Overview

• Local agencies reported closures and advisories from Florida and Maine to New York, California and Hawaii, including Keyes Memorial Beach in Hyannis, Benjamin’s Beach on Long Island, Imperial Beach and Kahaluu Beach Park.
• Environment America found that nearly two-thirds of tested beaches in 2024 had at least one unsafe day, with 84% of Gulf Coast and 79% of West Coast beaches exceeding thresholds at least once.
• Suffolk County closed Benjamin’s Beach after bacteria exceeded limits, and North Carolina kept five beaches under advisories heading into the holiday weekend.
• Health officials say exposure can cause gastrointestinal illness, rashes and infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, and EPA-based benchmarks indicate about 32 illnesses per 1,000 swimmers at flagged levels.
• Aging sewer and stormwater systems, heavy rains and recent storm impacts are cited as key drivers of contamination, and Vermont separately issued cyanobacteria advisories for nearly two dozen swimming spots.