So far, this summer beach season has been marked by poor water quality.  In early June, garbage slicks littered beaches from Sea Bright to Island Beach State Park.  Flights surveying ocean waters also found garbage slicks.  Most recently, elevated bacterial levels caused health officials to close beaches in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Beach closures occurred in Allenhurst (between Corlies and Cedar Aves.), Spring Lake (Brown Ave.), Harvey Cedars (75th St.), and Ship Bottom (3rd Ave.).  The Spring Lake closures were in response to a preemptive beach closure that were triggered by rainfall (the more rain, the more bacteria from Wreck Pond).  

The State of New Jersey is using a new bacterial indicator called Enterococcus. According to state officials, there are no clear reasons for these most recent beach closures and NJDEP is investigating the closures.  Potential reasons could be leaking sewage pipes and stormwater runoff, but the answer is yet unknown.  COA is investigating and will keep you informed.

Is your beach closed?  To find out before you hit the sand, call NJDEP’s 24-hour beach closure hotline at 1-800-648-SAND, or visit www.nj.gov/dep/beaches.