Report on New York State Park Beach Closures and Sustainable Development Goal Implications

Executive Summary

As of the latest water quality report from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, six swimming beaches within the state park system are closed to the public. These closures are a direct result of environmental health hazards, specifically harmful algal blooms and high levels of E.coli bacteria. This situation presents significant challenges to the state’s progress on several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Analysis of Current Beach Closures

The closures affect multiple counties and are attributed to two primary contaminants, both of which pose a direct risk to public health and signal underlying environmental quality issues. The affected parks are listed below.

Closures Due to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Four beaches are closed due to HABs, which threaten both human health and aquatic ecosystems, directly impacting SDG 3 and SDG 14.

• Sampson State Park, Seneca County: Located on Seneca Lake, closed following tests on July 28.
• Gilbert Lake State Park, Otsego County: Closed following tests on July 28.
• Point Au Roche State Park, Clinton County: Closed following tests on July 28.
• Long Point State Park, Chautauqua County: Located on Lake Chautauqua, closed following tests on July 25.

Closures Due to E.coli Exceedance

Two beaches are closed due to E.coli levels exceeding state safety standards. This type of bacterial contamination is a critical indicator of poor water quality, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 6 and posing a significant risk of waterborne illness, which undermines SDG 3.

• Stony Brook State Park, Steuben County: Closed due to E.coli exceedance, last tested on July 28.
• Hamlin Beach State Park, Monroe County: One of the park’s two swimming areas on Lake Ontario is closed due to E.coli exceedance, last tested on July 28.

State Monitoring Protocols and Public Health Safeguards

The New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates a comprehensive water quality monitoring program for its 67 state-owned swimming beaches. This program is a crucial tool for advancing SDG 3 by protecting the public from health risks and for implementing SDG 6 through systematic water quality assessment.

Testing Procedures and Standards

The state’s protocol ensures regular monitoring to mitigate public health risks.

1. Frequency: All 67 beaches are tested at least once per week.
2. Transparency: Test results are posted daily at park offices, online, and at the beaches, ensuring the public is informed within approximately 24 hours of sample collection.
3. Bacteria Indicators: Freshwater samples are analyzed for E. coli, with a safety threshold of 235 colonies/100 ml. Ocean water samples are tested for enterococcus, with a threshold of 104 colonies/100 ml. Exceeding these levels triggers advisories or closures.

Beach Closure Classification System

The state employs a two-tiered system to respond to contamination events, balancing public access with safety in line with SDG 3 objectives.

• Category 1: Beaches may remain open with an advisory after a single failed test. A second consecutive failed test mandates a full closure.
• Category 2: Beaches are closed immediately after a single failed test and remain closed until a satisfactory sample is received.

Underlying Causes of Closures and Broader SDG Context

The reasons for beach closures extend beyond immediate contamination events and point to broader environmental challenges relevant to multiple SDGs.

Primary Reasons for Beach Closures

• Bacterial Exceedance: Direct measurement of E.coli or enterococcus above state standards.
• Predicted Exceedance (Rainfall/Model): Closures based on predictive models that link heavy rainfall to poor water quality, highlighting the impact of stormwater runoff—a key challenge for SDG 6 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Environmental Conditions: Closures due to high waves, cold water, or turbidity, which can obscure visibility and endanger swimmers, are preventative measures supporting SDG 3.
• Operational Factors: Lack of available lifeguards or end-of-season operations.

The recurring issues of bacterial and algal contamination underscore the urgent need for integrated water resource management. The causes, often linked to land use, agricultural runoff, and inadequate stormwater systems, demonstrate the interconnectedness of SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses public health by discussing the closure of beaches to prevent exposure to “waterborne diseases.” The entire monitoring and closure system described is a public health measure aimed at ensuring the well-being of individuals using recreational water facilities.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The core issue of the article is water quality in recreational areas. It details the contamination of freshwater lakes and beaches with E.coli and harmful algal blooms, which are direct indicators of impaired water quality and pollution, aligning with the goal of ensuring clean water for all uses.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article mentions “harmful algal bloom” as a primary reason for beach closures. Algal blooms are a form of nutrient pollution that severely impacts aquatic ecosystems. The mention of testing for enterococcus in “ocean samples” and the location of parks on major lakes like Lake Ontario and Seneca Lake connects the issues to the health of large aquatic bodies.

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.”

     The article’s statement that New York tests its 67 state-owned swimming beaches to “determine the public’s risk of coming in contact with waterborne diseases” directly corresponds to this target’s aim of combating such illnesses.

   • Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.”

     The closure of beaches due to “E.coli exceedance” and “harmful algal bloom” is a preventative measure to reduce illnesses resulting from water pollution and contamination, as outlined in this target.

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…”

     The presence of E.coli, which can be related to stormwater runoff or sewage, and harmful algal blooms, often caused by nutrient pollution, are the central problems discussed. The state’s monitoring program is a response to the pollution affecting water quality, making this target highly relevant.

   • Target 6.6: “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.”

     The article focuses on the health of several lakes, including Seneca Lake, Lake Ontario, Gilbert Lake, and Lake Chautauqua. The closures indicate that these water-related ecosystems are under stress from pollution, highlighting the need for protection and restoration as specified in this target.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”

     The article identifies “harmful algal bloom” as a reason for closing four beaches. Algal blooms are a direct consequence of nutrient pollution, which this target aims to reduce. Furthermore, the testing for “enterococcus” in ocean samples and the mention of E.coli, which often originates from land-based activities, directly align with the focus of this target.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

• Concentration of E.coli in freshwater: The article explicitly states the indicator and its threshold: “A freshwater sample result equal to or above 235 E.coli colonies/100 ml exceeds the state standard.” This is a direct quantitative indicator used to measure water contamination.
• Concentration of enterococci in ocean water: The article provides a specific indicator for marine environments: “An ocean sample result equal to or above 104 enterococci colonies/100 ml exceeds the state standard.” This is another quantitative indicator for water pollution.
• Presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs): The article lists “harmful algal bloom” as a distinct reason for beach closures at four state parks. The detection of a bloom serves as a qualitative indicator of severe nutrient pollution and unsafe water conditions.
• Frequency of water quality monitoring: The article mentions that all 67 state-owned swimming beaches are “tested at least once a week for bacterial levels.” This serves as an indicator of the state’s commitment and capacity to monitor water quality and protect public health.
• Number of beach closures due to poor water quality: The headline fact that “Six swimming beaches at state parks in New York are closed” due to contamination is an outcome indicator that reflects the overall state of recreational water quality.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: democratandchronicle.com