High Intestinal Bacteria Count Closes Sandy Hook Beach

Sandy Hook, NJ — As the first heat wave of the summer takes hold, the National Park Service was forced to shut down one of the beaches at Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area Wednesday.

Lot D is currently closed at the park, a spokeswoman for the park confirmed to Patch.

The National Park Service made the decision to close Lot D after a high bacteria count was found in the ocean water at that beach after it was tested Tuesday morning, said Pete McCarthy, coordinator of the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Park. The bacteria found is enterococcus bacteria, commonly found in the intestines of humans. He said he wasn't sure if it came from combined sewer overflow, when sewer lines overflow after a period of heavy rain and a common problem in the New York/New Jersey area.

"We tested it yesterday morning, and it's above our threshold. We do have a high count so our protocol is to shut down the beach," McCarthy said. "We are retesting it, and we'll have the results tomorrow morning and hopefully get a positive number."

Sandy Hook has five swimming beaches, and the four others remain open.