State tracks beach dangers

No algae warnings posted yet along Lake Erie

A state health advisory was posted at Maumee Bay State Park’s inland beach last summer for bacteria.

Be wary of where you swim along the western Lake Erie shoreline with algae blooming now, but as of Monday few actual problems have been documented.

A website operated by the Ohio Department of Health showed only one advisory for state property between Lucas and Erie counties, and that was for bacteria at Maumee Bay State Park’s inland beach.

Previous advisories remained in effect at two Lorain County beaches along Lake Erie.

Information is available at the state health department’s BeachGuard website, publicapps.odh.ohio.gov/​BeachGuardPublic.

To the north, a bacteria advisory remained in effect at Bolles Harbor beach in Michigan’s Monroe County.

Dina Pierce, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency spokesman, said the only state beaches with algae advisories were three at Grand Lake St. Marys, three at Buckeye Lake, and one at Kiser Lake. 

For information, see ohioalgaeinfo.com.

Ms. Pierce said she had no information about a reported beach advisory in the private community of Lakeside, as that area is not a state beach. 

She said the Ohio EPA is not in charge of sampling there.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources works with the other two agencies to sample state-owned park beaches.