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Beach Manager Contacts

Healthy Beaches Action Guide

Map of Illinois public beach locations

Map of Indiana public beach locations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping Our Beaches Healthy

Healthy beaches play an important role in the area of public health and are also critical to properly functioning ecosystems. Unfortunately, in 2010, 112 Great Lakes beaches were unfit for swimming for at least 14 days during the summer.

Unhealthy beaches directly affect the water quality of our lakes, which in turn supply our drinking water, offer natural habitats for plant, animal and aquatic species, and are used by millions for swimming, boating, fishing and other recreation.

Fortunately, clear solutions have been identified to remedy beach pollution problems, and help restore and protect the Great Lakes from further decline. 

What makes a beach unhealthy?

Identifying the source of pollution is the first step in understanding beach health. Pollution that may disrupt the natural functions of a shoreline include:

  • Stormwater runoff: This ferries a variety of polluting substances (grit, oils, etc.) as rain makes its way from pavement, yards and fields to a body of water.
  • Outdated sewer systems: These overflow during heavy rains, releasing untreated wastewater into lakes, rivers and streams.
  • Phosphorous and nitrogen: These nutrients can come from farms, untreated sewage, fertilizers and supplementary plant nutrients and detergents. These chemical elements create algae blooms which can harbor bacteria and harm water quality.
  • Trash and wildlife at the beach: Trash often leads to an increase in populations of geese, gulls and other wildlife which, in turn, leads to an increase in fecal matter high in bacteria.

Solutions for improved beach health 

Once a source of pollution is identified, it can be eliminated. The Alliance offers a year-round Adopt-a-Beach™ program in which volunteers help pick up and identify trash and also test water quality using U.S. EPA techniques and guidelines. 

Our volunteers' results are tracked in a regional database and the sources of pollution are identified, making it possible to then identify and advocate for ways to bring an unhealthy beach back to health. 

How you can help
  • Educate yourself about pollution sources.  
  • Be responsible at the beach, on the lake, in the yard and at home.
  • Visit www.greatlakes.org/HealthyBeachesGuide for more information.
  • Take action by identifying sources and contacting beach managers.
    - Educate others! Spread the word about what you have learned and visit www.greatlakes.org/Education for classroom materials and ideas.