Crime & Safety
Excessive Bacteria Levels Cause Season-High Of 70 MA Beaches To Close
Here are the Massachusetts beaches closed for swimming due to unsafe bacteria levels as of Monday afternoon.
![Beaches found to have high bacteria levels are reopened for swimming after a test result shows bacteria levels below DPH standards.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/26244233/20240812/014243/styles/patch_image/public/untitled-design___12134207973.png)
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.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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.
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