20 MA Beaches Closed Due To Excessive Bacteria Levels

ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS — Following an initial wave of mass beach closures due to excessive bacteria levels in Massachusetts shortly after beaches opened for the season, numbers have gone up and down, but surged significantly between Wednesday and Thursday.

The number of closed swimming beaches across the state jumped from eight Wednesday to 20 Thursday.

Here are the beaches closed for swimming due to unsafe bacteria levels as of Thursday afternoon:

ASHBY, MA

Damon Pond Beach

BOSTON, MA

Savin Hill

Tenean

CONCORD, MA

Walden Pond - Main

ERVING, MA

Laurel Lake

FRAMINGHAM, MA

Saxonville Beach

Waushakum Beach

GARDNER, MA

Dunn Pond

LYNN, MA

Kings

MILTON, MA

Houghton's Pond @ Bathhouse

SAUGUS, MA

Pearce Lake @ Breakheart Reservation

STURBRIDGE, MA

Wells State Park - Walker Pond Beach

TEMPLETON, MA

Beamans Pond - Campground

Beamans Pond - Day Use

WINCHENDON, MA

Lake Dennison State Park

WORCESTER, MA

Lake Quinsigamond-Lake Park Beach

The following beaches are closed for swimming due to harmful cyanobacteria bloom:

FRAMINGHAM, MA

Waushakum Beach

MASHPEE, MA

Attaquin Park (Mashpee-Wakeby Pond)

NANTUCKET, MA

Miacomet Pond

And these beaches are closed for a reason not listed:

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA

Lake Mansfield

CONCORD, MA

Walden Pond - Red Cross

See Also: Summer Heat Brings Plenty Of Fun, Danger Warnings To MA

The state's Department of Conservation and Recreation opened 81 freshwater and saltwater beaches for the season just before Memorial Day weekend. But the fun quickly came to a halt by the following weekend, when many beaches began to close.

"In general, when beaches are closed, elevated bacteria is a result of a preceding rainstorm is responsible for the closure," a representative for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Patch earlier this month. "This is because the rain washes the bacteria or excessive nutrients on land into the water and the nutrients allow small populations of bacteria to rapidly reproduce to unsafe levels."

See Also: MA Sets Date For DCR Pools To Open: 2024 Swimming Season

The water testing frequency at beaches in the state varies from beach to beach, but tests occur anywhere from daily to monthly, officials said, adding that testing frequency depends on how likely the beach is to have water quality issues.

Beaches found to have high bacteria levels are reopened for swimming after a test result shows bacteria levels below DPH standards.

According to the DPH, Swimming in unsafe waters can cause illnesses with the following symptoms:

• Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
• Respiratory symptoms like sore throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing
• Dermatological symptoms like skin rash and itching
• Eye and ear symptoms like irritation, earache, and itching
• Flu-like symptoms like fever and chills

Most of these symptoms are minor, but a more serious illness may occasionally occur, officials said. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for illness.

Also on Patch:

• MA Tick Warning: Pestilent Bloodsuckers A Threat After Warm Winter, State Says
• These Venomous Snakes May Join You On Walks, Jogs And Hikes Around MA