the parking gates to open, to make the most out of their beach day.

"The weekends are the worst," Wheeler said of finding a parking spot.

ckozma@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @CarolKozma

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Rise in beach attendance presents parking challenges - The Providence Journal

A surfer reported seeing a shark close to shore in San Clemente, prompting officials to shut down the water until 3 p.m. Saturday, August 5.

The sightings happened at about 11 a.m., when a surfer saw the fin several times anywhere from 40 to 100 yards from shore off Linda Lane Beach.

The shark was estimated to be about 10- to 11 foot, according to lifeguards.

He said he surfs San O all the time so hes seen them before, it seemed pretty reliable, said San Clemente lifeguard Ian Burton.

The stretch of beach closed spanned from a mile north of the pier to a mile south of the pier.

San Clemente beaches were busy with shark sightings earlier in the year, especially after a woman was bit while out in the water at nearby San Onofre State Beach, with regular sightings at the pier and North Beach.

Sightings have cooled in the past month, with the last sighting at San Clemente city beach reported June 27.

See the rest here:

Beach reopened after shark sighting by surfer shuts down San Clemente waters - OCRegister

The Associated Press , WKYC 8:06 PM. EDT August 04, 2017

Rip currents. (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J - Rip currents have caused several deaths at the New Jersey shore this summer, prompting warnings from lifeguards and weather forecasters for swimmers to be aware and keep themselves safe.

Six people died between June and July due to rip currents in New Jersey, and rip currents have killed at least 40 people along U.S. beaches so far this year.

Preliminary data from the National Weather Service show Florida leads the nation this year with 11 deaths. New Jersey and Texas had six and North Carolina had five rip current deaths by the end of July.

Forecasters say the narrow bands generated by waves, wind and the ocean floor have claimed 735 lives since 2002.

Beachgoers shouldn't swim on unguarded beaches and, if caught in a current, swim parallel to shore.

---

Follow the Channel 3 Weather Team on Twitter @wkycweather and on Facebook

2017 Associated Press

Originally posted here:

Rip currents claiming lives of swimmers along US beaches - WKYC-TV

Rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nations beaches so far this year.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. Rip currents have caused several deaths at U.S. beaches this summer, prompting warnings from lifeguards and weather forecasters for swimmers to be aware and keep themselves safe.

Six people died between June and July due to rip currents in New Jersey, including a 24-year-old Slovakian woman in the U.S. to work a summer job on the shore.

And rip currents are to blame for most of the 59 deaths that have occurred in the surf zone along the nations beaches so far this year. Now, scientists are hoping swimmers pay closer attention to the narrow currents that pull them away from the shore, as rip currents have claimed 735 lives in the U.S. since 2002.

There were 40 rip current deaths nationwide by the end of July compared with 58 in all of 2016, data from the National Weather Service shows . Florida leads the nation with 11 so far this year. New Jersey and Texas had six and North Carolina had five.

What usually happens is a wave can knock them off their feet and start to pull on them, said Atlantic City Beach patrol Lt. John Ammerman. They dont relax and float with it. They generally panic and have trouble.

The desperation they create was illustrated in a video showing strangers on Panama City Beach in July forming an 80-person human chain to help rescue members of a family who had been pulled too far from shore.

Waves, tides and the shape of the ocean floor contribute to rip currents. But jetties, groins and piers create hot boxes where swimmers are especially at risk, said Greg Dusek, who studies tides and currents for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The New Jersey shore is dotted with these structures, and it is where six people died between June and July, including Zuzana Oravcova of Slovakia, who went for a swim in Point Pleasant Beach on July 30 but was swept away.

Two cousins, Emily Gonzalez-Perez, 12, and Mitzi Hernandez, 13, were pulled to sea and drowned when they went swimming at an unguarded beach in Belmar. Ramon Quinn, 15, died trying to rescue Kaliyah Hand, 16, who also drowned, off an Atlantic City beach.

He was a hero, till the end, even as he tried to save his friend, Quinns obituary read.

An Ohio teen died after he was caught in a rip current off Fripp Island in South Carolina in June. Eric Clark was swimming with friends when he disappeared. And Jevoney White, 19, drowned in July off Smith Point Beach on Long Island after he was caught in a rip current.

Rip currents often form where sand bars are near the shore, Dusek said, and they are easier to see from an elevated position.

You can spot them in areas where waves arent breaking, or where theres foam or muddy water being pulled offshore, he said.

Swimmers who get caught in rip currents are urged to stay calm and try to swim parallel to the shore to get out of its grip or float until getting a lifeguards attention.

Most rip current fatalities occur during the evening after the beach patrols have gone home for day, said National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Franck.

Scientists are studying whether replenishment adds to the problem and NOAA is working to improve its method of forecasting rip currents.

Were validating a new forecast model that predicts the probability of the hazard every few kilometers up to five days ahead. Dusek said. However, that likely will not be operational for a few years.

See the original post:

Rip currents claim lives of swimmers along US beaches - The News Herald

A total solar eclipse on Aug. 11, 1999, shows the sun's corona and several prominences erupting from its surface. (Photo: Luc Viatour / CC BY-SA 3.0)

NEWPORT, Ore. The City of Newport is expecting to clean up a mess after the solar eclipse on August 21.

Newport is asking local non-profit organizations to participate in a post-eclipse beach clean-up. The city says it will be an opportunity for non-profits to raise funds.

Local non-profit organizations can earn up to $10 per volunteer hour, the Newport Police Department said in a Facebook post. Each organization can raise a maximum of $1,000 for participating.

Oregon State Parks and Recreation and SOLVE are coordinating the cleanup.

The cleanup will be held on Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at six beach sites: Ernest Bloch/Lucky Gap Trail Beach, Agate Beach, Nye Beach, Yaquina Bay State Park, South Beach State Park day use area, and Lost Creek.

Officials say the assignments will be made on a first-come-first-served basis. Local non-profits must appoint two beach captains per site. The captains must attend a training on August 11 at Newport City Hall.

Individuals who want to participate should register at solveoregon.org/newport-eclipse-cleanups

Anyone with questions can contact Peggy Hawker at 541-574-0613 or at p.hawker@newportoregon.gov.

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Newport expects messy beaches after eclipse, looks for volunteers to clean up - KATU

The state of South Carolina is home to many great beaches along its Atlantic shoreline. Myrtle Beach takes the cake as one of the longest and cleanest stretches of open beachfront in the south. Areas such as Charleston and Hilton Head also have their own great South Carolina beaches. Beaches in South Carolina are busiest between the months of June and September, when the weather is warm and folks pack themselves into cars and head for the shore for vacations. Many families and larger groups traveling together find great deals on accommodation by renting South Carolina beach rentals for their stay rather than hotel rooms.

South Carolina beaches in Myrtle Beach are among some of the most widely visited in the state. The coastline here is known as the Grand Strand and stretches for over 280 miles. The beaches in South Carolina in Myrtle Beach have a festival, family-oriented feel. This is one of the most popular towns in the country for family vacations, and as such the beach is usually full in the summer of families and children. The Myrtle Beach Amusement Park is also found here in town and is a major favorite among children. Parents tend to enjoy trips to Myrtle Beach resorts as an alternative to more expensive resort areas such as Disney World.

In Hilton Head, South Carolina beaches are thought by many to be the most beautiful in the state and among the best in the world. Hilton Head is an island just off of the coast of the mainland, and all of the beaches here are public, meaning that they are open free of charge to any who would like to use them. Even the Hilton Head resorts do not have any exclusive rights to the beaches. One of the most popular beaches in South Carolina in Hilton Head is Coligny Beach, a public access site which has showers, toilets and changing rooms. There is also a playground here, and as such this beach is generally full during the summer. Folks looking for a somewhat quieter beach experience might try heading north of Coligny to Folly Field Beach, which also has showers but is generally not as busy as some of the other beaches in Hilton Head.

Although the resort towns are popular places for beaches, Charleston is also just a 30 minute drive from miles of coastline. Two of the most popular are the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Head beaches, a major destination for beachcombers from Charlestons urban center. South Carolina beach rentals abound here and are available for rent throughout most of the summer. Windsurfing is also great from Sullivans Head in particular, and this is also a good place to launch a jet ski. Kiawah Island is also a popular spot from Charleston and in particular, Beachwalker County Park is a favorite. The park is located just to the east of US Highway 17 in Charleston. To find the best deals on South Carolina beach rentals, be sure to book at least a few months in advance. Beach rentals do fill up in the summer, so booking early is also essential for getting a good spot.

See more here:

South Carolina Beaches, Beaches in South Carolina, South ...

August 4, 2017 10:52 AM

ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) The forecast calls for a beautiful weekend but take note before you head to the beach.

Officials at the Metroparksadministrative office announced the closure ofLake St. Clair Metropark Beach last week,aftertests conductedat the popular beach (also known as Metro Beach), off Metro Parkway inHarrison Township, found high levels of e. coli bacteria.

Further testing this week found e. coli levels were still too high.

The rest of the park remains open during regular hoursbut the water and beach area areoff-limits. Lake St. Clair Metropark has a swimming pool and water slides for those who wanttocool off.

St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach, at Veterans Memorial Park off Jefferson Ave., is also closed after testing this week found the same issue. The park does have a swimming pool, water slide (paid admission required) and a splash pad which remain open.

Macomb County health officials say e. coli bacteria sometimes gets into the water from improper waste connections to storm sewers, sewer overflows and storm runoff which cold present a healthriskto swimmersand thosewho come in contact with lake water close to the shore.

Its unclear at this time when the two beaches will reopen.

In addition, theKensington Metropark Splash n Blast is temporarily closed, according to a tweet. This is not connected to the problems with bacteria. (Check Twitter for updates).

Check which Macomb County beaches are open and which are closed anytimeat this link. Get Metroparks maps, hours and more informationatmetroparks.com.

Headed Up North or elsewhere in the state? Check for all Michigan beach closures HERE.

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2 Macomb County Beaches Closed This Weekend Due To E. Coli - CBS Detroit

MARGATE The Board of Commissioners will continue an executive session at 10 a.m. this morning that was started following last nights lengthy public meeting. The commissioners met in closed session last night to discuss a strategy going into court-ordered negotiations with the NJ DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday morning.

All beaches, except for Huntington Avenue will be opened and staffed by lifeguards over the weekend.

Commissioner John Amodeo said Thursdays executive session started at 6:30 p.m. and lasted more than an hour before it was continued to Friday morning. It was held after 2 1/2 hours of public testimony at the regular commission meeting that started at 4 p.m.

It will be more of a strategy and goal setting meeting, Amodeo said in a telephone interview early Friday morning. We need to see what we can get accomplished. I dont think our goal will ever be met, but we can consider a best-case scenario.

At Thursdays meeting, the board appropriated $100,000 for expenses it might incur in the city's latest battle to get the state and federal government to fix ponding and drainage problems created by the dune building project. Amodeo said it was merely an appropriation for expenses, which could include engineering studies and expert fees should an extended court battle ensue. The board also approved a contract with attorney Jordan M. Rand of Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg, LLP of Philadelphia not to exceed $25,000.

The contractor building the dune across all of Absecon Island, Weeks Marine, Inc. of Cranford excavated several feet of sand to lower the beach and create a drainage basin between the dune and existing bulkhead, which resulted in several feet of water collecting behind the dune rendering much of the beach inaccessible. The area was supposed to percolate within 24-36 hours, but water stagnated as beach access was cut off. As much as 2-feet of water festered for days until Weeks Marine was ordered by the NJ DEP to pump the water into the ocean.

As a precaution and to protect swimmers, Commissioner of Public Safety John Amodeo closed the beach from the citys border with Ventnor at Fredericksburg Avenue to Gladstone Avenue where fetid pools of water were pumped into the ocean. Most of the standing water has been pumped away, but wet spots remain.

Amodeo reopened those beaches for the weekend after all ocean water quality tests proved bacterial levels are in the acceptable range.

We had our beach raker out there and will have all the lifeguard stations manned for the weekend, Amodeo said. Water quality tests show we are in good shape.

The latest results from Atlantic County Water Quality Program, which tests ocean water in three spots in all Atlantic County shore towns every Monday, show water quality in Margate for the week of July 31 was in the excellent range, with a reading of 6. A bacteria count above 104 would require beaches be closed to swimmers.

The beach at Huntington Avenue behind the Margate Library and Bloom Pavilion will remain closed because it is being used as a staging area for Weeks Marines heavy equipment during a 7-day work stoppage period ordered by Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez Thursday afternoon.

There are still workers on site, Amodeo said. If it rains over the weekend, they will have to pump out the water. They own the job and are responsible for everything that happens there until the job is done.

Mendez called the ponding problems that developed behind the newly built dune following a 5-inch rainstorm horrendous, and ordered the parties to meet every day to hammer out a solution before their next court-ordered appearance before Mendez 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11.

He said the city and its residents and businesses are suffering irreparable harm and the situation must be rectified.

The defendants have until noon Wednesday, Aug. 9 to file briefs on short and longterm solutions to all the drainage problems, Mendez said.

The judge is expecting a resolution, Amodeo said. If its not, then he will rule as he sees fit.

Amodeo said the commissioners would discuss a strategy going into negotiations, which could be contentious.

They want us to share costs. We didnt ask for these dunes. It was a state mandate from Gov. Chris Christie. It was forced on us. Why should we have to pay for anything? If its a state mandate, then all expenses should be paid for by the DEP, Amodeo said.

Read more:

Margate beaches reopen for the weekend as commissioners go into negotiations with NJ DEP and Army Corps of ... - Shore News Today

Sacramento Bee

E. coli outbreak closes all beaches in this gated community Sacramento Bee All beaches in the Nevada County community of Lake Wildwood have now been closed after water testing revealed E. coli at three locations, according to the Nevada County Public Health Department. County authorities closed off the gated community's Main ... and more »

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E. coli outbreak closes all beaches in this gated community - Sacramento Bee

Many Pennsylvania state parks have lakes or pools for swimming. Splashing around in water is a great way to cool off on a hot day, and swimming laps is great exercise.

Beaches (except Presque Isle) are open to swimming from before Memorial Day to after Labor Day, unless otherwise posted, under the open swim policy--swim at your own risk. The exact opening and closing dates vary at each park. Swimmers should read posted instructions for regulations on swimming.

Pools are usually open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Lifeguards are on duty when pools are open.

Beaches at lakes and some pools are free, but some pools charge an admission fee.

Admission fees at Pennsylvania State Park swimming pools vary based on the type of operation. Some pools are operated by park staff and may or may not have an admission fee. The admission fees in the Price Guide are for park operated swimming pools that charge a fee. To determine the admission fee for the swimming pool in the park you plan to visit, please contact the park for the most current admission fee information.

With the exception of Presque Isle State Park and Fuller Lake in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, all park beaches operate under the "Open-Swim" policy. Lifeguards arenot present, however beachesare patrolled by park staff. Swimming is permitted only at designated beaches, within the buoy line from 8 a.m. to sunset, daily. Visitors are urged to be vigilant when their children are swimming. Please follow posted rules and regulations. Should you have any questions, please contact the park office.

Presque Isle is as close to ocean swimming as can be found in Pennsylvania. Long sand beaches and small waves make it a very popular summer destination. Presque Isle has different rules from other state park lakes. Swimming is only permitted when the beach is open and when lifeguards are on duty. Presque Isle beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

After a successful two-year operation of a pilot smoke-free beach and swimming area at one Pennsylvania State Park, the PA Bureau of State Parks has expanded the program to several other parks across the Commonwealth. Effective May 1, 2015, the pilot program prohibits smoking on the beaches and swimming areas of the newly designated state parks. For visitors who smoke and still want to use these beaches, designated areas adjacent to the beach are provided. The restriction includes cigarettes, pipes, cigars, e-cigarettes or other handheld lighted smoking devices. The pilot program received positive customer feedback for the improved air quality and the reduction of cigarette butt litter in the swimming area.

Lifeguards are on duty at park swimming pools.

Swimmers are permitted to use soft water toys like inner tubes, noodles and air mattresses, unless otherwise specified. All children ten years of age or younger must be accompanied by a person at least 14 years of age.

Pets are prohibited in swimming areas.

Explore Rules and Regulations for the rules and regulations for swimming in Pennsylvania State Parks.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

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PA DCNR - Swimming

If youre eyeing New Jersey beaches in order to soak up some sun, theres something you need to know. (Sorry, we dont mean to steal your sunshine.)

High bacteria counts in the water led to fifteen New Jersey beaches closing down in late July. The water quality advisories were in effect due to heightened levels of bacteria found in the water (chemicals, bird droppings, all that fun stuff). Now, according to new reports from ABC, these fifteen beaches have been reopened.

If youre curious, the main offender found in the water was something called enterococcus, a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of most warm-blooded animals (so, its found in animal or human poop).

These fifteen New Jersey beaches have now been reopened, but for more information on the topic or to check up on closures and additional beach advisories you can check the Department of Environmental Protection Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Programs site. There, the Department of Environmental Protection states in regard to beach closings, Beaches are closed if two consecutive samples collected at a bathing beach exceed the state standard. Beach closings remain in effect until subsequent sampling indicates bacteria levels are again below the standard. The closure applies to water activities like swimming, wading, and playing in the water. Other beach related activities like sunbathing and walking on the beach are unaffected.

Rest assured that they have firm policies and action plans in place, and bacteria is far from the only cause of routine beach closures. The statement continues to say Health authorities may close beaches at any time for any reason as a precaution in order to protect public health. Precautionary beach closings can be caused by wash-ups of debris or trash or household medical products, breaks or spills to sewer lines that may discharge to a bathing beach, extraordinary weather events, or any other condition that may affect public health. If a health authority closes a beach due to a wash-up of debris, they may limit all access to the beaches, if needed, to protect public health. For more information, visit their site at njbeaches.org/closings_advisories.

While you may now be free to soak up the sun and frolic in the waves, make sure you shower off after your beach day thoroughly.

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Going to the beach this weekend? You might want to read this - Metro US

Tucked away on the east end of Long Island, the Hamptons' pristine beaches and brisk waves help cool off the summer heat. But tensions in one town are boiling hot over an age-old tradition of driving on the beach.

"There are just so many trucks, and it's dangerous. And it's very crowded and loud, and there's alcohol, and I just don't want to expose my children to that," homeowner Jennifer Ford said.

Ford and another homeowner Cindi Crain live within walking distance of Napeague Beach in East Hampton. A small stretch of it, less than a mile, allows trucks. They want to ban them altogether, reports CBS News' Meg Oliver.

"It feels like a parking lot. Doesn't feel like the beach," Ford said.

CBS News

Home videos shows some close calls. In one, a truck narrowly misses a child. No one has been seriously hurt here, but for many, it's a big fear.

"I have a son who is on the autism spectrum and he has very limited impulse control, and so he's someone who wouldn't necessarily think ahead that there might be an accident," Ford said.

At Ormond Beach in Florida last month, a pick-up truck ran over a 4-year-old boy, causing serious injuries.

Trucks pack tightly together on beaches across the country, an off-road ritual from North Carolina and Georgia to Texas and beyond.

Laurie Posimota has been driving on Napeague Beach for decades. She said she's always felt safe having her kids on the beach with the trucks. Town trustee Bill Taylor has also spent decades patrolling the beach in East Hampton. He said it gives locals who don't live within walking distance a chance to enjoy it. Taylor said the homeowners who live along the beach don't just want a ban on trucks, they want to make it private.

"I think that if they could have this declared a private beach, it would make their real estate incredibly more valuable," Taylor said.

Crain said it's not about wanting to privatize the beach.

"Our issue is about safety. Children's lives are at stake," Crain said.

The legal fight over who owns the beach continues. In November a judge ruled in the town trustee's favor, but homeowners like Crain and Ford are not done. Their homeowners association is in the process of filing another appeal to ban the trucks.

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Original post:

East Hampton homeowners push to ban truck drivers on the beach ... - CBS News

Folks living in the Santa Maria Valley and vicinity are lucky when it comes to having multiple choices in beaches.

Point Sal and the Guadalupe Dunes are fairly close, and putting a few more miles on the family SUV will get you to El Capitan or Surf beaches.

El Capitan, as a state park, is more fully developed, but that tends to attract bigger crowds on nice beach days. Who wants to go to a beach teeming with humans or when the weathers not cooperative?

If youd prefer to walk a beach in relative solitude, those up the coast better fit the bill, and Surf Beach would be the natural choice, even with the longer commute from the Valley.

But theres a problem, and its the same problem year in and year out. Surf Beach is now officially closed until the end of August, or the end of the nesting season of the Western snowy plover, a drop-dead cutie of a bird, but a species that doesnt do well when a lot of humans are tramping over its nesting area.

And Surf Beach definitely falls into that category. The plover probably like Surf Beach for the same reasons humans like it surf, sand, dunes and relative peace and quiet.

But the area or at least major segments of it is shut down every year because the feds decided there werent enough Western snowy plover to support continuation of the species and they set a limit on the number of violations by humans entering their territory. The magic number is 50.

Dont look for relief from the beach closings anytime soon, if ever. Wildlife experts reckon the plover will need 3,000 breeding pairs to even qualify to be removed from the federal Endangered Species Act roster. They also reckon that wont happen until at least 2047.

So, having maxed out this seasons allowable violations, Surf Beach was officially closed to the public last Friday, until at least the end of August, although the ban could be extended because the official end of the plovers nesting period runs through September.

This has been going on since the 1990s, with the closure date fluctuating and dependent on when folks cross the line into the plovers turf too many times.

We have written about this problem for years, often wondering what there is about the potential extinction of a small, but truly magnificent creature that so many humans either dont understand, or dont care about.

The planet is losing species at an alarming rate, which could turn out to be a huge problem. Most living things are players in a delicate, interactive ballet that maintains balance in nature, and in mankinds existence.

A good example of this has been the recent die-off of bees, which are the conduits for the growth and survival of so many plants that feed the animals humans included and that maintain a balance of life on Earth.

Thats a problem of global significance. But what most folks here on the Central Coast are primarily concerned about is having access to local beaches, so they can enjoy the wonders of nature.

Its a shame Surf Beach has to be closed, but it is important. Its notable that this years closure came more than a month later than last years shutdown. Maybe we are gaining a little more respect for the plovers need for privacy at this crucial segment of their life-sustaining cycle.

One can only hope thats true.

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Our View: Hot days, beaches and birds - Lompoc Record

Daily testing part of extra precautions

Low levels of blue-green algae toxins have been reported present in the Russian River, according to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

On Wednesday, July 26, DHS received test results indicating that the level of toxins is high enough to trigger public warning.

We have been watching conditions like the water temperature and visually monitoring the river, stated Dr. Karen Milman, Sonoma County health officer. When we noted conditions were present that could support rapid growth of algae, including blue-green algae, we started laboratory testing.

DHS began testing the river weekly last Monday. After Wednesdays elevated results, the county posted caution signs along Russian River beaches in English and Spanish.

Test results indicate there could be a risk to pets and children in particular and therefore Caution signs are being posted.

Caution is the lowest of three levels of state recommended advisory signage (Caution Warning and Danger). A couple weeks ago, the Monte Rio Beach was closed for several days when tests indicated presence of E. coli bacteria.

Although, the Russian River is open for recreational use, the public should be advised that potentially harmful algae might be present, according to DHS. Care should be taken to keep children and pets away from algae, and prevent them from drinking river water.

We want to inform people using the Russian River to take steps to protect themselves, their families and especially their pets, Milman said. Dogs like to eat things and are known to preferentially seek out blue-green algae. Be aware of this in deciding how you supervise your dog.

Signs will include these recommendations:

Weekly laboratory testing will continue until two successive weeks of negative test results. River conditions will be monitored until they no longer support the rapid growth of blue-green algae.

See the rest here:

Algae warnings remain at river beaches - Sonoma West