By Steve Polston
Nineteen Indiana beaches on Lake Michigan are suffering from high bacteria levels, according to the Beach Guard pollution monitoring system.
Beaches impacted currently are in Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties. Many beaches become contaminated after heavy storms wash contaminants on streets and other surfaces, in sanitary sewers, and from septic systems.
Many northern Indiana beaches – most along Lake Michigan – are monitored by BeachGuard, an Internet based system run by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Forty-three public and two private beaches are monitored.
BeachGuard is currently showing nine closures and advisories, though this list changes frequently.
Closures:
1 day – Buffington Harbor Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Jeorse Park Beach 1, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Jeorse Park Beach 2, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Hammond Marina West Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Whihala Beach East, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Whihala Beach West, Lake County, high bacteria levels
Contamination advisories:
1 day – Broadway Beach, Porter County, high bacteria levels
5 days – Cedar Lake Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Drexwood Beach, Porter County, high bacteria levels
5 days – Hidden Lake Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Lake Street Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
5 days – Lake of the Four Seasons Clubhouse Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
5 days – Lake of the Four Seasons Sandy Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Long Beach Stop 20, LaPorte County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Marquette Park Beach, Lake County, high bacteria levels
4 days – Sheridan Beach Stop 2, LaPorte County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Shore Avenue Beach, Porter County, high bacteria levels
1 day – Shoreland Hills Beach Stop 31, LaPorte County, high bacteria levels
4 day – Washington Park Beach, LaPorte County, high bacteria levels
High bacteria levels are triggering the alerts and closures. Storm water in municipal systems may carry pollutants into public waterways and onto beaches.
It’s not what you want to think about when you plan your Indiana beach vacation on the waters of Lake Michigan: fecal pollution and poor water quality.
But you need to plan ahead, at least for the minor change in plans you need to make in the event of beach closings.
E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a common type of bacteria; it normally lives in your intestines, but can appear if fecal pollution is present. E. coli indicates that other animal pathogens are present.
The indicator bacteria E. coli can suggest the likely presence of harmful pathogens that can make you sick. These pathogens can be things such as Salmonella, Shigella, noraviruses, enteroviruses, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia. These are found in both human and non-human sources of fecal pollution. They are health threats.
The Indiana Department of Environmental management recently provided a news release about the beach monitoring website.
“We’re continually working to educate and improve Lake Michigan water quality but E. coli can still be an issue,” said Thomas Easterly, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
“The Indiana Lake Michigan Beaches monitoring program provides an easy way to check the status of Lake Michigan beaches before the trip even begins,” said Easterly. “The online tool helps visitors plan their enjoyable trip to Lake Michigan.”
Commissioner Easterly said, “It’s a good idea to check the website so that you can plan when and where you want to enjoy the beach with the family.”
IDEM’s online software system shows information about beach closures and beach sampling results for monitoring locations located along the coast of Lake Michigan.
“Lake Michigan beach advisories are issued when bacteria levels reach the point where it would be unhealthy for people to be in the water,” said Michelle Caldwell, IDEM's Beach Grant Program coordinator. “When the levels are high, people are at risk of becoming ill from contact with the water. Exposing skin cuts or wounds, as well as ingesting the water, can increase the chances of illness.”
Your trip to the beach can be interrupted by pollution, but the chances of knowing which beaches are closed due to fecal pollution are increased by use of the website. You can avoid illness by being aware.
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