This List of the Dirtiest Beaches in America Is Here to Ruin Your Vacation
Summer is all fun and games until you find out there's fecal bacteria contaminating your local beach.
That's exactly what's happening at public swimming areas around the country according to John Rumpler, the clean water program director at the Environment America Research and Policy Center.
The center released a study in July that examined dangerous bacteria levels at beaches in 29 coastal and Great Lakes states. The study shows the number of days in 2018 that the water had fecal bacteria counts exceeding Environmental Protection Agency standards, which can put swimmers at risk of getting sick.
"It's hard to believe that 47 years after we passed the Clean Water Act that we are still concerned with poop in the water when people want to go swimming," Rumpler told USA Today.
Nearly 60 percent of the 4,523 beaches tested nationwide had dangerously high contamination levels in the water on at least one occasion.
While most states prioritize shutting down public swimming areas and posting warning signs to beachgoers when pollution levels are high, you should check water quality reports before hitting the sand.
Did your favorite summer hangout make the list of the dirtiest beaches? See below to find out.
Alabama
• Fairhope Public Beach, Baldwin
• Dog River, Alba Club, Mobile
• Camp Beckwith, Baldwin
• Volanta Avenue, Baldwin
• Orange Street Pier, Baldwin
California
• Inner Cabrillo Beach, Los Angeles
• Coronado Ave. Beach, Los Angeles
• Salt Creek Beach, Orange
• Molino Avenue Beach, Los Angeles
• 5th Place Beach, Los Angeles
Connecticut
• Byram Beach (South), Fairfield
• Byram Beach (North), Fairfield
• Seaside Park Beach (Southernmost), Fairfield
• Seaside Park Beach (South), Fairfield
• Seaside Park Beach (Mid), Fairfield
Delaware
• Slaughter Beach, Sussex
• Fenwick Island State Park Beach, Sussex
• Rehoboth Beach, Sussex
• Broadkill Beach, Sussex
• Lewes Beach North, Sussex
Florida
• Bayou Texar, Escambia
• Sanders Beach, Escambia
• Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade
• Bird Key Park, Sarasota
• Venice Fishing Pier, Sarasota
Georgia
• St. Simons Island Lighthouse, Glynn
• Skidaway Narrows, Chatham
• Kings Ferry, Chatham
• Tybee Island, Polk St., Chatham
• Jekyll Driftwood Beach, Glynn
Hawaii
• Keehi Lagoon (North), Honolulu
• Keehi Lagoon (South), Honolulu
• Punaluu Beach Park, Honolulu
• MS2 (Kapoho Point), Honolulu
• Kalihi Channel, Honolulu
Illinois
• South Shore Beach, Cook
• Calumet South Beach, Cook
• 63rd Street Beach, Cook
• Rogers Avenue Park Beach, Cook
• Howard Street Park Beach, Cook
Indiana
• Jeorse Park Beach I, Lake
• Jeorse Park Beach II, Lake
• Buffington Harbor Beach, Lake
• Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach, Porter
• Washington Park Beach, LaPorte
Louisiana
• North Beach, Calcasieu
• Cypremort Point State Park, St. Mary
• Fontainebleau State Park, St. Tammany
• Rutherford Beach, Cameron
• Holly Beach 4, Cameron
Maine
• Goose Rocks Beach – Site 5, York
• Goose Rocks Beach – Site 1, York
• Willard Beach, Cumberland
• Ogunquit Beach, York
• Kennebunk Beach, York
Maryland
• Camp Pecometh, Kent
• Public Landing Beach near Snow Hill, Worcester
• Ocean City Beach 1, Worcester
• Purse State Park, Charles
• Ferry Park, Kent
Massachusetts
• Nahant Bay at Eastern Ave, Essex
• Tenean Beach, Suffolk
• Nahant Bay at Pierce Road, Essex
• Nahant Bay at Kimball Road, Essex
• Quincy Shore at Channing Street, Norfolk
Michigan
• St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach, Macomb
• Pier Park, Wayne
• HCMA/Lake St. Clair Metropark Beach, Macomb
• New Baltimore Park Beach, Macomb
• Singing Bridge Beach, Arenac
Minnesota
• New Duluth Boat Club landing, St. Louis
• Near Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, St. Louis
• Agate Bay, Lake
• Twin Points Public Access, Lake
• Flood Bay, Lake
Mississippi
• Gulfport East Beach, Harrison
• Shearwater Beach, Jackson
• Long Beach, Harrison
• Gulfport Central Beach, Harrison
• Courthouse Road Beach, Harrison
New Hampshire
• State Beach-Left, Rockingham
• State Beach-Center, Rockingham
• New Castle Island-Right, Rockingham
• State Beach-Right, Rockingham
• Sawyer Beach-Right, Rockingham
New Jersey
• Berkeley Township/Beachwood Beach West, Ocean
• Belmar Borough at L Street Beach, Monmouth
• Berkeley Township at West Beach Avon Road, Ocean
• Brick Township at Windward Beach, Ocean
• Highlands Borough at Highlands Recreation Center, Monmouth
New York
• Tanner Park, Suffolk
• Woodlawn Beach State Park, Erie
• Shirley Beach, Suffolk
• Venetian Shores, Suffolk
• Valley Grove Beach, Suffolk
North Carolina
• Sound access at the intersection of E. Main Street/Tooley Street, Belhaven, Beaufort
• NC Maritime Museum Sailing Camp, Carteret
• Pamlico River – City Park, Beaufort
• End of Shore Line Drive, Pender
• Pamlico River-Washington-Trestle, Beaufort
Ohio
• Bay View West, Erie
• Maumee Bay State Park (Inland), Lucas
• Villa Angela State Park, Cuyahoga
• Lakeview Beach, Lorain
• Euclid State Park, Cuyahoga
Oregon
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach/Big Creek, Coos
• Nye Beach turnaround/discharge pipe, Lincoln
• Harris Beach State Park at Harris Creek, Curry
• Sunset Bay, Seep Creek, Coos
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach/North Beach, Coos
Pennsylvania
• Beach 11 West in Thompson Bay, Erie
• Beach 11 East in Thompson Bay, Erie
• Beach 11 Center in Thompson Bay, Erie
• Barracks Beach West, Erie
• Barracks Beach East, Erie
Rhode Island
• Easton's Beach, Newport
• Conimicut Point Beach – West, Kent
• Goddard Memorial State Park Center, Kent
• Sandy Point Beach – South, Newport
• Oakland Beach Center, Kent
South Carolina
• Withers Swash, Horry
• Myrtle Beach at 24th Avenue N, Horry
• White Point Swash, Horry
• Bear Branch Swash, Horry
• Cane Patch Swash, Horry
Texas
• Cole Park – Site 3, Nueces
• Ropes Park – Site 2, Nueces
• Cole Park – Site 4, Nueces
• Cole Park – Site 2, Nueces
• Poenisch Park, Nueces
Virginia
• North Community Beach, Norfolk city
• Captains Quarters, Norfolk city
• 10th View, Behind Quality Inn, Norfolk city
• 15th Street, Virginia Beach city
• 13th View, North End, Norfolk city
Washington
• Sooes Beach, Clallam
• Lummi Bay, adjacent to second tidegate, Whatcom
• Dakwas Park Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam
• Little Squalicum Park, Whatcom
•Cline Spit County Park, Clallam
Wisconsin
• Cupertino Park, Milwaukee
• McKinley Marina Roundhouse, Milwaukee
• Wolfenbuttel Park, Kenosha
• North Nicolet Bay Campground, Door
• Memorial Park in Chequamegon Bay, Ashland County
(h/t USA Today)
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