Phase I, which was previously implemented by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regulated new development that disturbed 5 or more acres of land ("stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity"), and medium and large MS4s. Thank you! New Jersey If you would like to receive a printed State of Casco Bay report, send an email request to cbep@maine.edu. Kennebunkport has participated in the Maine Healthy Beach Program since 2004. A yellow flag indicates an advisory, and a red flag indicates a closure. Click to reveal Numerous surfers and fisherman have complained of ear, nose and throat infections during the winter months. When determining whether to recommend a beach advisory, MHB applies a single-sample standard for enterococcus of 104 mpn/100 ml. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Before delving into seaweed management, there are rules and support to develop a site-specific management plan. The Beaches program collects data on enterococci bacteria (which is a better indicator of risk to swimmers), and DMR tracks fecal coliform bacteria. The Maine Surfrider Chapter has brought the issue to the attention of Kennebunkport and the Maine DEP through a formal letter. 99% of the state's estuarine waters have good water quality that fully supports aquatic life uses. Municipalities are required to license their Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Wisconsin, Delaware In the Eastern Bay and the islands, aging or failing on-site wastewater treatment systems can be a source of problems. Falmouth will be following the protocol of the Maine Healthy Beaches Program. Many Maine communities participate in this program. In orderto keep our community members and beach goers safe from harmful bacteria, we test several locations around the peninsulaand combine this with weather data to provide weekly reports, suggesting which areas mightbe safest and which should be avoided. Please be awareCurtis Cove streamfrequently exceeds the safety levels of bacteria set by the EPA. However, some areas of the Bay, including most of the waters in the southern Bay near Portland, are permanently closed because of proximity to possible sources of pollution like wastewater treatment facilities and combined sewer overflows. High water levels can liberate seaweed from rocky shores, making drifting wrack available for stranding on beaches (with the appropriate onshore wind). In 2012, Rockport Codes Enforcement surveyed 54 residences in the direct drainage basin of Goodies Beach. North Carolina Remediation can require more than simply raking the seaweed to the low tide mark for the tides to wash it away as the seaweed may return to the beach on the next tidal cycle. Urban and suburban waters are most at risk. New Water Quality Report: Maine Beaches Still Struggling with High Bacteria Levels Media Releases June 27, 2013 Environment and public health groups call on Feds to strengthen standards and invest in monitoring Environment Maine It has been a hot, dry summer, and around southern Maine conditions have been just right for something unpleasant and unhealthy: bacterial contamination. They are good examples of outreach in the mass media. Maine DEP's website has links to numerous documents as part of their Nonpoint Source Pollution - Outreach section. Funding beyond 2012 has been in jeopardy, since EPA's budget requests for this program in FY2013 and FY2014 were ZERO (money for testing in 2013 and 2014 was ultimately allocated as part of Continuing Resolutions to resolve the Federal Budget impasse) and there was also no money for beach testing in the FY2015 budget. To improve historically impaired water quality, MHB supported routine beach monitoring as well as source-tracking studies at Goodies Beach in Rockport Harbor and in the storm drainage network. Jones expects to run 1,500 tests this summer on the water samples taken. The program recommends that precautionary rainfall advisories be posted at beaches with a history of elevated bacteria levels and stormwater issues. Because methods used by the two agencies to track bacteria levels differ, the numbers they report are not directly comparable. Division of Engineering and Technical Assistance Maine did not have any communities large enough to be considered medium or large MS4s. Willard Beach, Ogunquit Beach, Kennebunk Beach and Long Sands Beach all comprise the list of the top 5. Subscribe here: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright Casco Bay Estuary PartnershipWebsite by NORTHEAST MEDIA COLLECTIVE. Results of all monitoring samples are transmitted to the MHB database, and automatic email alerts are issued to beach managers, local officials, and other entities as soon as an exceedance is found. Also see What You Can Do. South Carolina. Where is the Bacteria Coming From? CWA section 406(i) authorizes appropriations of up to $30 million per year to develop and implement beach programs. Each report will be updated as new data is collected. Sims said Maine Healthy Beaches completed its report for 2018 and found at least 93 percent of all beaches tested were below the threshold. Also see the Maine NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) Program. This results in combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which vary extensively in pollutant types, concentrations and loads, as well as in volume of overflow and severity of impact to the receiving waterbodies. Phone: (207) 780-4820Email: cbep@maine.edu. Portions of the following discussion were taken from NRDC's report Testing the Waters, June 2014. When bacteria levels exceed this limit, there is an increased probability of contracting illness from the water. Public health officials are urging beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the water at several Los Angeles County beaches during the Memorial Day weekend due to high levels of bacteria.. Popular beaches were reported to have ocean bacteria levels that exceed California standards and could cause illness to swimmers, especially children and older adults, according to the L.A . The action you just performed triggered the security solution. See Offers. In Maine, 39 of 85 test sites had days when bacteria levels particularly for E. coli and enterococci, two bacteria found in human or animal waste would trigger public notification about increased health risks under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommendations. Closures, more severe than an advisory, are determined by a number of potential factors and often based on chronic, unsafe bacteria results. Seaweed can also be easily composted as the materials break down quickly and can be used as a valuable resource for restoration and enhanced gardening. Bacteria levels rose again this week at East End Beach in Portland, prompting a swim advisory to be posted on Friday by the city, eight days after the beach was closed because of a city. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy's Beach Guard system posts notifications of beach closures and contamination advisories for high bacteria levels. Yard Waste - How do I dispose of leaves, brush and grass clippings? The 2009 red tide caused a near-complete closure of shellfish harvesting in the state of Maine in early July. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Maine has been delegated by EPA to administer the NPDES program, and Maine DEP is developing general permits to apply to construction activities disturbing one or more acres of land (both large and small construction activities) and to the regulated small MS4s. While most infections acquired this way are mild, they can be dangerous for immunocompromised individuals, and serious diseases like hepatitis can also be transmitted. The report details 12 environmental indicators tracked by NHEP, such as bacteria levels, nitrogen concentrations, abundance of shellfish and land use in the coastal watershed. Towns or State Parks may issue advisories when Enterococci levels exceed the safety limit or when heavy . Georgia 0:41. A recent report just revealed that the last few years have seen some pretty gross water conditions here. De minimis activity. In 2013, Maine reported 71 coastal beaches, 55 of which were monitored. The Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Healthy Beaches program frequently share shoreline monitoring data and sanitary survey results. Maine uses a Risk Assessment Matrix to determine the potential human health risk in each case, considering water test results, location, environmental impacts from nearby waste disposal, storm water runoff, public restroom facilities, the presence of dogs or wildlife on the beach, beach usage statistics and a history of previous closings or contamination. To make the most of the summer, check out these 8 beautiful beaches! Increasing numbers of introduced Asiatic seaweeds (e.g. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. Beaches that do not meet the criteria for program participation are assigned to Tier 3 and are not monitored. Create one. The identified "cause/stressor type" for most (95 percent) of the Category 5 marine waters was PCBs and dioxins, with bacteria causing the impairment for about 5 percent of the marine waters. Many Maine communities participate in this federally funded program to ensure that swim beaches across the nation are as free as possible of bacteria that could potentially . You will receive an email to complete the registration. Harvest areas may be classified as "Approved" for harvest if geometric mean fecal coliform levels are . Maine now has four no-discharge areas. The Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) Program is a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health on Maine's coastal beaches. Atlantic salmon and other fish now return to Maine's rivers, and waters that were once open sewers are now clean enough to swim in. Monitoring sites at each beach are selected according to where people swim as well as the location of freshwater inputs to the beach and other high-risk features, including sewage treatment plant outfalls and wildlife areas. DMR generally does not collect bacteria data in areas permanently closed to shellfish harvesting. Last August, while York waited for the mounds of seaweed to subside, it also took weeks for bacteria levels to wane. Most of the remaining assessed marine waters (5.50 percent of marine waters) were "Category 5", which is "Waters impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses by a pollutant(s), and a TMDL report is required." The Maine Healthy Beaches Program works with participating towns and state parks to track bacteria levels at public marine beaches. Maine Department of Marine Resources monitors bacteria levels at more than 235 shellfish harvesting areas around Casco Bay. Testing will be conducted throughout the summer, ending Labor Day weekend. Once a beach is placed under advisory or closed, MHB recommends that the monitoring frequency increase until standards are met and the beach can be reopened. More than 42 million Americans are expected to be traveling this Memorial Day weekend, according . Maine typically has good water quality and 2018 was the third best for water quality in 10 years because of low summer precipitation, Sims said in an interview. Additionally, to reduce the impact of untreated boat waste on harbor water quality, Camden mailed hundreds of Pump It, Don't Dump It! California Augusta, Maine 04333-0017 Washington, Illinois In open areas like beaches, however, moving air usually dilutes the gas to non-harmful levels. However, this summer has been relatively dry and elevated bacteria levels have aligned with field reports of loose seaweed on the beach or in the water column. KYC All you can do is monitor for it.. A sampling site at Goose Rocks Beach Site 5 in York County tested as potentially unsafe for 14 days, more days than any other site in the state, and 36 percent of the days that sampling took place, states the reports Safe for Swimming? entry for Maine. In June 2013, U.S. EPA released its latest data about beach closings and advisories for the 2012 swimming season. What are fecal indicator bacteria? Rainwater washes the land and carries pollutants (e.g. An amazing effort and a real inspiration to join the Surfriders!". Tides are driven by the lunar cycle and overall, July 2015 experienced high water levels with many days in July with tides over the mean high water level. Beach advisories in Maine are not issued based on harmful algal bloom data. Extension associates assist with lessons, provide field experiences, and participate in curriculum development. Another water quality information source is the website of Maine Sea Grant. *LD 290 - Stabilization of Property Taxes - Application and Guidance*, **Short Term Rental - FAQS and THINGS TO REMEMBER, FEMA 2017: Preliminary Maps & Information, Local Property Tax Assistance Application, Local Property Tax Assistance Information, District 2 - Cape Porpoise & Wildes District, Cape Porpoise Pier Rules Adopted 11-13-2014, Complaints against employees of the Kennebunkport Police Department, Updated: Posted Roads - February 27, 2023until April 3, 2023, Kennebunk High School Accreditation Report, Trash & Recycling Pickup 2023 Printable Calendar. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Seaweed is critical to the ecology of the system as it enriches adjacent areas, provides food and shelter, increases biodiversity, helps prevent erosion, etc. The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) signed into law on October 10, 2000, amends the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), incorporating provisions intended to reduce the risk of illness to users of the Nation's recreational waters. "When we have an elevated or a high bacteria level at the beach, it's not just one thing that's causing the problem," Kaczor said. These harmful microbes are known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, ear infections, and fever in recreational swimmers. It includes information on beaches across every state included in the sampling. Detached seaweed cast onto the beach warms in the sun, allowing potentially unsafe bacteria to persist and even multiply in the seaweed mats and in the neighboring sand. environmentamerica.org The report, which focused on fecal bacteria and other contamination found that these beaches had been contaminated for at least one day of the testing period. This document has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Cooperative Agreements #CE00A00348-0 and #CE00A00662-0 with the University of Southern Maine. It's . (NECN) 0. / Maine Public Highland Lake Beach in Bridgton. Many beaches around the country are monitored by private and government agencies to prevent public health risks of this kind, but the Shaw Institute's Blue Hill Research Centeris the only organization that monitors beaches in the Blue Hill Peninsula. Some of our beaches rarely have exceedances over years and years, and some have regular exceedances usually tied to rainfall.. Excess nutrients (pollution) entering the system that can lead to coastal imbalances. Stormwater runoff from developed areas in watersheds carries pollutants, and affects the rates and volumes of flows in natural waterbodies in ways that can cause damage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBEP staff is working a hybrid of in the office and at home. The Maine Healthy Beaches program routinely cooperates with a number of agencies. As of 2004 there were approximately 1,640 OBDs on the coast of Maine. Love Maine? 17 State House Station Beaches are resampled following an exceedance. In Maine, several programs include toxics monitoring for adverse impacts in the marine environment: the Marine Environmental Monitoring Program (which includes the monitoring activities of the Surface Water Ambient Toxics Program), the Dioxin Monitoring Program, Casco Bay Estuary Project, and Gulfwatch (sponsored by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment). Both closings and advisories can be issued in Maine, but closings are rare and occur only when beaches experience chronic high bacteria levels or known threats to safety or public health, and in municipalities where closing ordinances are in place. Since beach samples are typically collected once a week, and shellfish samples only a few times a year, this precautionary approach protects public health. The elevated numbers are not related to last week's sewage spill, the city's spokeswoman says. On Friday, none of Maines 37 regularly monitored beaches were closed due to contamination concerns and only two Little Beach and Riverside Beach, both in Ogunquit were the subject of contamination advisories, according to the daily beach status page maintained by Maine Healthy Beaches. Dasysiphonia japonica, previously referred to as Heterosiphonia japonica) are found within the Gulf of Maine, and these are opportunistic, fast growing species. Assume bacteria levels exceed safety levels. Monitoring is extended to include spring wet-weather monitoring and special studies for targeted areas. The town's free boat pump-out service increased the number of gallons pumped and the number of pump-outs in 2012 from the previous year. The town plans to continue educating boaters and expanding public outreach efforts to include best practices for managing pet waste, septic system maintenance, and storm drain stenciling in the Camden Harbor Watershed. The MDEP maintains a database of the number of CSOs and works with the Municipalities to eliminate them. This section clarifies when certain activities in coastal sand dune systems do not require approval pursuant to the NRPA. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The efforts of Surfrider's Northern New England Chapter in this matter prompted the following email from a local citizen: "I would like to applaud the Northern New England Surfriders [now called the Maine Chapter] recent efforts in helping us prevent Kennebunkport, Maine's sewer department from dumping up to 250,000 gallons of raw untreated sewage (daily) into the river that flows right on to our surf break! OBDs discharge filtered and chlorinated human waste to state waters. Many local swimming areas will be monitored from June 2022to September 2022. Already registered? It found that 58% of 2,620 beaches analysed had fecal bacteria levels exceeding the "beach action value", a threshold used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for making beach. If you are having trouble viewing Dashboard information on your computer, clearing the cache on your browser may help. Of all reported beach monitoring samples, 19% exceeded the Beach Action Value (BAV) of 60 enterococcus bacteria colony forming units (cfu) per 100 ml marine or estuarine water in a single sample. "It's many things compounding together. The town currently permits direct discharge of sewage during winter months, only treating the sewage in the summer months. Beach contamination is not a new issue in Maine or in other states. 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105 (207) 781-5253Site Map | Photo Credits | Website Disclaimer & Privacy Policy | Government Websites by CivicPlus | Employee ESS, Community Programs Registration & Facilities Scheduling. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. More information. However, some localities don't have the ability to conduct increased monitoring, and the beaches in these towns cannot be reopened until the next routine sample is analyzed. EPA encourages coastal States and Territories to apply for BEACH Act Grants for Program Implementation (referred to as Implementation Grants) to implement effective and comprehensive coastal recreation water monitoring and public notification programs. A recent development regarding sewer discharges occurred at Kennebunkport. Other data users include Surfrider Foundation and various watershed associations. Enter your email and password to access comments. The monitoring season in Maine lasts approximately three months, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bonnet Shores Beach Club. Phone: (207) 287-5404 Get Away From It All At This Crystal Clear Lake In Maine, Dine Right On The Saco River At The Beautiful Run Of The Mill Restaurant In Maine, River Drivers Restaurant In Maine Is Surrounded By The Most Breathtaking Fall Colors, This Summer, Take A Maine Vacation On A Floating Villa On Rangeley Lake, Make Your Summer Complete With This One-Of-A-Kind Maine Beach Trip, This Seafood Feast On The Beach In Maine Is What Summer Dreams Are Made Of, Visit The Oldest Beach In Maine For A Day Of Timeless Fun, Leave It To Maine To Offer 9 Of The Most Incredible Natural Lazy River Trips In America. The level was 560 in water samples taken May 30. A Cape Neddick River Watershed Management Plan has shown bacterial pollution sources coming from pet waste, wild animal and bird waste, and leaky septic systems. Some U.S. beaches are likely to be plagued by cloudy weather or gross mats of seaweed this weekend. OBDs were allowed by Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as recently as 1987. Harvest areas may be classified as Approved for harvest if geometric mean fecal coliform levels are below 14 colony forming units (CFU) per 100 ml, and if no more than the top 10% of samples exceed 31 CFU/100ml (the 90th percentile, or P90 threshold). Storm runoff is the key factor in the 23 potentially unsafe days (14 at one site and nine at another) at Goose Rocks Beach in Old Orchard Beach for 2018. Decades of work by DEP and others have reduced active OBDs in Casco Bay from nearly 400 in 1987 to only 95 as of 2020. Of these, the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells zone is the southernmost. http://www.epa.gov/ow/states/ME/ In Maine, 39 of 85 test sites had days when bacteria levels - particularly for E. coli and enterococci, two bacteria found in human or animal waste - would trigger public notification about . This includes duplicate samples and reported samples taken outside the official beach season, if any. When this occurs in the upper few feet of the beach profile it can create a wide wrack zone. The Maine Healthy Beaches website provides beach status and data. Email: susan.p.davies@maine.gov. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Depending on the conditions, MHB will recommend an advisory when the standards are exceeded, and the decision to post an advisory for a beach is the responsibility of the town or state park. The data are also used to determine what areas need special studies and sanitary surveys. Final monitoring report for 2018by samplinglocation: Carrying Place Beach- July 7 - Aug 22 2017, Water Quality Monitoring Report - September 16 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - September 7 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - August 31 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - August 24 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - August 18 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - August 8 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - August 3 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - July 20 2016, Water Quality Monitoring Report - July 7 2016. Advisories are not issued solely on the basis of monitoring results. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection responded on Friday that the agency works with local officials to address contamination incidents, but that the vast majority of Maines beaches and beach days were safe. The BEACH Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award program development and implementation grants to eligible States, Territories, Tribes, and local governments to support microbiological testing and monitoring of coastal recreation waters, including the Great Lakes, that are adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. information into the promotion of a new boat pump-out facility in 2013. MHB or Maine Healthy Beaches program had been launched as partnership between local municipalities and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Water Quality Assessment of Five Southern Maine Beaches: Comparing escherichia Coli Levels Subject: Environment Category: Environment Problems, Human Impact, Earth & Nature Essay Topic: Environmental Issues, Water Pollution, Water Quality Pages: 4 Words: 1791 Published: 26 November 2019 Downloads: 22 Download Print The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates of the BAV in 2013 were Wells Harbor Beach in York County (57%), Laite Beach in Knox County (44%), Goodies Beach in Knox County (43%), Cape Neddick Beach in York County (42%), and Gooch's Beach in York County (38%). If so, there are rules linked to the, If its a coastal sand dune system, communities, Maine DEP can provide guidance and is willing to work with towns on a beach-specific seaweed plan. Enter the password that accompanies your username. British Columbia A geometric mean standard is considered but not strictly applied when determining whether a beachwater sample exceeds bacterial standards. The education program offers in-service teacher training workshops and develops curriculum materials that incorporate Maine's Learning Results. Sources of fecal contamination may include malfunctioning septic systems, sewage treatment plant or collection system malfunction, agricultural runoff, pet or wildlife waste, boating waste, and poor sanitary practices at the beach. RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality through Labor Day. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"IBJpwwJPMSOJ0uZRf2e4gWuPlXDhYfP_X80bw7ZWjzU-1800-0"}; According to Maine's 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, 94.35 percent of the marine waters assessed were "Category 2", which is "Attains some of the designated uses; no use is threatened; and insufficient data or no data and information is available to determine if the remaining uses are attained or threatened (with presumption that all uses are attained)." That was roughly double the percentage from 2017, but half the percentage from 2013, according the report. Note that for some states the data is incomplete, making state-to-state or year-to-year comparisons difficult. Maine Healthy Beaches participates in the meetings of other agencies and local groups as requested to coordinate and encourage pollution prevention activities that improve beachwater quality. In recent years, the total funding available for BEACH Act grants has been about $9.5 million. The NHEP, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program, has produced the State of the Estuaries 2003 report. Heres why. Augusta, ME 04333 Water at Maines lakes, ponds, and coastal swimming beaches can become contaminated by fecal matter which carries harmful bacteria and viruses. Information regarding No Discharge Areas (NDA) in Maine and elsewhere in New England can also be found on EPA's Website. Unfortunately, only about one-third that amount has been authorized each year since the program's inception. These actions evoked this appalling response from one environmentally unconscious selectman "I would say to the surfers, go find another beach". Information contained in Maine's 2008 Integrated Water Quality Report indicated: Thirty-seven Maine communities [193 CSO discharge points] are served by combined sewer systems, which convey a combination of sanitary and storm water flows to wastewater treatment facilities. The town of York has hired Dr. Stephen Jones, an environmental microbiologist from the University of New Hampshire, to test the levels of bacteria in the water at York's four beaches: Cape Neddick Beach, Long and Short Sands beaches, and Harbor Beach. Curtis Cove Beach* Email: keri.lindberg@maine.edu. The 5,000-mile wide, 11-ton bloom -- the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt -- is expected to impact Florida's eastern coast, with some of it making its way into the northern Gulf of Mexico. The BAV is a more protective threshold than the national allowable bacteria levels used in previous years to trigger beach advisories. The full description of the 1986 EPA Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria can be foundhere. Beach Bacteria Monitoring What Enterococci bacteria indicate the presence of fecal contamination and potentially harmful bacteria and viruses in the water. Typically, beach bacteria levels are high during and following rainfall events as rain washes the land, picks up various pollutants along the way, and eventually transports them to the shoreline. Pennsylvania Maine has established an aggressive program, coordinated with EPA's CSO program, to assist communities in evaluating the design, condition, activity, and effects of combined sewer systems and overflows. An example is the town of Bucksport, whose wastewater treatment plant discharges into the Penobscot River. YORK, Maine Not a single water quality test performed at Short Sands Beach since 2005 has come close to exceeding the allowable daily level for a bacteria that is associated with the presence . Water Quality Testing and Maine Healthy Beaches. It is recommended that the public avoid all water contact activities during an advisory. More information on Maine's OBD program. This resource is meant to assist communities and resource managers in finding, fixing and preventing sources of bacterial pollution and was reviewed by over 30 professionals at the local, state Freshwater input and federal level. Currently we are surveying: Blue Hill Town Park, Carrying Place Beach, Curtis Cove, and Peters Cove. Maine Healthy Beaches conducts outreach to inform the public about actions it can take to protect beachwater quality. Through previous testing, the association already knows bacteria counts are higher after times of heavy rain. According to phycologists Clinton J. Dawes, University of South Florida and A. C. Mathieson, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory/UNH that study large seaweeds, the apparent increase in accumulation may also be related to: Warmer waters in the Gulf of Maine during the spring and summer. The state agency has issued an advisory asking people to avoid direct contact . Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe said Congress has been negligent in providing adequate funds for water and sewer projects. Last August, Yorks beaches were taken over by seaweed and it took several weeks to clear out. The increased monitoring led to the discovery of an illicit sewer cross-connection to a storm drain that empties to the Megunticook River. Your IP: This year's Testing the Waters report reveals that 11 percent . bacteria levels correspond with temperatures around 15-16C. Also shown on the maps are boundaries of watersheds and subwatersheds in the region. entering the water causes eutrophication, a process where algae grows rapidly (blooms), resulting in water quality and habit degradation. Maine considers its monitoring program for harmful algal blooms (commonly referred to as "red tides") to be one of the most rigorous and effective biotoxin monitoring programs in the world. They can concentrate some pathogens (and algae-derived toxins, not discussed here) in their bodies, posing a risk to anyone consuming contaminated shellfish. In 2018, a report found that more than 39 Maine beaches showed unsafe levels of contamination. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The data have been used by the Maine Geological Survey in conjunction with Acoustic Doppler Profiling to determine the fate and transport of contaminants in priority areas. View a PDF version of this page that can be downloaded and printed. The Maine Chapter of Surfrider Foundation has created an Ocean Sickness Database where surfers can log data if they suspect they have fallen sick due to surfing in the ocean off the coast of Maine. Success. EPA has compiled several NPS (Nonpoint Source) Outreach Products that are a selection of television, radio, and print products on nonpoint source pollution that have been developed by various agencies and organizations around the country. People who eat bivalve shellfish grown in polluted areas are also at risk, especially for gastrointestinal disease. The Maine Shore Stewards Program provides ongoing technical assistance and organizational support to Maine's network of volunteers as well as information on coastal resource monitoring and protection. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d16cda579a43a70 19% of samples exceeded EPA's new BAV standards for designated beach areas in 2013. Some Maine cities, such as Portland, are in the midst of costly, long-term projects to eliminate the legacy combined sewer overflow systems that lead to large amounts of untreated sewage washing into local waterways during storms. Blue Hill Town Park The Maine Coastal Program has published a free environmental childrens book The Watershed Journey of Linus Loon. Known as Stormwater Phase II under the NPDES permit program, the requirements affect new development that disturbs between 1 and 5 acres of land ("small construction activities"), and urban areas within 28 municipalities in Maine that are designated under federal regulations as having regulated small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The decision to post a beach is made by the local beach manager (in partnership with MHB staff) using a risk management matrix incorporating factors including bacteria levels, environmental conditions, risk of pollution, and history of high bacteria levels. DEP was delegated authority for the federal NPDES program in 2001, based upon DEP's authority under Maine's waste discharge laws and water classification laws. Such decisions are made in coordination between the local beach manager, the Maine Healthy Beaches program and a state epidemiologist. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Participating beaches are routinely monitored for fecal bacteria during the swim season, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. PORTLAND (WGME) - There is a contamination advisory at some Ogunquit beaches. . Spring tides these are tides with the greatest range or with a very high and very low watermark. Beach trips are high on the list of fun activities, but weve recently been re-thinking that plan. pinelife / Flickr More info. (8)Removal of seaweed from the beach by hand or mechanical means provided the seaweed is not removed from the coastal sand dune system and does not disturb dune vegetation. Shaw Institute is working with the landowners to post signs and determine the source of the bacteria. Maine's stormwater program works toward protecting and restoring surface and groundwater impacted by stormwater flows. The resulting model will be used to alert swimmers, via the town's website, when it is unsafe to go swimming. We are trying to make sure if exceedances are there, that we know about them and can do something about them, Sims said. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Some local groups have developed 'state of the environment' reports for areas within the Gulf of Maine including the Casco Bay Estuary Program, New Hampshire Estuary Project (NHEP) and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Based on data provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the maps display No Discharge Zones, impaired waters, and wastewater discharges. The NECIR investigation determined more than 7 billion gallons spewed into waterways across New England, the first such compilation of an annual total. Beach advisories or closures are based not just on bacterial counts but also on a risk assessment that considers the number of typical bathers, timing of the last rainfall and any history of problems at the site. DEP disputes reports of dirty water, saying most Maine beaches free from contamination. Bangor Daily News published Preventing red tide poisoning in response to this incident. There are also important biological considerations. 480-C(2). Susan Davies As a result, limited data are available on bacteria levels precisely where those levels are expected to be highestadjacent to heavily settled areas and near known sources of possible pathogens like combined sewer overflows or overboard discharges (OBDs). The United States Geological Survey maintains a website, Maine Water Science Center. Again, it was restored at the last minute as part of a Continuing Resolution. Enter your Town of Kennebunkport, ME username. Email: david.ladd@maine.gov 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 Participating beaches are monitored for Enterococci bacteria which indicate fecal contamination. Additional water quality educational resources can be found here. In April 2013 the New England Center for Investigative Reporting (NECIR) published the results of the first comprehensive look at where, how often and how much sewage from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) flows into New England waterways. 377 Manktown Road There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. (WJAR) The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending Bonnet Shores Beach Club in Narragansett close to swimming due to high bacteria levels. NRDC ranked Maine 27th in Beachwater Quality (out of 30 states). The state responds after Environment America lists the number of potentially unsafe beach days each state had last year because of water quality concerns. Volunteers collect water samples to be analyzed for bacteria concentration. Ohio David Ladd The Maine Sea Grant education program seeks to improve K-12 marine-related educational opportunities in the state, as well as continued learning programs for educators. malfunctioning septic systems, pet waste) from lawns and roadways as direct runoff to the surf zone or via rivers, streams, storm drains, etc. Beach Bacteria Study FAQs: What is this study about? You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The state also maintains a geo-referenced database of licensed overboard discharges (OBD), wastewater outfalls, and wastewater facilities. The Maine Healthy Beaches Program works with partic-ipating towns and state parks to track bacteria levels at public marine beaches. However, during rainstorms or snow-melt periods, stormwater mixes with the sanitary sewage, causing flows that exceed the capacity of the sewer system. And the situation has improved as many towns and cities work to update aging sewer infrastructure that dumps a combination of waste and storm runoff into local waterways during heavy rain. High bacteria levels prompt advisory for swimmers at Portlands East End Beach, Sanford police seize cocaine, crack worth $16,000, Maine insurers lower rate requests for Affordable Care Act coverage, maine department of environmental protection, At $10 million, one of the priciest homes in Maine history goes to former SEC chair, Lawmakers recommend replacing popular senior property tax program, Trucks brakes locked up before driver hit teen in Gray, report says, Fire at Portland apartment leaves residents homeless, Assistant superintendent from Philadelphia chosen as Portlands next schools leader. Weekly Reports by Sampling Site A second sample revealed bacteria levels well below the state beach closure limit. With onshore sea breezes, the loose wrack floating in the water is more like to be cast ashore with wave action than not. Tel: 207-832-0343 These harmful microbes are known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, ear infections, and fever in recreational swimmers. There are a few communities in Maine that, depending on conditions, may post an advisory after a specified amount of rainfall. Kaczor has seen some of the challenges that Maine beachgoers are faced with when they use public beaches. EPA no longer publishes this report. Beach advisories or closures can be an outcome of poor water quality tests. Managing seaweed accumulation on Maines beaches is a beach-specific weighing game with no one-size-fits-all solution. In November 2008 the red tide conditions that had closed local shellfishing beds in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts between April and July 2008 were declared an official disaster by the U.S. Department of Commerce, opening the way for local shellfishermen to receive federal financial assistance. Their request for another waiver was turned down by the federal EPA, but the town's attorney was reportedly planning to argue the case with EPA. He said Congress should increase both grants and loan programs. The seaweed also contains tiny sea creatures, such as jellyfish larvae, that can irritate your skin . With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Should the article pass, Dr. Stephen Jones of the University of New Hampshire would do testing for several months on the three beaches. A "poor" bacteria-level ranking is 71 or more enterococcus per 100 milliliters of water. A study released Tuesday shows thousands of beaches across the U.S. had unsafe levels of water pollution on at least one day in 2018. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Indiana In addition, members of Maine Sea Grant's Marine Extension Team conduct many formal and informal educational programs and have valuable connections with teachers and students throughout the state. If available, funds are allocated to the states and territories based on a formula which uses three factors that are readily available and verifiable: (1) Length of beach season, (2) miles of beach and (3) number of people that use the beaches. The system lists beach advisories and closures, along with water sampling results. Voters approved $63,000 for the project in May 2014. Is using a security service to protect beachwater quality during winter months only! Development regarding sewer discharges occurred at Kennebunkport also took weeks for bacteria concentration the summer, ending Labor Day,! 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