Photos of the Long Island Sound

Research & Monitoring

Status and Trends: LISS Environmental Indicators

Type of Indicators: Health/Condition Response/Performance Socio-Economic Historical/Background

Beach Closure Days

Source: CT DEEP and NYS Dept of Health

Pathogen Caused Beach Closure Days
CT NY NYC
1993 60 104
1994 42 108
1995 72 230
1996 188 249
1997 37 336
1998 191 94
1999 113 22
2000 148 69
2001 79 136
2002 57 277
2003 222 380
2004 183 414
2005 140 310
2006 222 714 53
2007 108 704 47
2008 135 691 125
2009 108 887 141
2010 143  343  91
NY data  does not include NYC beaches

What are beach closure days?

Pathogens are disease-causing organisms, including bacteria and viruses. Beach closure days are the number of days beaches are closed in a year due to the threat of pathogen-related contamination. Beaches can be closed due to elevated pathogen abundance. They also can be closed preemptively during times when high rainfall may cause runoff of animal waste or discharge of untreated sewage. There are 193 monitored beaches along Long Island Sound’s shoreline (66 in Connecticut and 137 in New York) that provide valued recreational opportunities. Yearly variations in closures are a product of rainfall patterns and incidents such as sewer-line ruptures.

what does this indicate?

This indicator reflects the ongoing problems with pathogen contamination of Long Island Sound beaches and the economic cost of coastal pollution.  Closed beaches prevent people from being able to fully enjoy the Long Island Sound shoreline.

status

The high incidents of closures in New York in 2009 were attributed to heavy rainfall. Some health departments also indicate that beach closures have increased since the mid-2000s adoption of a new test for bacterial pathogens for marine waters (the enterococcus standard). New York City beaches were added to this indicator in 2006.

Data Notes

New York data (NY)  includes Long Island Sound beaches in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. New York City (NYC) beaches in Long Island Sound were added to this indicator in 2006.

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