Excessive Bacteria Levels Cause Season-High Of 70 MA Beaches To Close

ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS — A season-high total of 70 beaches in Massachusetts are closed for swimming Monday, mostly due to high bacteria levels, according to the latest numbers from the state's Department of Public Health.

In the two months since the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation opened 81 freshwater and saltwater beaches for the season, the number of beaches closed has gone up and down. For the most part at the beginning, no more than around 20 beaches were closed at a time due to high bacteria. But the number soared in late June into July and August before previously peaking at 69 closures on Friday.

The water testing frequency at beaches in the state varies from beach to beach. Still, 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.

Here are the beaches closed for swimming due to unsafe bacteria levels as of Monday afternoon.

Amherst, MA

Puffers Pond (AKA Factory Hollow Pond)

Stanley Street swimming hole at Cushman Bridge

Ashby, MA

Damon Pond Beach

Ashland, MA

Ashland Reservoir-Main Beach

Beverly, MA

Dane Street

Mingo

Boston, MA

Constitution

Malibu

Savin Hill

Tenean

Braintree, MA

Smith Beach

Danvers, MA

Sandy Beach

Dartmouth, MA

Moses Smith Creek

Framingham, MA

Learned Pond Beach

Haverhill, MA

Plugs Pond

Hingham, MA

Hingham Town Beach

Holland, MA

Collette Town Beach

Lowell, MA

Merrimack River - Bath House

Lynn, MA

Kings

Lynn Shore Beach

Nahant, MA

Nahant Beach

North Andover, MA

Stevens Pond - Center

Northampton, MA

Musante Beach

Plymouth, MA

Nelson Pond

Quincy, MA

Wollaston @ Channing Street

Wollaston @ Milton Street

Wollaston @ Rice Road

Wollaston @ Sachem Street

Salem, MA

Children's Island - Back

Children's Island - Dock

Children's Island - Wally

Collins Cove

Juniper Point

Ocean Avenue

Osgood

Willow Avenue

Saugus, MA

Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation

Shutesbury, MA

Lake Wyola

Swampscott, MA

Fisherman's

Kings

Taunton, MA

Watsons Pond

Templeton, MA

Beamans Pond-Campground

Beamans Pond-Day Use

Townsend, MA

Pearl Hill Pond Beach

West Stockbridge, MA

Card Pond Beach

West Tisbury, MA

Seth's Pond

Williamstown, MA

Margaret Lindley Park

Winchendon, MA

Lake Dennison State Park

Winchester, MA

Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic

Winthrop, MA

Halford

Winthrop Beach

Worcester, MA

Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach

Lake Quinsigamond-Lake Park Beach

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

Brewster, MA

Upper Mill Pond

Harwich, MA

Sand Pond

Nantucket, MA

Sesachacha Pond

Natick, MA

Cochituate State Park Beach (also closed due to bacteria exceedance)

Oxford, MA

Carbuncle Pond

Springfield, MA

Bass Pond

Wayland, MA

Wayland Town Beach

Westborough, MA

Lake Chauncy Beach

Worcester, MA

Indian Lake Public Beach (Sherburne Avenue)

Shore Park

And these beaches are closed for a reason not listed:

Concord, MA

Walden Pond - Red Cross

Dartmouth, MA

Hidden Bay

Jones Town Beach North

Jones Town Beach South

Grafton, MA

Silver Lake Beach

Salem, MA

Camp Naumkeag

Truro, MA

Longnook

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

"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 in June. "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."

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