High Bacteria Levels Cause Season-High 72 MA Beaches To Close

ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS — A season-high total of 72 beaches in Massachusetts are closed for swimming Wednesday, mostly due to high bacteria levels, according to the latest numbers from the state's Department of Public Health.

In the 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 as the summer went on, reaching the previous season-high total of 70 closed beaches Aug. 12 before it reached a new high of 72 closed beaches Wednesday.

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 Wednesday 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

Barnstable, MA

Kalmus Ocean

Keyes Beach (Sea Street)

Boston, MA

Constitution

Malibu

Tenean

Braintree, MA

Smith Beach

Chilmark, MA

Ocean @ Squibnocket Beach

Clarksburg, MA

Mauserts Pond

Danvers, MA

Sandy Beach

Dartmouth, MA

Moses Smith Creek

Framingham, MA

Learned Pond Beach

Franklin, MA

Chilson Beach

Gloucester, MA

Good Harbor Creek

Haverhill, MA

Plugs Pond

Holland, MA

Collette Drive Beach

Kingston, MA

Gray's

Lynn, MA

Kings

Lynn Shore Beach

Nahant, MA

Nahant Beach

Black Rock

Natick, MA

Cochituate State Park Beach (also closed due to harmful cyanobacteria bloom)

North Andover, MA

Stevens Pond - Center

Frye Pond Beach

Northampton, MA

Musante Beach

Plymouth, MA

Nelson Park

Provincetown, MA

Town Landing - West of Coast Guard

Quincy, MA

Wollaston @ Channing Street

Wollaston @ Milton Street

Wollaston @ Rice Road

Wollaston @ Sachem Street

Salem, MA

Children's Island - Back

Ocean Avenue

Willow Avenue

Saugus, MA

Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation

Swansea, MA

Cedar Cove Club

Leeside

Sandy Beach

Swansea Town Beach

Templeton, MA

Beamans Pond-Campground

Beamans Pond-Day Use

West Stockbridge, MA

Card Pond Beach

West Tisbury, MA

Seth's Pond

Winchendon, MA

Lake Dennison State Park

Winchester, MA

Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic

Winthrop, MA

Donovans

Halford

Worcester, MA

Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach

Lake Quinsigamond-Lake Park Beach

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

Barnstable, MA

Wequaquet Lake Town

Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club

Brewster, MA

Upper Mill Pond

Framingham, MA

Waushakum Beach

Nantucket, MA

Sesachacha Pond

Oxford, MA

Carbuncle Pond

Springfield, MA

Bass Pond

Sturbridge, MA

Cedar Lake Recreation Area

Wayland, MA

Wayland Town Beach

Westborough, MA

Lake Chauncy Beach

Worcester, MA

Indian Lake Public Beach (Sherburne Ave)

Shore Park

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

Swampscott, MA

Kings

Truro, MA

Longnook

And this beach is closed due to rainfall:

Swampscott, MA

Fisherman's

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