The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay began its annual beach monitoring program today sampling 21 beaches across Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties.
Beaches will be tested weekly for harmful E. coli bacteria every Wednesday through September 9.
“We are proud to provide this service each summer,” said Sarah U’Ren, Program Director at The Watershed Center. “Weekly E. coli monitoring is a vital part of protecting public health and ensuring our beaches remain safe for residents and visitors.”
“Each summer, thousands of people visit our beaches to swim, relax, and enjoy the outdoors,” added Brent Wheat, Environmental Health Director at the Grand Traverse County Health Department. “Routine water quality monitoring helps ensure these waters are safe for recreational use.”
Elevated E. coli levels indicate fecal contamination, which can carry harmful pathogens and pose health risks — especially for young children and individuals with compromised immune systems.
“Our beach monitoring program provides timely, accurate water quality information to help protect public health,” said Eric Johnston, environmental health director for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. “By sharing results with the public, we help keep our communities safe while enjoying local waters.”
Test results will be available by midday Thursdays and posted on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy BeachGuard website and The Watershed Center Facebook page. If high bacteria levels are detected, advisories will be posted at impacted beaches and follow-up testing will continue until levels return to acceptable standards.
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department will issue weekly media releases and post results on its website and Facebook and Instagram accounts.
In addition to routine sampling, The Watershed Center will also pilot a new rapid screening technology, BactiQuick, at seven Traverse City beaches in partnership with the Great Lakes Environmental Center. This emerging method can provide preliminary results in as little as 15 minutes.
While BactiQuick will not replace standard laboratory testing for issuing advisories, it may allow staff to quickly confirm when bacteria levels are low and provide an immediate “all clear” without additional sampling. Results from the pilot will be compared with traditional testing methods and shared with researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, contributing to ongoing statewide evaluations of this technology.
Along with measuring E. coli levels, The Watershed Center will continue bacterial source tracking to better understand where contamination at local beaches originates. Using advanced microbial source tracking techniques, water samples with elevated E. coli levels are analyzed for host-specific genetic markers that can identify whether bacteria is coming from humans, canines, cows, pigs, or gulls. This year, testing will also expand to include raccoons, Canada geese, and other waterfowl to better pinpoint sources of contamination.
Beachgoers are encouraged to take simple actions to reduce the risk of E. coli at beaches such as not feeding ducks and other birds, disposing of diapers (including swim diapers) in trash cans, and having young children take frequent bathroom breaks. Beachgoers are also reminded not to swim near storm drains, especially during and immediately after rain events, as runoff may contain harmful bacteria. E. coli levels after a rain event often decrease as sunlight naturally breaks down the bacteria in open water.
Testing will be conducted at the following Leelanau beaches:
Lake Michigan
· Van’s Beach
• Empire Beach
West Grand Traverse Bay
• West End Beach (Traverse City)
• Greilickville Harbor Park
·• Omena Beach
• Suttons Bay South Shore Beach
• Suttons Bay Marina Park Beach
• Northport Beach
Inland Beaches
·South Bar Beach (South Bar Lake)
Funding for beach monitoring comes from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency BEACH Act Funds; Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Water Resources Division; the Village of Empire; and the Village of Beulah.
