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Testing the Waters 2008
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Pennsylvania 16th in the nation in percent exceedances in 2007 The 40 miles of Lake Erie shoreline in Pennsylvania are all located in Erie County. Of this shoreline, approximately seven miles of beach are in Presque Isle State Park, less than one mile is a permitted public bathing beach outside the state park, and the remainder is composed of private, unpermitted beaches or other shoreline. Nearly all of the Lake Erie public beaches are monitored in a program administered by the Erie County Department of Health. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is responsible for monitoring beaches at Presque Isle State Park. Other permitted beaches located on Lake Erie are monitored by the individual permit holders, which are usually local municipalities or organizations. Results of all monitoring programs are reported to the Erie County Department of Health, which periodically collects samples at various beaches in the county to crosscheck monitoring results. For the 2007 beach season, swimming advisories and restrictions were issued at Lake Erie beaches rather than Pennsylvania Sources of Contamination beach closures.1 Beachwater quality monitoring activities were conducted from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Data from the beachwater quality monitoring program have motivated attempts to identify the sources of high bacteria counts at Presque Isle State Park.1 In response to � Sewage 0% the significant increase of beach closures on Lake Erie � Stormwater 100% � Unknown 0% beaches in Pennsylvania in 2006, a taskforce of state and � Other 0% local agencies was formed to evaluate the sources of E. coli. Sanitary surveys were conducted at two beaches at Presque Isle State Park in 2007. In addition, three research projects conducted by local universities addressed E. coli transport from streams upcurrent of Presque Isle, analysis of beach sands for E. coli, and the comparison of E. coli density at various locations and depths within the geographic boundaries of certain beaches. A stream gauge will be installed on a major tributary to Lake Erie that influences the water quality of the beaches. Information from the stream gauge will be valuable in development of predictive water quality models for additional beaches on Presque Isle State Park.1 Pennsylvania’s beach monitoring program does not conduct outreach to the public to inform them about behaviors that influence beachwater quality because this type of outreach is part of the Pennsylvania Sea Grant program.2 Pennsylvania received a $223,150 federal BEACH Act grant in 2007 and was eligible for a $219,650 grant in 2008. The Lake Erie beach monitoring program is fully funded by BEACH Act grants.
Standards Indicator Organism: E. coli Standards: Beginning with the 2007 swim season, the notification categories at Lake Erie beaches in Pennsylvania
changed. If a single-sample E. coli count is between 235 and 1,000 cfu/100 ml, a swimming advisory is issued. If a singlesample count is greater than 1,000 cfu/100 ml, a swimming restriction is posted and swimming is prohibited.1 Pennsyl vania also uses the five-sample, 30-day geometric mean standard for E. coli of 126 cfu/100 ml to post restrictions.2 Rapid test methods were applied at Presque Isle beaches in 2007 to investigate the relationship between the presence of mats of Cladophora, a type of filamentous green algae found in the Great Lakes, and E. coli counts. The results of this research indicate that Cladophora is a source of bacterial pollution and/or transport in waters adjacent to Presque Isle.3 In 2004, the Erie County Department of Health began developing a predictive model of recreational beachwater quality based on weather, known sewage discharges, storm events, and water currents. The department will use data collected by the beach program to see if a correlation exists between weather conditions and high bacterial counts. The PA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council
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Testing the Waters 2008
model will allow beach managers to issue advisories or restrictions based on real-time measurement of specific weather conditions prior to obtaining the results of monitoring samples.3 Pennsylvania issues preemptive rain advisories at its Lake Erie beaches when rainfall exceeds one-half inch in a 24‑hour period.2 Beaches are posted with restrictions when there is a known sewage spill and when high waves and strong winds out of the west are present.2 Pennsylvania does not monitor for harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, as thus far no harmful algal blooms have been experienced.2
Monitoring Practice: Samples are collected between 9:00 a.m. and noon in water that is approximately 30 inches deep, midway
between the surface and the bottom. Lab analysis takes a minimum of 24 hours to complete. Presque Isle beaches are sampled on Sundays and Mondays and Freeport Beach is sampled on Thursdays.2 Frequency: Pennsylvania monitored 92 percent (11) of its permitted Lake Erie beaches in 2007. These 11 beaches were
monitored twice a week, except for Beach 2 on Presque Isle, which was monitored six times during the swim season. Swimming is not allowed at Beach 2 on Presque Isle; the monitoring was conducted for study purposes.4 Lighthouse Beach on Presque Isle (where swimming is not permitted) was not monitored in 2007. Results: For the third consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s
daily maximum bacterial standards. The percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 6 percent in 2007 from 11 percent in 2006 and 8 percent in 2005. Note: to make this three-year comparison, NRDC includes only those beaches reported in each of these three years. The Lake Erie beaches with the highest percent exceedances in 2007 were Beach 1 (12%), Barracks Beach (9%), Freeport Beach (6%), Beach 10 (Bundy Beach) (4%), Beach 7 (Water Works Beach) (4%), and Beach 8 (Pettinato Beach) (4%). 2007 Monitoring Frequency and Results by Beach County Beach
Tier
Monitoring Frequency
Total Samples
Percent Exceedance
Erie
Beach 1
2
2/wk
366
12%
Erie
Barracks Beach
1
2/wk
117
9%
Erie
Freeport Beach
1
1/wk
51
6%
Erie
Beach 10 (Bundy Beach)
1
2/wk
99
4%
Erie
Beach 7 (Water Works Beach)
1
2/wk
102
4%
Erie
Beach 8 (Pettinato Beach)
1
2/wk
102
4%
Erie
Beach 6
1
2/wk
92
2%
Erie
Mill Road Beaches
1
2/wk
90
1%
Erie
Beach 11
1
2/wk
93
0%
Erie
Beach 9 (Pine Tree Beach)
1
2/wk
93
0%
Erie
Beach 2
No data
2/wk
6
0%
Erie
Lighthouse Beach
No data
2/wk
No data
No data
Closings and Advisories Closing/advisory days lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 85 percent to six days in 2007 from 53 days in 2006 and 39 days in 2005. PA.2 Natural Resources Defense Council
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Testing the Waters 2008
Closing Issuance: In the event of an exceedance, officials issue a restriction or an advisory without waiting to re-sample.
If the E. coli level in a regulatory sample is greater than or equal to 235 cfu/100ml, but less than 1,000 cfu/100ml, the beach is posted with a swimming advisory, swimming is permitted and the public is informed that the E.coli level exceeds standards. They are also advised about what precautions to take should they choose to enter the water. If the E coli level is equal to or greater than 1,000 cfu/100 ml, the beach is posted with a swimming restriction and swimming is not permitted.1 Appropriate officials and the media are notified and warnings are posted on park entrance signs. Life guards prevent people from entering the water during a restriction. Advisories and restrictions are issued for an entire beach, not sections of a beach. Reopening Procedures: If an advisory or a restriction is posted, beaches are re-sampled for three consecutive days.4
Restrictions are converted to advisories if the E. coli count drops to between 235 and 1,000 cfu/100 ml, and advisories are lifted when re-sampling indicates a bacteria level below 235 cfu/100 ml. Causes of Closings: All Great Lakes beach closing and advisory days in Pennsylvania in 2007 were due to monitoring that
revealed elevated bacterial levels from stormwater sources. 2007 Pennsylvania Great Lakes Beach Closings and Advisories County
Beach Name
Start Date
End Date
Reason Source
Erie
Barracks Beach
7/28/07
7/29/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
7/28/07
7/29/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
8/7/07
8/8/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
8/7/07
11/5/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 10 Bundy Beach
8/9/07
8/10/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 7 Water Works Beach
8/9/07
8/10/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 8 Pettinato Beach
8/8/07
8/9/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Abbreviations used: Bacteria, Monitoring that revealed high bacteria levels; Stormwater, Stormwater runoff.
Notes 1 Erie County Department of Health. 2007 Annual Report on Pennsylvania Beaches January–December 2007. Not dated. 2 Doug Range, Erie County Department of Health, personal communication, May 2008. 3 Mauro, S. Spatial and temporal variability of bacterial content in Cladophora mats in Lake Erie beach waters of Presque Isle State Park. Presented at Cladophora and Great Lakes Research Meeting. January 17, 2008. 4 US EPA. Beach Sampling in Pennsylvania (Lake Erie) (website). Accessed at http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/beachpa.htm. July 2008.
PA.3 Natural Resources Defense Council
Testing the Waters 2008
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Pennsylvania 16th in the nation in percent exceedances in 2007 The 40 miles of Lake Erie shoreline in Pennsylvania are all located in Erie County. Of this shoreline, approximately seven miles of beach are in Presque Isle State Park, less than one mile is a permitted public bathing beach outside the state park, and the remainder is composed of private, unpermitted beaches or other shoreline. Nearly all of the Lake Erie public beaches are monitored in a program administered by the Erie County Department of Health. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is responsible for monitoring beaches at Presque Isle State Park. Other permitted beaches located on Lake Erie are monitored by the individual permit holders, which are usually local municipalities or organizations. Results of all monitoring programs are reported to the Erie County Department of Health, which periodically collects samples at various beaches in the county to crosscheck monitoring results. For the 2007 beach season, swimming advisories and restrictions were issued at Lake Erie beaches rather than Pennsylvania Sources of Contamination beach closures.1 Beachwater quality monitoring activities were conducted from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Data from the beachwater quality monitoring program have motivated attempts to identify the sources of high bacteria counts at Presque Isle State Park.1 In response to � Sewage 0% the significant increase of beach closures on Lake Erie � Stormwater 100% � Unknown 0% beaches in Pennsylvania in 2006, a taskforce of state and � Other 0% local agencies was formed to evaluate the sources of E. coli. Sanitary surveys were conducted at two beaches at Presque Isle State Park in 2007. In addition, three research projects conducted by local universities addressed E. coli transport from streams upcurrent of Presque Isle, analysis of beach sands for E. coli, and the comparison of E. coli density at various locations and depths within the geographic boundaries of certain beaches. A stream gauge will be installed on a major tributary to Lake Erie that influences the water quality of the beaches. Information from the stream gauge will be valuable in development of predictive water quality models for additional beaches on Presque Isle State Park.1 Pennsylvania’s beach monitoring program does not conduct outreach to the public to inform them about behaviors that influence beachwater quality because this type of outreach is part of the Pennsylvania Sea Grant program.2 Pennsylvania received a $223,150 federal BEACH Act grant in 2007 and was eligible for a $219,650 grant in 2008. The Lake Erie beach monitoring program is fully funded by BEACH Act grants.
Standards Indicator Organism: E. coli Standards: Beginning with the 2007 swim season, the notification categories at Lake Erie beaches in Pennsylvania
changed. If a single-sample E. coli count is between 235 and 1,000 cfu/100 ml, a swimming advisory is issued. If a singlesample count is greater than 1,000 cfu/100 ml, a swimming restriction is posted and swimming is prohibited.1 Pennsyl vania also uses the five-sample, 30-day geometric mean standard for E. coli of 126 cfu/100 ml to post restrictions.2 Rapid test methods were applied at Presque Isle beaches in 2007 to investigate the relationship between the presence of mats of Cladophora, a type of filamentous green algae found in the Great Lakes, and E. coli counts. The results of this research indicate that Cladophora is a source of bacterial pollution and/or transport in waters adjacent to Presque Isle.3 In 2004, the Erie County Department of Health began developing a predictive model of recreational beachwater quality based on weather, known sewage discharges, storm events, and water currents. The department will use data collected by the beach program to see if a correlation exists between weather conditions and high bacterial counts. The PA.1 Natural Resources Defense Council
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Testing the Waters 2008
model will allow beach managers to issue advisories or restrictions based on real-time measurement of specific weather conditions prior to obtaining the results of monitoring samples.3 Pennsylvania issues preemptive rain advisories at its Lake Erie beaches when rainfall exceeds one-half inch in a 24‑hour period.2 Beaches are posted with restrictions when there is a known sewage spill and when high waves and strong winds out of the west are present.2 Pennsylvania does not monitor for harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, as thus far no harmful algal blooms have been experienced.2
Monitoring Practice: Samples are collected between 9:00 a.m. and noon in water that is approximately 30 inches deep, midway
between the surface and the bottom. Lab analysis takes a minimum of 24 hours to complete. Presque Isle beaches are sampled on Sundays and Mondays and Freeport Beach is sampled on Thursdays.2 Frequency: Pennsylvania monitored 92 percent (11) of its permitted Lake Erie beaches in 2007. These 11 beaches were
monitored twice a week, except for Beach 2 on Presque Isle, which was monitored six times during the swim season. Swimming is not allowed at Beach 2 on Presque Isle; the monitoring was conducted for study purposes.4 Lighthouse Beach on Presque Isle (where swimming is not permitted) was not monitored in 2007. Results: For the third consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s
daily maximum bacterial standards. The percent of samples exceeding the standard decreased to 6 percent in 2007 from 11 percent in 2006 and 8 percent in 2005. Note: to make this three-year comparison, NRDC includes only those beaches reported in each of these three years. The Lake Erie beaches with the highest percent exceedances in 2007 were Beach 1 (12%), Barracks Beach (9%), Freeport Beach (6%), Beach 10 (Bundy Beach) (4%), Beach 7 (Water Works Beach) (4%), and Beach 8 (Pettinato Beach) (4%). 2007 Monitoring Frequency and Results by Beach County Beach
Tier
Monitoring Frequency
Total Samples
Percent Exceedance
Erie
Beach 1
2
2/wk
366
12%
Erie
Barracks Beach
1
2/wk
117
9%
Erie
Freeport Beach
1
1/wk
51
6%
Erie
Beach 10 (Bundy Beach)
1
2/wk
99
4%
Erie
Beach 7 (Water Works Beach)
1
2/wk
102
4%
Erie
Beach 8 (Pettinato Beach)
1
2/wk
102
4%
Erie
Beach 6
1
2/wk
92
2%
Erie
Mill Road Beaches
1
2/wk
90
1%
Erie
Beach 11
1
2/wk
93
0%
Erie
Beach 9 (Pine Tree Beach)
1
2/wk
93
0%
Erie
Beach 2
No data
2/wk
6
0%
Erie
Lighthouse Beach
No data
2/wk
No data
No data
Closings and Advisories Closing/advisory days lasting six consecutive weeks or less decreased 85 percent to six days in 2007 from 53 days in 2006 and 39 days in 2005. PA.2 Natural Resources Defense Council
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Testing the Waters 2008
Closing Issuance: In the event of an exceedance, officials issue a restriction or an advisory without waiting to re-sample.
If the E. coli level in a regulatory sample is greater than or equal to 235 cfu/100ml, but less than 1,000 cfu/100ml, the beach is posted with a swimming advisory, swimming is permitted and the public is informed that the E.coli level exceeds standards. They are also advised about what precautions to take should they choose to enter the water. If the E coli level is equal to or greater than 1,000 cfu/100 ml, the beach is posted with a swimming restriction and swimming is not permitted.1 Appropriate officials and the media are notified and warnings are posted on park entrance signs. Life guards prevent people from entering the water during a restriction. Advisories and restrictions are issued for an entire beach, not sections of a beach. Reopening Procedures: If an advisory or a restriction is posted, beaches are re-sampled for three consecutive days.4
Restrictions are converted to advisories if the E. coli count drops to between 235 and 1,000 cfu/100 ml, and advisories are lifted when re-sampling indicates a bacteria level below 235 cfu/100 ml. Causes of Closings: All Great Lakes beach closing and advisory days in Pennsylvania in 2007 were due to monitoring that
revealed elevated bacterial levels from stormwater sources. 2007 Pennsylvania Great Lakes Beach Closings and Advisories County
Beach Name
Start Date
End Date
Reason Source
Erie
Barracks Beach
7/28/07
7/29/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
7/28/07
7/29/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
8/7/07
8/8/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 1
8/7/07
11/5/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 10 Bundy Beach
8/9/07
8/10/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 7 Water Works Beach
8/9/07
8/10/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Erie
Beach 8 Pettinato Beach
8/8/07
8/9/07
Bacteria
Stormwater
Abbreviations used: Bacteria, Monitoring that revealed high bacteria levels; Stormwater, Stormwater runoff.
Notes 1 Erie County Department of Health. 2007 Annual Report on Pennsylvania Beaches January–December 2007. Not dated. 2 Doug Range, Erie County Department of Health, personal communication, May 2008. 3 Mauro, S. Spatial and temporal variability of bacterial content in Cladophora mats in Lake Erie beach waters of Presque Isle State Park. Presented at Cladophora and Great Lakes Research Meeting. January 17, 2008. 4 US EPA. Beach Sampling in Pennsylvania (Lake Erie) (website). Accessed at http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/beachpa.htm. July 2008.
PA.3 Natural Resources Defense Council
