THE ISSUE: Although water quality is generally good at Massachusetts beaches, issues remain in some areas.

THE IMPACT: An average of 4.9 percent of samples from marine beaches and 3.8 percent of samples from freshwater beaches test positive for elevated bacteria levels.

Rain can put a damper on summer fun in a variety of ways.

Not only does heavy rain keep people indoors, but it also can overflow sewer systems and carry garbage to the coast, sometimes causing a temporary spike in unsafe bacteria levels at beaches.

Theres filthy, bacteria-laden storm water, which typically gets to the beach after running into storm drains in the road, said Bruce Berman, a spokesman for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. When you think about rain, it washes everything in the streets into storm drains.

Water quality in Massachusetts beaches is generally good, Berman said, but some issues remain, particularly around urban beaches.

The vast majority of the time, issues are minimal.

Last summer, state and local agencies collected a total of 15,604 water samples from 586 marine beach sites and 594 freshwater beach sites. About 3.5 percent of samples from ocean beaches and 3 percent of freshwater samples tested positive for elevated bacteria levels, compared to historic averages of 4.9 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Last years drought, according the public health officials, was likely a factor in lower bacteria levels.

Click on the markers to find out more about the beaches at which bacteria tested high enough to close a beach to swimmers during the 2016 summer season. Blue markers are at beaches that were closed for one day, yellow markers are at beaches that were closed for two days, orange markers are at beaches closed for three days, pink markers are at beaches closed for four or five days, and red markers are at beaches that were closed for 10 or more days.

Wicked Local Graphic/Caitlyn Kelleher

Overall, Massachusetts beaches have excellent water quality, said Dr. Marc A. Nascarella, chief toxicologist and director of the Department of Public Healths Environmental Toxicology Program.

A challenge for beaches, particularly those in urban areas, is old sewer infrastructure, which can cause underground sewer pipes to leak into stormwater pipes when theres heavy rain.

Rainfall is the most significant driver of bacteria exceedances in Massachusetts, Nascarella said.

Last summer, there were 160 no swimming postings at marine beaches, with beaches in Boston, Lynn and Quincy being closed the most often. Most closures were due to high bacteria levels, but rip currents, shark sightings and other factors also caused some postings.

At inland, freshwater beaches there were 114 postings in 2016, with beaches in Brimfield, Templeton and West Tisbury reporting the highest number of high-bacteria samples. In addition to bacteria, algae blooms often caused by fertilizer runoff caused closures at freshwater beaches.

Overall, Massachusetts has 529 public marine and 549 freshwater public beaches.

Human fecal matter can enter beach water in a variety of ways, including sewage treatment system failures, combined sewer overflows, discharge of sewage by boats, re-suspension of sediments, and rainfall and resulting surface runoff, Nascarella said.

Exposure to high concentrations of fecal bacteria can cause symptoms including gastrointestinal sickness, cold symptoms and skin rashes.

Berman said neglecting infrastructure decades ago caused water quality problems, and investing in repairs is a main part of the solution.

Thirty years ago, Boston Harbor was a national disgrace, he said. Our waste washed up on shore from Cape Cod to Cape Ann. Today, were talking about elevated bacteria on handful of beaches that we need to address. We have a lot of progress to be proud of. We just have to finish the job.

Read more from the original source:

Water quality good at most Massachusetts beaches; Issues remain at some urban spots - Wicked Local Newton

The National Weather Service has issued a high risk of rip currents along all South Jersey beaches for Saturday, and cautions that a moderate rip current risk will probably continue through at least Wednesday.

This is the first high rip current risk of the season, but the risk has been moderate throughout the past week.

A high risk of rip currents means that strong and frequent rip currents are likely to form, and are often hard to detect. The rip currents are due to a long period southeast swell that promotes their formation.

Rip currents have led to an above average number of water rescues this week along the South Jersey shore, as well as multiple drownings.

ATLANTIC CITY The families of two missing Atlantic County teens sat on the beach Friday af

Two Atlantic County teenagers were swept out to sea in a rip current Thursday evening off of Atlantic City and are presumed dead. The effort to recover their bodies continued Saturday morning.

Farther north off Belmar in Monmouth County, two more swimmers were caught in rip currents, where one of them drowned.

Meteorologist and beach patrols strongly advise beach-goers to only swim in the presence of lifeguards, and never swim on unguarded beaches.

Most South Jersey beach patrols are fully staffed seven days a week beginning this weekend.

See more here:

High risk of rip currents at all South Jersey beaches on Saturday - Press of Atlantic City

Patch.com

Topless Women Can Be Banned From Ocean City Beaches: Maryland AG Patch.com OCEAN CITY, MD Leaders in Ocean City have the legal right to ban topless women from sunbathing on the town's beaches, says the Maryland Attorney General's office. The legal opinion issued Thursday bolsters an emergency measure the city council ... Ocean City says no to beach nudityDelmarva Daily Times all 2 news articles »

See the article here:

Topless Women Can Be Banned From Ocean City Beaches: Maryland AG - Patch.com

THE ISSUE: Although water quality is generally good at Massachusetts beaches, issues remain in some areas.

THE IMPACT: An average of 4.9 percent of samples from marine beaches and 3.8 percent of samples from freshwater beaches test positive for elevated bacteria levels.

Rain can put a damper on summer fun in a variety of ways.

Not only does heavy rain keep people indoors, but it also can overflow sewer systems and carry garbage to the coast, sometimes causing a temporary spike in unsafe bacteria levels at beaches.

Theres filthy, bacteria-laden storm water, which typically gets to the beach after running into storm drains in the road, said Bruce Berman, a spokesman for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. When you think about rain, it washes everything in the streets into storm drains.

Water quality in Massachusetts beaches is generally good, Berman said, but some issues remain, particularly around urban beaches.

The vast majority of the time, issues are minimal.

Last summer, state and local agencies collected a total of 15,604 water samples from 586 marine beach sites and 594 freshwater beach sites. About 3.5 percent of samples from ocean beaches and 3 percent of freshwater samples tested positive for elevated bacteria levels, compared to historic averages of 4.9 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Last years drought, according the public health officials, was likely a factor in lower bacteria levels.

Click on the markers to find out more about the beaches at which bacteria tested high enough to close a beach to swimmers during the 2016 summer season. Blue markers are at beaches that were closed for one day, yellow markers are at beaches that were closed for two days, orange markers are at beaches closed for three days, pink markers are at beaches closed for four or five days, and red markers are at beaches that were closed for 10 or more days.

Wicked Local Graphic/Caitlyn Kelleher

Overall, Massachusetts beaches have excellent water quality, said Dr. Marc A. Nascarella, chief toxicologist and director of the Department of Public Healths Environmental Toxicology Program.

A challenge for beaches, particularly those in urban areas, is old sewer infrastructure, which can cause underground sewer pipes to leak into stormwater pipes when theres heavy rain.

Rainfall is the most significant driver of bacteria exceedances in Massachusetts, Nascarella said.

Last summer, there were 160 no swimming postings at marine beaches, with beaches in Boston, Lynn and Quincy being closed the most often. Most closures were due to high bacteria levels, but rip currents, shark sightings and other factors also caused some postings.

At inland, freshwater beaches there were 114 postings in 2016, with beaches in Brimfield, Templeton and West Tisbury reporting the highest number of high-bacteria samples. In addition to bacteria, algae blooms often caused by fertilizer runoff caused closures at freshwater beaches.

Overall, Massachusetts has 529 public marine and 549 freshwater public beaches.

Human fecal matter can enter beach water in a variety of ways, including sewage treatment system failures, combined sewer overflows, discharge of sewage by boats, re-suspension of sediments, and rainfall and resulting surface runoff, Nascarella said.

Exposure to high concentrations of fecal bacteria can cause symptoms including gastrointestinal sickness, cold symptoms and skin rashes.

Berman said neglecting infrastructure decades ago caused water quality problems, and investing in repairs is a main part of the solution.

Thirty years ago, Boston Harbor was a national disgrace, he said. Our waste washed up on shore from Cape Cod to Cape Ann. Today, were talking about elevated bacteria on handful of beaches that we need to address. We have a lot of progress to be proud of. We just have to finish the job.

See the rest here:

Water quality good at most Massachusetts beaches; Issues remain at some urban spots - Wicked Local Medfield

With a sizzling heat wave expected to drive uncounted Southern California residents to area beaches this weekend, lifeguards in Long Beach are urging anglers and film crews to stop attracting sharks with bloody chum.

The warning comes at a time of increased shark activity along the California coast. A seasonal glut of juvenile great white sharks has prompted the temporary closure of several beaches and resulted in the injury of at least two surfers.

Long Beach safety officials said they were alarmed recently to hear reports of film crews tossing fish guts near shore in order to draw the predators closer to their cameras.

There is no shot worth somebodys life we are all responsible for maintaining public safety, said firefighter-paramedic Jake Heflin, spokesman for the Long Beach Fire Department.

Lifeguards have recently spotted film crews as well as commercial and recreational fishing vessels throwing chum into the water to lure sharks near the Long Beach harbor, according to Heflin.

When lifeguards approached the groups, the activity often stopped, he said.

On one occasion recently, lifeguards intervened before a film crew with National Geographic could begin chumming, Heflin said. He said the crew was cooperative.

The recent chumming activity has been a significant public safety issue for the fire department, he said. As the department gears up for the busy summer beach season and prepares to launch its junior lifeguard program, Heflin said, officials are worried that swimmers could have an unpleasant encounter with a shark lured to the shore with bait.

I know everybody wants the picture, but you put peoples lives at risk, Heflin said. You really have to question why you are doing that.

Lifeguards have been looking for chumming activity along the shore, but enforcement has been difficult, he said. They must observe individuals tossing fish into the ocean to be able to issue a citation, for polluting the water, Heflin said.

When we do see it, we are citing, Heflin said.

Along with the citations, lifeguards have been conducting additional patrols of the water, he said. Signs posted along the waters edge warn beachgoers of shark sightings.

Over the spring, the fire department received numerous reports of sharks in the waters off Peninsula Beach. Juvenile great white sharks, typically 5 to 6 feet long, have been regularly spotted near the shore.

Experts said the California coast is swarming with young sharks attracted to its safe ecosystem. Young sharks feed off a rich supply of sting rays, and pregnant female sharks prefer Southern Californias warmer water for gestation.

Its a nursery for young sharks, said Chris Lowe, head of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach.

But there is no way to tell how many sharks inhabit the waters off Southern California, he said.

More state and federal protections have allowed the predator population to thrive over the past 20 years.

But feeding the sharks could change their behavior, Lowe said.

Sharks could become complacent and rely on chum to survive. They could become aggressive and also linger in the waters for longer periods.

In general, its a bad idea, he said.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

See more here:

Quit tossing fish guts into shark-filled waters, Long Beach lifeguards say - Los Angeles Times

Last summers drought kept the sand and surf at Lake Eries beaches the cleanest in five years, so the beaches usually remained open.

But the region's second-wettest spring on record has changed the outlook for this year's swimming season. Beachgoers in 2017 can expect beaches to be closed to swimming more often.

The increased rainfall nearly 17.5 inches since March 1 brings more runoff into creeks and streams, sewer overflows, erosion and turbidity and trickier beach forecasting.

Woodlawn State Park beach has already been closed to swimming more than half the time since opening just before Memorial Day. Swimming at nearby Hamburg Town Park has been closed about a third of the time.

Infrastructure upgrades offer some hope that swimming will be allowed more often. Erie Countys recently spent $16 million to eliminate wastewater overflows from three pump stations into Rush and Blasdell creeks near Woodlawn.

Other places, like Evans and Dunkirk, are embarking on sustainable green infrastructure projects to capture stormwater before it reaches Lake Erie.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation funded a pair of studies at Lake Erie Beach in Evans and Point Gratiot in Dunkirk to start the process.

Part of the reason these beaches have been prioritized is because of the number of beach closures over the past few years, said Shannon Dougherty, the DECs western Great Lakes watershed coordinator.

Closing time

The beach at Wright Park in Dunkirk, where the number of closures dropped significantly in 2016. (Robert Kirkham/News file photo)

Summertime closings at Lake Erie's beaches have been a sign of the times, especially in recent years, after high bacterial levels became commonplace.

Beach closings at seven Lake Erie beaches Woodlawn State Park, Hamburg, Bennett, Evans, Wright Park and Point Gratiot dropped by nearly 65 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'sBeach Advisory and Closing Online Notification (BEACON) system.

The unusually dry spring and summer drove most of that reduction. Buffalo recorded only 6.57 inches of rain between March 1 and June 15, 2016.

Rainfall is one of about three dozen factors the beach forecasting model takes into account when projecting whether a beach is safe for swimming. Local officials depend on the model when making a final decision.

Site-specific measurements of the wind, its direction, wave heights, shoreline currents, water levels on tributaries to the beach, water turbidity and numerous other factors are also taken.

"Each beach has its own data set," saidBrett Hayhurst, a water quality specialist at the U.S. Geological Survey's New York Water Science Center in Ithaca.

In Erie County, officials from the county health department also collect daily water samples from the beaches to test bacteria levels and compare them against the model's forecast.

"We're finding we're closing less of the time when the water quality is actually good," saidDolores Funke, the county's environmental health director, "and keeping the beach open on the bad water quality days less."

A plan for Evans Town Park

Over the last decade, Evans Town Beach has been closed to swimmers for 176 summer days because of poor water quality.

The town now has a plan and the $172,125 needed to fix it.

Designs call for bioswayles drifting into rain gardens in Evans Town Park near the beach, according to Roberta L. Rappoccio, the town's director of planning and community development.

Why not beautify, be green and serve a purpose? Rappoccio said.

If successful, the green infrastructure project should alleviate stormwater flows from nearby Fernbrook Creek that often flood the area including a pedestrian tunnel under Lake Shore Road that joins the park and beach with up to several feet of water during heavy rain storms.

Were getting 25 year storms every year, Rappoccio said. Thats something were not equipped for.

Rappoccio said those rain gardens, which will include native plantings, will be designed to capture storm water and slowly filter it before it eventually finds its way a few hundred yards away onto the town beach.

The work is expected to be completed later this year. It is being funded through a federal grant from the EPA.

Whats more, after nearby Mickey Rats expected closing at the end of the summer, Rappoccio said the towns new waterfront design standards will require the use of green infrastructure on any future redevelopment of the site.

Theres no way to do it otherwise, she said. Theres no question about it.

Projects like this to capture and filter stormwater isn't new to the folks at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, but they're heartened that the message is starting to spread.

"Nature wants the eastern basin of Lake Erie to be dominated bycoastal wetland, though human settlement over the last 200 yearshas altered these systems almost beyond recognition," said Jill Jedlicka, Riverkeeper's executive director. "Protecting and restoring Great Lakes living infrastructure is a cost-effective approach to flood protection, filteringdrinking water, andecosystem improvements."

Lake Erie Beach

Views from a closed Lake Erie Beach on Aug. 14, 2009. (Harry Scull Jr,/News file photo)

Just west of Evans Town Park, Lake Erie Beach at Evans Point Breeze community has experienced similar troubles.

Since 2008, it has been closed 160 times.

One culprit: aged septic tanks that leak into Muddy Creek from cottages a half-century or more old.

We know its an issue, Rappoccio said.

The town spent about $75,000 from a state water quality improvement grant to design a plan to help clean up Lake Erie Beach.

It involves a two-phase approach with native plantings and a wetland area that can capture, slow and filter stormwater before it reaches Lake Erie.

Theres no timetable yet for construction, but the town is actively pursuing funding to complete that work.

Who knows? Rappoccio said. Maybe well be one of the communities where well be known as one of these green tourism areas.

Dunkirk's Point Gratiot Park

Waves crash into the cliffs below the lighthouse in Dunkirk. (Mark Mulville/News file photo)

Dunkirks Rebecca Yanus is directing the citys efforts to help filter and clean the water at Point Gratiot Park beach.

Like Evans, Dunkirk hopes a series of five strategically placed rain gardens with several native planting areas will help alleviate flooding in the area and run-off onto the beach and into the lake.

Run-off would come through the rain garden, Yanus said. Its very important we do that at different spots on the property.

A DEC-funded study shows the rain gardens will be filled with a native bedding stone and surrounded by prairie grass and dozens of spots for native plants like the cardinal flower, black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers, among others.

Two of the rain gardens at West Oak Street and Park Drive will come with accompanying bioswales.

The bedding will be mostly rocks and shale, Yanus said. A lot of the materials that will be used will be materials that are found right along the beach.

That will help defray additional construction costs for the project, which is estimated to be about $140,000.

Point Gratiot has fewer closures than most spots closer to Buffalo, but it remains in the double-digits for each year dating back to 2010, according to EPA data. The highest 28 closures came in 2010 and 2013.

Dunkirk officials hope the DECs involvement in the early part of the process bodes well when the city applies to the agency this summer for a grant to fund the project. If funded, work would be done in 2018, Yanus said.

Were hoping it will bring our water quality up to par so many more people can enjoy our beach, she said.

A big project at Woodlawn

Beachgoers enjoying Woodlawn Beach State Park. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

At Woodlawn State Park, where theres more pavement and more runoff than at rural parks, cleaning the water will take a lot more than a rain garden or two.

A 2010 state parks report updated in 2015cited five main culprits for impaired water quality at Woodlawn: stormwater outfalls, urban run-off, contaminated stream discharge, algal and leaf debris, and sewage overflows.

The countys expensive Rush Creek Interceptor project addressed the overflows.

It made it possible for us to eliminate the Blasdell Treatment Plant there, pump stations and those overflows, said Joseph Fiegl, Erie Countys deputy commissioner for the Division of Sewerage Management.

Since Nov. 19, there have been no overflows from the traditionally problematic pump stations at Electric Avenue, Blasdell and Labelle, even with some of the extreme weather this spring.

Even so, its been of small consolation for Woodlawns beachgoers this spring.

The beach was closed for six straight days over the Memorial Day holiday from May 28 to June 2 and has been closed five more times since June 5, according to Nowcast beach data.

It's not simply a beach problem, Fiegl said.Woodlawn Beachs water quality problem requires a wholesale solution.

"This is a watershed issue, he said.

Read the original here:

If you like to swim at Lake Erie beaches, our wet spring is bad news - Buffalo News

All 65 South Shore beaches that are tested by state and local officials for water quality are open. That includes Wollaston, Nantasket and Plymouth beaches.

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

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

HOW BEACHES ARE TESTED

Eighty-five beaches on the South Shore are tested for intestinal bacteria found in humans and animals.

High levels indicate the possible presence of disease-causing microbes that are present in sewage but are more difficult to detect. Bacterial colonies are filtered from three ounces of water and placed on a gel infused with nutrients and chemicals designed to promote growth.

Left in an incubator, the single cells isolated on the filter grow explosively, forming colonies visible to the naked eye. After one day, the colonies are counted and if they exceed 104 colonies, the beach is closed to swimming. If the past five samples have a geometric mean exceeding 35 colonies, the beach must also be closed to swimming.

Link:

One beach closed in Quincy, all others open - Wicked Local Hingham

EMERALD ISLE, NC (WITN) The high risk for dangerous rip currents will continue into Saturday for all of our beaches.

The National Weather Service warns that the surf remains dangerous for all swimmers, no matter how experienced they are.

On Friday, red flags were flying at Emerald Isle and Pine Knoll Shores, while Atlantic Beach wss flying yellow warning flags.

This past weekend, two Wayne County teens got caught in dangerous rips at Emerald Isle. One boy drowned, while the other was critically injured.

The high risk area is from North Topsail Beach in Onslow County to Duck in Dare County.

Meteorologists say the worst time for rip currents on Friday will be a couple hours before or after high tide, which is around 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday, life guards at Emerald Isle rescued 13 people, bringing the number to 25 for the week just in that beach town.

Previous Story

Emerald Isle lifeguards say this summer is shaping up to be one of their busiest in recent years with 13 more rescues of swimmers from rip currents Thursday.

That brings the total number of rescues this week at Emerald Isle to 25.

One person drowned while another was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Those rescued Thursday are all said to be fine.

Jordan East says this is her 6th year as a lifeguard at Emerald Isle and is starting out as the busiest.

Jordan says, "I think most of the time people come down here they see our flags they see the water, they don't really know how to recognize it and we try our best to educate the public."

Other Crystal Coast beaches have had a number of rescues as well. Atlantic Beach has had 14 rescues in the past three weeks. Salter Path has had 5 rescues and 10 distress calls, and North Topsail Beach has had 4 distress calls. Distress calls mean emergency crews were called to the beach for someone who may have been panicking out in the ocean, but no one had to be pulled from the water.

Lifeguards advise you swim at beaches where there are lifeguards, and say if you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to shore until you are out of it.

The rip current risk along the coast remains in the moderate range.

See the article here:

Reg flags up as high rip current risk for all beaches today - WITN

Beaches at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes State Park have been readied for summer, and continued testing after an April chemical spill in a Lake Michigan tributary indicates the water is safe, a National Park Service spokesman said.

The park service began working with EPA to establish a long-term monitoring program after U.S. Steel's Midwest Plant spilled 298 pounds of hexavalent chromium into the Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan in April.

The spill was about 584 times the daily maximum limit allowed under state permitting laws, Indiana Department of Environmental Managementdocuments show.

EPA said in a June news release that water testing found "no hexavalent chromium impacts to the Burns Waterway or Lake Michigan." The park service will continue to test waters once a week through Aug. 30, National Lakeshore Supervisory Park Ranger Bruce Rowe said.

Preparations for summer included cleaning up about 17 miles of beaches, placing buoys in the water to mark swim beaches, erecting lifeguards stands, and moving tons of sand that covered parking lots and walkways during the off-season, Rowe said. The West Beach bathhouse and restroom facilities at Kemil, Porter, Lakeview and Dunbar beaches also were opened.

The park service plans to reopen access to the beach at Mount Baldy later this summer. The Mount Baldy area has been closed since a then-6-year-old boy was swallowed by sand in a freak accident in 2013. The boy survived.

Extensive testing found the beach to be safe, and the park service plans to open it after work on an access trail is completed, according to a news release. The Mount Baldy dune will remain closed, with the exception of ranger-led tours.

For the first time in decades, the number of lifeguards at Indiana Dunes State Park has been increased. Swimming is allowed only when lifeguards are on duty, the release said.

Swimming will be permitted seven days a week at the eastern and western portions of the beach. In past years, swimming was allowed only on the western section during weekdays.

There will be a family-friendly fireworks program June 29 at Indiana Dunes State Park and a sand sculpture contest July 8.

West Beach visitors can try out kayaks and paddleboards in Lake Michigan at 1 p.m. Fridays during the free Beach Fun Friday program, which will be led by park staff. After sunset, visitors will be invited to gather around a beach campfire to enjoy stories and roast marshmallows. The program runs through Sept. 1.

Read the original post:

Indiana Dunes beaches are ready for summer | Lake County News ... - nwitimes.com

Heavy rains last winter poured billions of gallons of polluted runoff into the ocean, significantly increasing health risks at many Southern California beaches, according to Heal the Bays annual beach report card.

The reassuring news, said Sarah Sikich, the environmental groups vice president, is that if you swim at an open-ocean beach in the summer away from storm drains and creek mouths, you statistically have very little risk of getting ill.

No local beaches received failing marks from April to October 2016, the summer reporting period.

Released Thursday, the annual survey of beaches statewide showed that almost half the 85 beaches that Los Angeles County monitored last year earned F grades during the wet winter.

Report: Almost half of L.A. County beaches receive Fs

High bacteria counts presented a significant health threat to thousands of regular ocean users, who were at risk of contracting such ailments as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and rashes from a morning swim or surf session, the report said.

Heal the Bay, based in Santa Monica, also found that bacterial levels spiked at some of Californias most popular beaches as polluted runoff poured through storm drains and into the sea.

We want people catching waves, not bugs, when they head to the beach, Sikich said.

Southern California accounted for five sites that made Heal the Bays infamous Beach Bummer List, which ranks the 10 most polluted beaches in the state.

Heal the Bays Top 10 Beach Bummers

Source: Heal the Bay

San Clemente Pier, a newcomer to the list, was in the No. 2 spot. Though shark sightings have closed stretches of this beach recently, swimmers might be more worried about bacteria levels.

La Jolla Cove in San Diego, another new addition to the top 10, was in fifth place. This beach sits in an enclosed area with limited water circulation.

The No. 6 slot belongs to Santa Monica Pier, where moist conditions, flocks of birds and storm drain runoff are likely culprits.

Efforts are underway to improve water quality, including the construction of a $1.6-million cistern system to catch runoff during the rainy season.

Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey is No. 9. Unsafe levels of bacteria have resulted from a lack of water circulation.

Monarch State Beach in Orange County was in 10th place. This bird-heavy stretch of sand north of Salt Creek is adjacent to the five-star Ritz Carlton resort in Dana Point.

In Los Angeles County, Heal the Bay analysts gave grades of A to F to 85 beaches for three testing periods in the 2016-17 report, based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution measured by health agencies.

Overall, about 93% of county beaches received A grades for the summer period, a 4% increase from last years report.

In Orange County, about 95% of 117 monitored beaches received A grades during the summer, while 40 beaches in Ventura County scored a perfect 100% for the seventh consecutive year.

San Diego County scored top marks, with 97% of 75 monitored sites receiving A or B grades during the summer. Wet weather grades declined, however, with only 68% of sites earning A or B grades during rains.

In addition, contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River at the Mexico border resulted in 21 beach closures. Despite encouraging news in dry weather, the report card states that stubborn pockets of chronic pollution still plague several popular beaches in that area.

Heal the Bay officials say that swimming or surfing at a beach with a water quality grade of C or lower greatly increases the risk of contracting respiratory or gastrointestinal illnesses.

They advise the public to avoid enclosed beaches with poor water circulation, wait three days before entering the ocean after rainfall and swim at least 100 yards from piers and storm drains.

On the positive side, four beaches in Los Angeles County made Heal the Bays Honor Roll, which recognizes beaches that score perfect A-plus grades year round. They are El Matador State Beach in Malibu, Malibu Point, Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates and Portuguese Bend in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Orange County earned 14 spots on the Honor Roll, while Ventura had one.

Statewide, Californias overall water quality during summer was excellent.

About 97% of 416 beaches received A or B marks. During the rainy season, only 52% of beaches earned As and Bs.

Heal the Bay advocates reusing storm water runoff for non-potable uses or diverting it into aquifers rather than letting it flow out to sea.

The organization estimates that most of the 100 billion gallons of storm water that drenched the region last winter enough to meet the needs of 2.5 million people could have been captured and reused with the right drainage systems.

We need to rethink how we handle storm water runoff, Sikich said.

Heal the Bay officials also used their news conference for the report, which has become an annual publicity platform, to express concern about the Trump administrations proposal to cut $3 billion from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys annual budget.

Sikich said this possible reduction, about a third of the agencys total budget, would eliminate funding for ocean water monitoring programs in many California counties.

Los Angeles, which pays for its own water quality testing along the coast, would not be affected by the cuts in the EPA budget.

dan.weikel@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LADeadline16

ALSO

LAPD probing whether cadets stole and crashed two police cars, sources say

Victims of shooting at San Francisco UPS facility are identified as families and co-workers mourn

The report card on Californias battle against climate change

Read the original:

Bummer: Report card says some Southern California beaches might ... - Los Angeles Times

Life for newborn sea turtles is a brutal fight for survival.

Sea turtles hatch from eggs their mothers lay in sand nests they dig on warm beaches. When they all emerge simultaneously, the sand covering the nest looks like its bubbling. So-called turtle boils are cues for predators like foxes and birds to descend onto the beach and lie in wait to snack on on the baby turtles as they make a mad dash to the ocean. Its not clear how many hatchlings get eaten before they make it to the water, but those that do the first years of life mostly hiding and growing because theyre so vulnerable, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Only about one in 1,000 to 10,000 actually make it to adulthood.

Unfortunately, its getting tougher for these little guys to make it out of the nest at all: rising beach temperatures resulting from climate change are killing baby sea turtles before they even hatch.

According to Oceana, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit dedicated to marine conservation, rising sand temperatures have already killed off entire nests on beaches in Florida and Costa Rica. Were seeing more dead eggs, Jeanette Wyneken, a biologist studying sea turtles at the Florida Atlantic University, told Oceana. And when we do get turtles hatching, theyre often heat stressed: They may hatch and crawl to the water, but then die. The strain of surviving at elevated temperatures drains them of the energy their tiny bodies need to travel far enough to start feeding.

Rising temperatures are a threat to these creatures in more ways than one. For sea turtles (and many other reptiles) the temperature of the sand the eggs develop in determines sex (paywall). Typically, sands above 29.5C (85F) produce female turtles and cooler temperatures around 28C (82F) produce males. So as temperatures have warmed, conservation scientists have found that females have begun to outnumber males by nearly four to one in some nesting locations.

Scientists arent sure what makes for a healthy ratio of male to female turtlesthey only recently started studying these numbers in response to climate change. But theoretically, an all-female population would eventually die out because they couldnt reproduce.

The demise of entire turtle nests due to heat, though, would accelerate the die-off of turtle populations Prior research has shown that when sand reaches 35C (95F) (pdf) or hotter, turtles eggs are not able to hatch at all. Its unclear how many unhatched turtles die as a result of each degree warmer their nests are, but the problem is likely to only get worse as global temperatures increase.

Scientists are now desperately trying to devise ways of lowering sand temperatures cooler. Some have tried to manually shade or slosh chilled water over turtle nests to try to cool them down, although it would take a massive effort likely involving both scientists and local communities to do this for every nest. Additionally, scientists arent totally sure why turtles nest on some beaches and not others, making it harder to predict which beaches would need extra monitoring.

Six of the seven known species of sea turtles are already classified as either vulnerable or endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. If sand temperatures continue to riseas they undoubtedly will without global, concerted efforts to mitigate climate changethese sea turtles could become another victim of humanitys destruction of life on the planet.

The rest is here:

Climate change is killing sea turtles by making beaches too hot for ... - Quartz

Boca Ratons beaches are again open to swimmers after the county lifted a health advisory because of high bacteria levels.

The city said water test results from the citys beaches showed that the bacteria levels waned, prompting the state Department of Health of Palm Beach County to lift an advisory from Spanish River Park and South Inlet Park.

Water samples from the two parks previously showed high levels of enterococci bacteria, which is known to cause infections and rashes.

Prior readings came in at 80 parts per 100 milliliters at Spanish River Park and 190 parts per 100 milliliters at South Inlet Park. Measures more than 70 parts per million are considered Poor.

In a news release, the city said tests taken Wednesday showed levels at 10 parts per million, putting the readings in the Good category.

High amounts can be caused by runoff after heavy rains, high surf, wildlife and heavy pedestrian use. Temporary spikes in levels are rare and the cause of the increase in Boca is unknown, the health departments spokesman Tim OConnor said.

When you see continuous high levels of bacteria, then thats something that indicates there is something serious going on, OConnor said. For the most part, this is naturally occurring.

The department conducts testing of ocean water every two weeks within the county at 13 sample sites from Boca to Jupiter. In March, Delray Beach and Ocean Ridge also saw a similar spike following heavy rains that led to beach closures.

The health department said beach-goers can take precautions by showering with fresh water after swimming in any natural body of water. Residents can also find more information on water quality at beaches on the departments website.

achokey@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6531, Twitter: @aric_chokey

Visit our Boca Raton community page at facebook.com/SunSentinelBocaRaton.

Link:

Swimming ban lifted at Boca beaches - Sun Sentinel

Kenosha County residents got an early summer blast of heat this past week, sending many people scrambling to find their swimsuits, towels, chairs and sunscreen and get to a beach.

Lucky for us, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy a day at the beach and a jump into a lake.

But which lake? Local beachcombers have a variety of choices, from big beaches on big Lake Michigan to smaller inland lakes in the western part of the county.

If youre looking for a place in the sun, this guide can help you decide which spot works best for you. Keep in mind, there are no bad beaches (well ... maybe a few), just bad choices.

n Simmons Island Beach: 5001 Simmons Island Drive.

This large beach has a lot to recommend it with LARGE being its biggest asset. You have plenty of room to spread your beach towel and, for swimming space, you cant beat Lake Michigan.

Warning: Be careful out there! Stick close to the shore and NEVER jump off that lighthouse pier. Lake Michigan is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous and an undertow can overpower even the strongest swimmers.

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: Simmons Island Beach has that iconic Kenosha view of our red lighthouse.

Also good: A boardwalk! And were nowhere near Coney Island! Using the boardwalk, you can walk from the beach parking lot most of the way to the lighthouse pier without having to trudge through hot sand. Id love it if the boardwalk was extended even farther north and south, but its a good start. Whats NOT good? The graffiti on the boardwalk. Knock it off!

I also like the beach grasses growing on either side of the boardwalk. I can pretend Im at the Outer Banks ... until I see the Kenosha water tower looming in the background. Still, it adds a nice beachy vibe to the area.

Needs work: Aside from the restrooms, which are clean, its a crime to see how bad the Simmons Island beach house looks. Its mostly boarded up, and some of the concrete pillars on the beach side are crumbling. A real shame.

Also, the playground equipment that was on the beach in past summers has vanished. Will it never return?

n Pennoyer Park Beach: 3601 Seventh Ave.

This beach is adjacent to the band shell at the south end of Kennedy Park Drive.

Warning: Be careful out there! Lake Michigan is a serious body of water, with powerful currents.

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: There are indoor restrooms and nearby tennis courts. And, when its not being repaired, the band shell hosts concerts and other events.

Needs work: The beach could use a good grooming.

n Southport Beach: 7825 First Ave.

This Lake Michigan swimming spot is located on the north side of the beach house. There are swing sets on a hill.

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: The park area overlooking Lake Michigan is wonderful for walking or just sitting, catching a breeze and watching the boats go by.

Needs work: It does tend to stink of rotting fish here when the weather gets hot and the wind isnt blowing. Also, there are no indoor restrooms open to the public unless you sneak in during a private event when the doors are left open. (If you cant get inside the building, theres a porta-potty in the parking lot. Talk about a stink!)

n Eichelman Park Beach: 6125 Third Ave.

This city beach has lots of shade, picnic tables and plenty of benches. There is also a restroom and drinking fountain.

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: The twin parks Eichelman and Wolfenbuttel are close to downtown shops, restaurants and bars plus you cant beat a stroll through the flower gardens. If youre there on a weekend, chances are youll get to watch a wedding ceremony.

Needs work: The bottom of the swimming area is very rocky. Make sure to pack aqua shoes or sport sandals.

n Carol Beach public beach: South of 100th Street on Lakeshore Drive in Pleasant Prairie. (From the north, take 90th Street east from Seventh Avenue to the lake and head south on Lakeshore Drive to 108th Street. From the south, enter Carol Beach Estates at 116th Street and head east.)

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: Its a long beach that stretches along the greatest of the Great Lakes.

Needs work: There are no services here. (So, maybe go easy on the liquids ... or be prepared to wade out into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan as your restroom.) Also, the parking lots are not paved.

n Lake Andrea: Highway 165 in Pleasant Prairie.

The large, sandy beach has picnic tables, a beach volleyball court, restrooms and a concession stand. You can also rent canoes, kayaks and various boats. All in all, you cant go wrong spending a day here.

Top choice: If you like well cared-for sand, this is the beach for you. You wont find sticks, rocks and goose droppings here; you can tell it is regularly groomed.

Also good: The swimming area has a clean, sandy bottom (with NO WEEDS) that is easy on the feet.

Return of the Wibit! The Wibit floating obstacle course/raft water attraction very popular with kids (and adults) was missing in 2016 after being sent out for repairs. Its back, baby!

Needs work: Its not cheap to spend an afternoon here. Daily admission fees are $7 per person for Kenosha County residents. Thats the same price for someone driving in from Maryland or, worse, Illinois! If you want a price break, you must be a Pleasant Prairie not Kenosha County resident. Cant we get the neighbor discount? Were all in the same county!

n Old Settlers Park: on Highway 50 in Paddock Lake.

This pretty park has lots and lots of shade trees, ample parking and plenty of picnic tables and grills. It also has restrooms and changing areas.

Top choice: There is a small sand beach with a good-sized swimming area and a large grassy area with shade! in the park. Also, its free Monday-Friday.

Needs work: The weeds that have populated the swimming area in past summers are still there (though the weeds do seem to be less bothersome this summer).

Lifeguards? Fees? Though the Kenosha County Parks website states that lifeguards are on duty on weekends (and fees are charged), when we visited Sunday (June 11), there were no lifeguards and no one collecting fees. If you want to make sure lifeguards are present, head to Silver Lake Park.

Bonus: Theres a dog park next to the beach, so the whole family can find something fun to do.

Looking ahead: The Twilight Jazz Concert Series opens its season on July 11 with a free concert in the park, and the Oktoberfest is Sept. 9.

n Silver Lake Park: on County Road F in the town of Salem.

This is probably the most popular beach in Kenosha County. Theres a big grassy area, with picnic tables and grills, swing sets, a softball diamond and a volleyball court.

The swimming area is very large, with shallow water. The bottom of the swimming area is generally sandy and not too yucky.

There are concessions, restrooms and changing areas.

Top choice: Lots of green space, lots of amenities, lots of water.

Also good: Want to go for a walk? A quarter-mile long paved path leads out from the far end of the park area to the Silver Lake boat launch, following the lakeshore.

Needs work: The beach area is rocky, not sandy. I suggest staying on the grass to avoid all those sharp little rocks on your tender feet.

New this year: You can rent kayaks and paddleboards at the beach ($15 for the first hour and $5 for each additional hour).

Say it isnt so! The Snoopy ice cream bar a summer tradition has been replaced by Hello Kitty and SpongeBob Squarepants. Thats hardly an equal swap ... and, on the day we visited, they were out of SpongeBob.

n DeWitt Park: on Highway B in Silver Lake.

This small city beach in Silver Lake has a swing set, a portable restroom and a few benches. Kids like swimming here because they can use toys in the water.

Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: Its free, and you can use water toys at this beach. Bring on the noodles!

Needs work: The swimming area at this beach has a lot of weeds, and the bottom is mucky in spots.

Warning: Theres no parking lot; you have to find a spot across the street. And that can be difficult on a busy weekend.

n Lance Park: on Lake Mary in Twin Lakes.

This beach has a big swimming area, ample parking, plus a picnic area with shade trees and two picnic tables. And its free. Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: There are clean indoor restrooms in a building just west of the beach area.

Needs work: The beach area is rocky and covered with seaweed. (Stick to the grass, but watch out for goose droppings!)

Ouch: The bottom of the swimming area is VERY rocky (wear aqua shoes).

Warning: The swimming area is next to a busy boat launch. Not only do you need to steer clear of the boats, you also have to breathe in engine fumes.

Bonus: Forgot to pack a beach book? The worlds cutest Little Library is at the beach. (Look for the Cat in the Hat.)

Bonus II: You can watch the Aquanuts Water Ski shows, which are 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays from this area. The shows are free.

n Lily Lake: on Lily Lake Road in the town of Wheatland.

This beach has a large swimming area. There is parking across the street. Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: Theres a pier for jumping into the lake, and you can bring water toys.

Needs work: Weeds, weeds, weeds!

n Powers Lake: on Lake Park Drive in the town of Randall.

This nice little beach has a good-sized swimming area. There is one porta-potty at the beach. Beach toys and rafts can be used. Note: No lifeguards.

Top choice: The beach is nicely groomed, and I appreciate the big shade trees.

Needs work: There are in theory two sides to the swimming area, but in reality, you have to stay to the one side of the pier. The other side is choked with weeds.

Warning: The parking lot fills up on weekends.

See the rest here:

Lake Michigan beaches - Kenosha News

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) Pay up, comrade.

A decadeslong good neighbor policy that granted more than 100 free beach passes each summer to Russian diplomats and their families has come to an end in one suburban New York town.

Oyster Bay officials say if residents have to pay for access to the sand and sun, then so do the emissaries from Moscow.

One of two Long Island retreats for Russian diplomats working at the United Nations headquarters in New York City had been located in the town until December, when the Obama administration ordered it shut in response to alleged Russian hacking in the 2016 presidential election.

There have been reports that the ouster may be reversed under President Donald Trump, but local officials say their decision is based only on local concerns.

Our decision has absolutely nothing to do with anything that is going on in the federal government, insists Joseph Saladino, who was appointed Oyster Bay town supervisor earlier this year. The Republican is seeking election to a full term in November. If our residents have to pay, they have to pay.

Oyster Bay, a township of nearly 300,000 people east of New York City that was once home to former President Theodore Roosevelt, has four beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. Residents can pay a $20 daily fee for access to any of the beaches or buy a seasonal pass for $60. Fees for non-residents range between $50 and $60 a day, and some are open to non-residents only on summer weekdays.

Since the days of the former Soviet Union, the town has provided free beach passes to the diplomats, ostensibly because of their presence at a mansion in Upper Brookville called Elmcroft. The house originally had 27 rooms and 11 baths and was once the home of a former New York governor, Nathan Miller.

Satellite photography shows the grounds today include a tennis court, gardens, a soccer field and another large, modern building.

The Obama administration had claimed the Cold War-era estate, along with one in Maryland, were being used for intelligence activities.

The U.S. closed the sites in December and ordered 35 Russian officials to leave the country in retaliation for Moscows alleged meddling to help President Donald Trumps election chances. Their return has been atop Moscows wish list since Trump entered office.

When the town received a request this spring from the Russians for 116 free passes, Saladino said he responded, Nyet.

He said he did offer to let them buy seasonal passes at the residential rate of $60 each, but did not receive a response. A spokesman with the Russian mission to the United Nations did not address the towns decision on the beach passes when reached for comment via email.

In a 2014 story in a Long Island weekly newspaper, a Russian mission spokesman, Alexey Zaytsev said most of the Russian Mission to the UN staff enjoys the beaches.

In any beach facility we meet friendly and attentive people, so we are really thankful to the Oyster Bay authorities and residents for their hospitality.

Saladinos decision appears to be playing well with locals.

Were paying, why shouldnt they? said Susan Carfora as she arrived with a friend at Tobay Beach, the largest of the town beaches that sits on the Atlantic Ocean just east of the famed Jones Beach State Park.

I dont believe in special privileges for anybody, added Roseann Celauro.

Mike Davis said he didnt have a problem with the town providing free passes in the past, but said he supports the town decision because of the election hacking and stuff. I think they should pay.

Its still not clear whether the Russians will be permitted to return to the property in Upper Brookville. Officials in Washington recently said high-level negotiations are ongoing. Some elected officials oppose any return.

Excerpt from:

NY town says 'nyet' to Russian request for free beach passes - The Seattle Times

The city of Boca Raton is prohibiting swimming at all its beaches after results from testing at two sites showed high bacterial levels in the water.

The citys beaches will remain open to the public, with red flags and signs at its entrances enforcing no swimming.

Full use of the beaches may resume within the next 24 to 48 hours once results are in from additional water samples.

Testing takes about 24 hours, so [by Thursday], we should know if its clear or not, said Chrissy Gibson, Boca Ratons spokeswoman.

A health advisory was issued for beaches at Spanish River Park and South Inlet Park after they were listed in the poor range because of recent sampling, the Palm Beach County Department of Health said Wednesday.

Beach waters at 13 locations from Boca Raton to Jupiter are regularly tested by health department workers and, following laboratory testing, concentrations of bacteria are assigned to indicate poor, moderate or good ranges.

The cause of the elevated bacteria levels isnt known, but typical causes include runoff following heavy rains, high surf from high winds and high tides, heavy recreational usage and wildlife.

Such bacteria can lead to infectious diseases, especially for someone with an open wound or a compromised immune system, said health department spokesman Tim OConnor. Additionally, it has an entry point if swallowed.

You can find water quality listings for beaches in Palm Beach County and throughout the state at http://www.flhealthpalmbeach.org. Click the link to Beach Water Sampling.

Read more here:

Boca Raton prohibits swimming at beaches after high bacteria levels found at two sites - Sun Sentinel

The reinstated Palm Beaches Marathon could run through the island this year.

Race organizers are working on the route and received permission from the Town Council on Tuesday to meet with Palm Beach officials earlier than normal this summer to discuss the plan. In the past, Palm Beach has not allowed the race to come over the bridge.

To allow runners to cross onto the island, race organizers need a special event permit. A town ordinance prohibits event organizers from filing the application more than 90 days in advance of the event.

Ken Kennerly CEO of K2 Sports Ventures, which acquired the former Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest last year from the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches asked the council for a waiver so he can get started earlier with race planning. The FITTEAM Palm Beaches Marathon, which also includes a half marathon and 5k race, is scheduled Dec. 1-3.

The race was cancelled last year.

Were looking to bring this race back to prominence, said Kennerly, also executive director of the Honda Classic. This gives us two additional months. From an operational, logistics standpoint, all were looking for is to create a seamless and unobtrusive event for your residents and guests.

Gary Ferman, a spokesman for the race, wouldnt say whether the plan involves crossing onto the island.

Nothing has been determined yet along those lines, he said via email. The routes for this years races are under development and have not been finalized to this point.

Town Manager Tom Bradford said race organizers have discussed several options for routes but he isnt sure what they will end up proposing.

My position on it is if it is considered, the impact has to be de minimis in terms of area impacted and time of day, Bradford said via email. We told them a special event permit is required, and due to the potential magnitude, it would have to be approved by the Town Council. We told them timing would also have to consider President Trump being here or not.

Former race denied

In 2015, former race manager Meryl Leventon asked the town for permission for an estimated 3,000 runners to cross the Royal Park Bridge and race down South Ocean Boulevard before exiting on the Southern Boulevard Bridge. The town denied the permit and Leventon appealed to the council.

The council voted 3-2 to reject the appeal. Current members Danielle Moore and Richard Kleid were the ones who were willing to give the marathon a trial run. The three members who voted against allowing the race are no longer on the council. Mayor Gail Coniglio and her son Nick Coniglio at the time also supported the 3-mile proposed route onto the island.

LETTER: Marathon should be allowed on island

Kennerly said his grandparents owned a home near Sloans Curve and he has spent a lot of time in Palm Beach.

I certainly understand what makes Palm Beach one of the greatest places on this planet, he said. Professionally, Ive had the opportunity to work with your officials, Jay Boodheshwar in particular on the Palm Beach Par 3. Weve had several events in Palm Beach and I hope he and his staff would attest to the quality and professionalism that we maintain.

One of the goals of the race is to take advantage of the picturesque setting that the water views along Flagler Drive provide, it states in a March news release.

Here is the original post:

Will Palm Beach be part of new Palm Beaches Marathon this winter? - Palm Beach Daily News

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 5:35 PM

The citys most popular beaches and large outdoor pools will stay open for an extra week after Labor Day, officials announced Tuesday as the mercury climbed into the 90s for the third straight day.

The Parks Department got $1.7 million in the city budget passed last week to pay for the extension, which will apply to six beaches and Olympic- and intermediate-sized outdoor pools.

Beaches and pools will stay open through Sunday, Sept. 10. Its the second year pools are staying open later, and the third for beaches.

To millions of New Yorkers, our citys beaches and pools are a necessity: its where they go on hot summer days to relax, exercise, and just cool off, Mayor de Blasio said.

NYC summer comes to end, but beaches, pools open one more week

Coney Island and Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, Rockaway Beach in Queens, Orchard Beach in the Bronx, and Midland and South Beaches on Staten Island are all staying open later.

Last summer, nearly 16 million people visited New York City beaches, and 1.9 million visited outdoor pools. Beaches have been open since Memorial Day weekend, while pools will open June 28.

"For the countless New Yorkers who cant afford to vacation in the Hamptons or take a cruise in the Caribbean, the city's beaches and pools offer exceptional summer recreation opportunities right here in the five boroughs accessible for the price of a MetroCard, said Councilman Mark Levine, chair of the parks committee.

Meanwhile, City Hall plans to announce a $106 million program Wednesday to curb the effects of extreme heat in city neighborhoods, billed as part of the push to increase New Yorks resiliency against climate change.

NYC Parks Dept. has 43 projects stalled for 5 years or more

The current heat wave saw the mercury soar to 98 degrees at LaGuardia Airport Tuesday, a record high beating the previous record of 97 set in 1961, according to the National Weather Service. Central Park was a slightly cooler 94 degrees, which is not a record.

Read more:

NYC beaches, outdoor pools to stay open one week after Labor Day ... - New York Daily News

St. Johns County commissioners on Tuesday will consider entering into a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to receive assistance for recovery efforts tied to Hurricane Matthew.

Gov. Rick Scott in February allocated nearly $15.8 million in emergency beach restoration funds to St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties through a pair of executive orders. St. Johns County secured and accepted a $3.75 million share of the pot, but the monies come with a 50 percent match requirement to make a $7.5 million project and the countys strapped for cash.

The agreement would allow the county to use the $3.75 million toward addressing beach erosion via sand placement and dune vegetation planting along a critically-eroded area stretching from about 5,000 feet north of the St. Augustine Inlet to just south of the entrance of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Funds will have to be disbursed prior to July 2020.

Neal Shinkre, public works director, said next weeks discussion will include a review of potential funding mechanisms to cover the 50 percent cost share.

He said the likely choice will be to create a Municipal Service Benefit Unit, which is a non-ad valorem assessment, not tied to the value of a property.

He said he would expect to come back before the board in about two months to put the plan into motion.

The whole process could take five to six months, and a project wouldnt come until after that.

Thats just the way the process is, Shinkre said. I cant shorten it.

He said the county has held two meetings with property owners in the affected area over the past few months and that they seem generally willing to go ahead with the assessments.

If the community as a whole cant afford this, then there is no project, Shinkre said. But I want to give my best in terms of what we can do for the community. Its up to the community to agree, or not, to move forward.

The county is also waiting for details on $13.3 million the Florida Legislature separately allocated for hurricane recovery on beaches in St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties. It is still unknown how much will be allocated to each county, although Shinkre said he was hoping to get at least half of those monies.

I wanted to wait, Shinkre said. It benefits us to wait till we know where the $13.3 million is, but I dont want to waste time considering that I need another five months to go through this legal process of the MSBU to establish that.

Meanwhile, the reimbursement process with the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues.

The countys official damage assessment to FEMA, originally submitted in the wake of the storm, totaled about $174.8 million and included about $120 million in sand and dune losses within the coastal region. In May, however, updated assessments came in around $112.7 million and included just $70 million in sand and dune losses.

A county memo released last week outlining hurricane-related projects and funding sources says the storm resulted in about 1.4 million cubic yards of sand loss countywide and that the current going rate for sand replacement these days is about $50 per cubic yard.

Shinkre has said just because sand is gone doesnt mean all of it is coming back. Still, the county is asking for the $70 million, which includes the $20 million that would be covered by the state-headed projects outlined above, at least partly in the hopes the local share will go down.

Sand renourishment under the FEMA Public Assistance program is limited to improved, publicly-owned property, which, the memo says, accounts for just 160,000 cubic yards of the total sand lost. The estimated $8 million replacement cost for this portion of beach sand would require a county match of about $1 million.

The memo says, from a coastal engineering perspective, re-nourishing only the sand lost intermittently on county-owned property would not provide any meaningful protection from future storms.

Therefore, the County is challenging these limitations, stating the entire beach has public use, is an integrated system of protection and requires funding from FEMA, the memo continues.

Were calling it a unified beach, Shinkre elaborated.

Several projects are underway or have already been completed using a variety of federal, state and local funding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Inland Navigation District and St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District recently redirected about $4 million of sand to a roughly 4,000-foot stretch of impacted shoreline in Vilano Beach through a navigation dredge project. Shinkre said completion of the project, in addition to not coming at a cost to the county, will also take some of the load off the incoming state-sponsored projects.

In Summer Haven, a dredge of the Intracoastal Waterway has been completed while restoration of the Summer Haven River continues, but is expected to be done soon. Both projects are putting sand back on area beaches.

Shinkre said the county is also working with FEMA on two projects worth about $9 million that would restore roadways in north and south Summer Haven. At least for now, a 12.5 percent local share is expected to come out out Transportation Trust Fund reserves.

Either/or, there are limited funds everywhere, Shinkre said. Well see what the board does on that.

Additionally, a $75 million, 50-year beach nourishment program for South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach is closer to becoming a reality. The program, which would be similar to the one in place for St. Augustine Beach, got approval by a Corps panel and is headed to Congress by the end of the year. Shinkre said the proposed project area extends from about the middle of Serenata Beach Club down to about 5,000 feet north of the inlet.

However, under current conditions, the program would only be 22 percent funded, compared to the 80 percent federal share for St. Augustine Beach. This is mostly due to lack of public access.

Shinkre said the countys trying to work with the Corps and boost some local parking and access in the hopes of increasing that 22 percent federal share to 45 percent.

Were optimistic on that number, he said, adding the county will also be lobbying the state to take on half the 55 percent remaining.

He said if all goes well, design for an initial nourishment could commence by sometime next year.

We are out but were not in doubt, Shinkre said.

Here is the original post:

Money for St. Johns County's beaches doesn't come without costs - St. Augustine Record

I certainly dont look like someone whos a beach expert or even like someone who should be seen at a beach but after more than a decade of putting together our Get Out Guide to Kenosha County beaches, Im intimately acquainted with our local hot spots.

After visiting our public beaches this week, Ive come away with some inside information:

The best sand hands down can be found at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie. Seriously, they groom that beach more than I comb my own hair, and the swimming area has a clean, sandy bottom, too. (Thats much appreciated when compared to the other lakes.)

Check it out yourself. New this year at Lake Andrea are Beach Bash Wednesdays, with prizes, games and other activities from 4 to 6 p.m. each week. Free to RecPlex members; $4 for non-members.

Ink-spiration: If you need ideas for your next tattoo, head to a beach. Youll see plenty of body art. In fact, its rare to find someone between the ages of 18 and 40 who doesn't sport at least one tattoo.

A real shame: The beach house at Simmons Island beach is mostly boarded up and crumbling (though the restrooms are open). That's no way to treat a National Historic Landmark from 1934! I hate to think Racine is doing anything better than we are, but check out that city's North Beach Oasis for an idea of what we could have here. Isn't it time to revive this building?

Bring a book: The worlds cutest Little Library can be found at the beach in Lance Park in Twin Lakes (look for the Cat in the Hat), but it was almost empty when we visited Sunday afternoon. If youre heading to that beach, be a pal and bring a book or two or eight to restock that free library.

Does this look like a rash to you? Silver Lake Park has the countys most popular beach, but it isnt perfect. They are currently warning visitors about swimmers itch, a rash caused by an allergic reaction to the larvae of parasites being in the water. Yuck, right? To avoid getting an itchy rash, towel off or rinse off theres a hose near the lifeguard office for this purpose after getting out of the water. An even bigger outrage? The Snoopy Ice Cream bar is gone from the concession stand! Is nothing sacred?

All the jazz: The perfect time to visit the beach at Old Settlers Park in Paddock Lake is July 11. Stick around that evening for the first west-of-the-I Twilight Jazz concert. Bills Little Big Band is performing from 7 to 9 that night. Admission is free.

Finally, smile and enjoy yourself. When you go to a beach in this area, youll see bodies of every size and shape. Including my shape, which is round and squishy. And you know what? Even the folks who dont have perfect beach bodies were having fun. And isnt that what a day at the beach is all about? Oh, and wear sunscreen. No matter what shape youre in, a sunburn is no fun.

Have a comment? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call her at 262-656-6271.

Look in the June 15 Get Out entertainment section for your 2017 Guide to Kenosha County Beaches.

Jim Kreutzer has been producing movies for more than two decades, and he knows getting an independent film into theaters is no easy task.

Thats why hes thrilled that his latest film, Tommys Honour, will be playing for one week in Lake Geneva, starting June 16.

I finally managed to get Tommy opened locally, he said, adding, Getting any film outside of a studio picture to open in theaters is very political and difficult.

Tommys Honour, a movie about golfing legends Tom Morris (Old Tom) and his son Tommy Morris (Young Tom), also benefits from the U.S. Open being at the Erin Hills Golf Course in Hartford, Wis., he said.

The movie played in April at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Student Cinema Theater as a Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha fundraiser and at theaters in Wauwatosa and New Berlin. The film has had a very successful theatrical release in more than 65 of the biggest markets in the U.S. since April 14, Kreutzer said.

Critical reception: Tommy's Honour has a 77 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a figure indicating positive reviews. An engrossing and accessible celebration of the games modern origins, enhanced by striking locations and a standout cast, led by Scottish actors Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden, wrote The Hollywood Reporters Justin Lowe.

Audience reaction, Kreutzer said, has always been good.

Future showings: The movie, which was filmed in Scotland, will open in the U.K. on July 7 and Australia in August. It comes out on DVD and Video on Demand in July.

The film: The movie is a feast for golf fans, with several scenes of 19th century matches.

The golf in the movie is quite different from todays game. For one thing, they play in high winds, rain and even snow. Also, the spectators are right on top of the golfers and are busy yelling, fighting, drinking and wagering all through the match.

Its a film thats not about golf, though golf is the background of this, Kreutzer says of the movie, which, at its heart, is a father-and-son story. Young Tom is torn between his duty to his father and his yearning to break free of the strict class structure that existed in Scotland at that time.

Website: For more information about the film and reviews, go to http://www.tommyshonour.com.

Continued here:

Snyder: The inside scoop on area beaches - Kenosha News

Workers have finished their two-month dredging of the Oceanside harbor, leaving a fresh coat of sand on beaches as the summer tourist season gets under way.

The annual project keeps the entrance to the busy harbor deep enough for safe navigation. The sediment thats harvested is pumped onto nearby beaches to replace whats lost to winter storms and strong currents.

This years haul was a bumper crop at least 420,000 cubic yards of sand deposited along the citys shoreline from the harbor to south of Oceanside municipal pier, said Greg Fuderer, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The exact amount should be determined by surveys later in the week.

One of the big things was to make sure to build up (the beach) around the pier area and the park at Surfrider Way, Fuderer said Monday.

More sand makes more room on the beach for tourists and surfers, and helps to protect oceanfront streets such as The Strand, as well as homes, hotels and public parks from coastal erosion.

This year, longtime contractor Manson Construction of Seattle returned to do the work, replacing a different company that was hired to do the dredging last year. That contractor, CJW Construction, started later in the year after difficulties getting permits and then had equipment problems that stretched the work through the summer. In the end, less sand was removed and the beach was crowded with pipes, bulldozers and other equipment for most of the tourist season.

We had kind of a lost summer because we didnt have the beach, Oceanside Councilman Jerry Kern said Tuesday.

This year Manson which started dredging the mouth of the harbor in April also ran into some trouble, with stormy weather and rough seas that knocked an important piece of heavy equipment off the work barge. As a result, the dredging was extended about two weeks past the usual Memorial Day deadline to get additional sand requested by the city of Oceanside and the U.S. Navy.

Still, officials were pleased with the results.

It looks really nice, Kern said. The last few years we never got past the pier. Its at least 50 or 60 percent more (sand) than what we did in the past.

The Army Corps base contract with Manson called for dredging a total of 280,000 cubic yards of sand at a cost of $3.7 million. The city kicked in an additional $600,000 to get 80,000 more cubic yards, and the Navy an additional $625,000 to dredge 70,000 more cubic yards. The Navys boat basin at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base shares its entrance with the Oceanside harbor.

I wish we had done it last year, Kern said of the citys decision to pay for more sand.

Manson is expected to return next spring for the second year of a three-year contract.

The large steel pipes the contractor used to pump the sand across the beach between the harbor and the San Luis Rey River have been left buried in place to save the costs of removing, storing and replacing them, Fuderer said.

Other pipes used south of the river will be capped at the ends so that they float, and will then be hauled into the ocean and towed away to another job along the coast, he said.

Dredging opens the harbor entrance to a depth of 25 feet or more. Ocean currents constantly push sand into it, and sometimes before dredging it gets as shallow as 8 or 10 feet deep. Shallow water increases the size of waves, creating a hazard for small boats.

Oceanside voters approved construction of the harbor in 1960, according an article by local historian Kristi Hawthorne posted on the citys Chamber of Commerce website.

Officials broke ground in 1961, and the harbor was completed in 1963 with 520 boat slips at a cost of about $7 million, it states. All slips are taken, with a waiting list of more than 100 names.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl

Go here to see the original:

Big beaches are back in Oceanside - The San Diego Union-Tribune