Beaches in Erie County threatened with closure due to poor water quality: Investigative Post
Swimming is often prohibited at some Lake Erie beaches, including Woodlawn and Bennett, usually because of poor water quality.
Swimming was not allowed at Bennett Beach last Friday. Photo by Garrett Looker.
Last weekend was tough for Lake Erie beaches.
First, there was a shortage of lifeguards that kept Bennett Beach closed to swimmers Friday.
Then came the thunderstorm that drove beachgoers out of Woodlawn State Park the next day.
And when rains on Saturday increased levels of E. coli bacteria and worsened water quality, Woodlawn was closed to swimmers on Sunday.
Both beaches were closed to swimmers on Monday, Woodlawn because of water quality and Bennett because there weren’t enough lifeguards there either.
That’s not the best way to enjoy a summer day at the beach. And it’s not uncommon for beaches in Erie County.
Last summer, Bennett Beach was closed to swimmers for 21 days, Woodlawn for 32. So far this year, closures in Bennett have totaled more than two weeks and in Woodlawn nearly three weeks, according to county and state data.
Swimming may be prohibited at any of Lake Erie’s six beaches in Erie County for a variety of reasons, such as high winds, heavy rain or a lack of lifeguards. However, in most cases, particularly at Woodlawn, the closures reflect Water quality, often with high E. coli bacteria content.
“Woodlawn Beach is kind of the poster child for water closures,” says Joseph Atkinson, an engineering professor at the University at Buffalo who has studied water quality for more than 30 years.
Friday at Bennett Beach
No matter what reason the beach is closed, swimmers are not happy about it.
Every year Tony Mangione returns to Buffalo to see family and friends. When he is hereOOne of his favorite things to do is relax at Bennett Beach.
“I come here every year from Las Vegas,” he said. “The most beautiful beach ever.”
But when Mangione went to Bennett Beach last Friday, Swimming was prohibited due to a lack of lifeguards.
“Today it is a total loss,” he said.
“It’s very disappointing. We wanted to come here because it’s humid and hot at this time of year and you want to take a swim. The water is nice and clean. We don’t swim for long, but it’s nice if you feel like it.”
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A shortage of lifeguards is not unusual this time of year, said lifeguard Braedon O’Brien.
“This usually happens in August when we lose lifeguards to college,” said O’Brien, one of two lifeguards on duty at Bennett on Friday. He said a third lifeguard was needed to facilitate swimming.
At other times, swimming is prohibited because of E. coli or weather conditions, he said.
“Some people worry about that,” O’Brien said of E. coli in the water. “There’s a water treatment plant down the street, so if there’s a certain amount of rain, that can get into the water. But the next day, it’s usually clear again.”
Long-standing bacterial problem
Unlike most city beaches, Bennett and Woodlawn are open to the public.
Bennett Beach in Angola is the only county-owned beach. Admission and parking are free.
Woodlawn Beach in Blasdell is owned and operated by the state. Parking is $7. Woodlawn is known for its proximity to Buffalo – a 10-minute drive from downtown.
It is also known because of its E. coli bacteria problem.
In 2023, Woodlawn was closed for 30 percent of the swimming season due to bacteria and other water quality concerns, compared to 20 percent of the season at Hamburg Beach and 15 percent at Bennett Beach. Evangola Beach State Park was either closed to swimmers for 10 percent of the season or had an E. coli warning, according to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Woodlawn has suffered from water quality problems since it opened in 1996. The problem is partly caused by storm sewer overflows. Systems in heavy rain.
The problem is made worse, officials say, by streams and rivers flowing into Lake Erie carrying animal waste that reaches Woodlawn Beach during heavy rains.
The geography of the beach at Woodlawn further exacerbates the problem, as wind pushes overflow water into the bay, officials say.
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Efforts have been and are being made at the local and state levels, but the problem persists.
In 2022, a $1.6 million wetlands restoration project began at Woodlawn Beach, focusing on cleaning the waters of Blasdell Creek.
The project – which is scheduled to be completed in 2023 – is “an important first step in improving the water quality of Lake Erie near Woodlawn Beach,” said Mark Mistretta, regional director for Niagara with the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The state parks department also said it is committed to working with communities and other partners to address water quality issues in Woodlawn.
“We understand how frustrating it can be for those who rely on state parks for their summer fun, and we hope our restoration project will lead to better days in the future,” the park office said in a statement. “We continue to gather important information and learn how we can further improve lake health in this area.”
posted 13 mins ago – August 22, 2024
