Spring Break
Increased bacteria presence shuts down two state beaches
Alissa Letkowski
Issue date: 6/15/09 Section: News
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) closed two Connecticut state beaches May 27. Increased bacteria found in the water during weekly testing by department officials between Memorial Day and Labor Day led to the closings, according to the DEP's Web Site. Kettletown park in Southbury and Wharton Brook park in Wallingford have since re-opened their beaches to visitors. However more recently, Squantz Pond in New Fairfield has been closed to the public.
The closings are nothing unusual, said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the D.E.P. Many of the beaches are frequently closed due to bacteria. There are 21 state park beaches with swimming areas, he said. Four are on the shoreline and 17 are inland lakes and ponds. Inland lakes and ponds are more susceptible to increased bacteria levels because of their smaller size.
The highest levels of bacteria are usually found after a heavy rainstorm when runoff from the surrounding land washes into the water, which has been an ongoing problem with the frequent rainfall in Connecticut in this spring. The contamination can come from fecal matter from the geese on the beach or other wild animals or pets that have been in the area, said Schain. He added that the parks usually open in a few days once the lakes or ponds clean themselves out.
According to Schain, there is little risk to beach-goers during this time; the closings are based on "conservative and protective standards," he said.
Wharton Brook was closed for two days before it was retested and deemed suitable for swimming. Lauri Lindquist, the park supervisor, said that she has not noticed any changes in the number of visitors since before the beach closed, but believes the closing could potentially have some effect.
"If people hear that it's closed on the news, they tend to think it's closed for good. Usually when we close, it's only for a day or two and then it's reopened and that word probably doesn't get out as quickly as the closure," she said.
Kettletown, which was also closed due to increased bacteria count from runoff, did not have any guests in the park recently due to the poor weather, according to Lauren Daulizo, an office spokesperson at the park.
Daulizo said the number of guests has not significantly changed after the beach closing.
"Our camp is more for people that come here to fish and camp and boat, but if the weather's not good no one is here and the weather hasn't been good, but every weekend is booked for the next month," she said.
The closings are nothing unusual, said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the D.E.P. Many of the beaches are frequently closed due to bacteria. There are 21 state park beaches with swimming areas, he said. Four are on the shoreline and 17 are inland lakes and ponds. Inland lakes and ponds are more susceptible to increased bacteria levels because of their smaller size.
The highest levels of bacteria are usually found after a heavy rainstorm when runoff from the surrounding land washes into the water, which has been an ongoing problem with the frequent rainfall in Connecticut in this spring. The contamination can come from fecal matter from the geese on the beach or other wild animals or pets that have been in the area, said Schain. He added that the parks usually open in a few days once the lakes or ponds clean themselves out.
According to Schain, there is little risk to beach-goers during this time; the closings are based on "conservative and protective standards," he said.
Wharton Brook was closed for two days before it was retested and deemed suitable for swimming. Lauri Lindquist, the park supervisor, said that she has not noticed any changes in the number of visitors since before the beach closed, but believes the closing could potentially have some effect.
"If people hear that it's closed on the news, they tend to think it's closed for good. Usually when we close, it's only for a day or two and then it's reopened and that word probably doesn't get out as quickly as the closure," she said.
Kettletown, which was also closed due to increased bacteria count from runoff, did not have any guests in the park recently due to the poor weather, according to Lauren Daulizo, an office spokesperson at the park.
Daulizo said the number of guests has not significantly changed after the beach closing.
"Our camp is more for people that come here to fish and camp and boat, but if the weather's not good no one is here and the weather hasn't been good, but every weekend is booked for the next month," she said.
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E20-340
posted 6/24/09 @ 8:28 AM EST
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) closed two Connecticut state beaches due to increase of bacteria presence in water, that was really dangerous so they need to protect people and that was great step to save them. (Continued…)
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