High bacteria levels prompt beach closures, advisories from Michigan to New York
- - - High bacteria levels prompt beach closures, advisories from Michigan to New York
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY July 1, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Many Americans love to flock toward the ocean to celebrate Independence Day, but high bacteria levels in the water in various areas around the country may disrupt tradition.
Officials have closed off swimming at beaches in some parts of Illinois, New York and Washington due to excessive bacteria in the water. In Massachusetts, nearly 20 beaches are closed to the public as swimming could cause illness, according to the Patriot Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that bacteria known as vibrio are often typically found in coastal waters and can cause various vibriosis symptoms, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever, as well as blistering skin lesions and dangerously low blood pressure. The CDC warns that some vibrio bacteria can cause severe and life-threatening infections.
Here's some of the areas where excessive bacteria levels prompted beach closures or advisories ahead of the Fourth of July.
Where are beaches closed?Long Island, New York
New York health officials have prohibited swimming at several beaches in Nassau and Suffolk counties due to elevated bacterial levels.
Since June 25, bathing is restricted at the following beaches until sample testing proves that waters are safe to swim in again:
Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore
Ronkonkoma Beach in the Town of Islip
Sayville Marina Park Beach in Sayville
Morgan Beach in Glen Cove
Biltmore Beach Club in Massapequa
Massachusetts
Officials have closed 19 beaches off to the public due to "bacterial exceedance" posing the risk of illness, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
This includes the following beaches:
Pomps Pond in Andover
Damon Pond Beach in Ashby
Upper Mill Pond in Brewster
Walden Pond in Concord
Sandy Beach in Danvers
Kings in Lynn
Magnolia and Tuck's Point in Manchester
Henry F Collins Beach in Marlborough
Cochituate State Park Beach in Natick
Long Beach in Rockport
Children's Island (Back and Walley) and Ocean Avenue in Salem
Peckham Pond at Camp Nihan in Saugus
Beamans Pond (Campground and Day Use) in Templeton
Seth's Pond in West Tisbury
Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic in Winchester
Washington
At least five beaches in the Seattle area have been closed due to high bacteria levels while one (West Green Lake Beach) has been closed due to toxic algae, King County's public health department warned over the weekend.
Houghton Beach in Kirkland
Madison Park Beach in Seattle
Madrona Beach in Seattle
Matthews Beach in Seattle
Mount Baker Park Beach in Seattle
West Green Lake Beach in Seattle
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued multiple beach closures last week along Chicago's northern suburbs due to elevated bacteria levels. This includes the following:
North Point Marina Beach and Waukegan North Beach in Lake County
Main Beach in Crystal Lake
Butch Hagele Beach and Indian Trail Beach and in the Illinois suburb Lake in the Hills
Michigan
In Michigan, several beaches are under contamination advisories due to unsafe swimming conditions.
Dodge Park #4 in Oakland County
Thelma Spencer Park in Oakland County
Dumont Lake Park Beach in Allegan County
St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach in Macomb County
Sunset Park in Emmet County
California
Multiple beaches in San Diego County were under water contact advisories Friday, June 27 due to excessive bacteria levels.
However, no warnings and closures have been issued yet due to the low severity, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality.
Coronado
Ocean Beach
Mission Bay
La Jolla
Del Mar
Cardiff
Contributing: Catherine Messier, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High bacteria closes US beaches ahead of Fourth of July: See where
Source: AOL General News
