2017 Beach Watch Week 9: August 28
August 31st, 2017 | Posted by admin
Save The River Reports on Week 9 of Beach Watch Program
Clayton, NY (August 31, 2017) – Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper is monitoring popular summer swimming locations on the River from July 3rd through August 28th on a weekly basis. This is the last week for sampling and we’re pleased tor report all locations sampled on August 28, 2017 have passed.
Save The River’s annual sampling program provides a glimpse of the water quality at popular swimming areas during the peak recreational swimming season. For the 2017 sampling season Save The River volunteers are collecting water quality samples at five swimming area: Wilson’s Beach in Cape Vincent, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, Round Island in Clayton, Lake of the Isles on Wellesley Island, and Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay. Frink Park in Clayton is closed to swimming at this time.
| Location | Pass/Fail | Parts per 100mL |
| Frink Park | N/A | CLOSED |
| Lake of the Isles | N/A | 1.0 |
| Potter’s Beach | PASS | 1.0 |
| Round Island | PASS | <1.0 |
| Scenic View Beach | PASS | 2.0 |
| Wilson’s Beach 3 ft | N/A | 1.0 |
| Wilson’s Beach 6ft | PASS | 1.0 |
Results are expressed in numbers of bacteria colonies found in 100 milliliter (mL) sample of swimming water. The NY State Department of Health has set a swimming quality limit of 235 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.
As in previous years, samples collected by Save The River will be tested for E. Coli bacteria. Results will be compared to levels set out in state and federal regulations. Save The River will make the results available to the public each week with a pass/fail system at the organization’s office, online on its webpage (www.savetheriver.org) and by following Save The River on Facebook and Twitter. Results will also be posted on www.swimguide.org and in the T.I. Sun.
To sign up for weekly Beach Watch updates or for more information about the program please contact the Save The River office at (315)-686-2010 or visit www.savetheriver.org.
2017 Beach Watch Week 8: August 21
August 28th, 2017 | Posted by admin
Save The River Reports on Week 8 of Beach Watch Program
Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper is monitoring popular summer swimming locations on the River from July 3rd through August 28th on a weekly basis. All locations sampled on August 21, 2017 have passed.
Save The River’s annual sampling program provides a glimpse of the water quality at popular swimming areas during the peak recreational swimming season. For the 2017 sampling season Save The River volunteers are collecting water quality samples at five swimming area: Wilson’s Beach in Cape Vincent, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, Round Island in Clayton, Lake of the Isles on Wellesley Island, and Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay. Frink Park in Clayton is closed to swimming at this time.
| Location | Pass/Fail | Parts per 100mL |
| Frink Park | N/A | CLOSED |
| Lake of the Isles | PASS | <1.0 |
| Potter’s Beach | PASS | <2.0 |
| Round Island | PASS | 3.0 |
| Scenic View Beach | PASS | No Sample |
| Wilson’s Beach 3 ft | PASS | 90.9 |
| Wilson’s Beach 6ft | PASS | 60.2 |
Results are expressed in numbers of bacteria colonies found in 100 milliliter (mL) sample of swimming water. The NY State Department of Health has set a swimming quality limit of 235 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.
As in previous years, samples collected by Save The River will be tested for E. Coli bacteria. Results will be compared to levels set out in state and federal regulations. Save The River will make the results available to the public each week with a pass/fail system at the organization’s office, online on its webpage (www.savetheriver.org) and by following Save The River on Facebook and Twitter. Results will also be posted on www.swimguide.org and in the T.I. Sun.
To sign up for weekly Beach Watch updates or for more information about the program please contact the Save The River office at (315)-686-2010 or visit www.savetheriver.org.
2017 Beach Watch Week 7: August 14
August 22nd, 2017 | Posted by admin
Save The River Reports on Week 7 of Beach Watch Program
Clayton, NY (August 17, 2017) – Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper is monitoring popular summer swimming locations on the River from July 3rd through August 28th on a weekly basis. All locations sampled on August 14, 2017 have passed.
Save The River’s annual sampling program provides a glimpse of the water quality at popular swimming areas during the peak recreational swimming season. For the 2017 sampling season Save The River volunteers are collecting water quality samples at five swimming area: Wilson’s Beach in Cape Vincent, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, Round Island in Clayton, Lake of the Isles on Wellesley Island, and Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay. Frink Park in Clayton is closed to swimming at this time.
| Location | Pass/Fail | Parts per 100mL |
| Frink Park | N/A | CLOSED |
| Lake of the Isles | PASS | 1.0 |
| Potter’s Beach | PASS | 2.0 |
| Round Island | PASS | <1.0 |
| Scenic View Beach | PASS | 9.7 |
| Wilson’s Beach 3 ft | PASS | 4.1 |
| Wilson’s Beach 6ft | PASS | 3.1 |
Results are expressed in numbers of bacteria colonies found in 100 milliliter (mL) sample of swimming water. The NY State Department of Health has set a swimming quality limit of 235 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.
As in previous years, samples collected by Save The River will be tested for E. Coli bacteria. Results will be compared to levels set out in state and federal regulations. Save The River will make the results available to the public each week with a pass/fail system at the organization’s office, online on its webpage (www.savetheriver.org) and by following Save The River on Facebook and Twitter. Results will also be posted on www.swimguide.org and in the T.I. Sun.
To sign up for weekly Beach Watch updates or for more information about the program please contact the Save The River office at (315)-686-2010 or visit www.savetheriver.org.
Save The River Honors its Volunteers
August 11th, 2017 | Posted by Lee
On a beautiful summer day at the Bridge Authority’s Rift Camp, many of Save The River’s over 250 volunteers came together to share stories, celebrate their good work to protect the River, and to honor this year’s Volunteers of the Year – the men, women and students who have sampled the water quality at area swimming holes since 1998 – our Beach Watch Volunteers.
Save The River has many well-subscribed and robust volunteer programs – Common Tern Restoration, Riverkeeper & Jr. Riverkeeper, Shoal marking, Catch & Release, event support like Run for the River™ and others, and our many educational programs – and the volunteers for each are superstars. As we have said before, ‘Volunteers are the heart, soul and muscle of all we do to protect the St. Lawrence River.” But this year – a year with a few challenges where the water meets the shore – we chose to honor our Beach Watch volunteers.
- This year we honor our volunteers for their long time involvement with the Beach Watch Program:
- Jean and Ron Daly, monitoring Lake of the Isles since 2008
- Ben Giardina, monitoring Lake of the Isles since 2015
- Mary Mitchell, monitoring Scenic View Park since 2013
- Maria Purcell, monitoring Potter’s Beach since 2008
- Bill Taddeo, monitoring Wilsons Bay since 2014
- Dick Withington, monitoring Round Island since 2007
What was true in 1998, when we introduced the program in a letter to local municipalities, is true today, when the results of our monitoring efforts are reported internationally, “Everyone loves to visit the ‘local swimming hole’ on a summer day on the River. Public dock areas, riverfront parks, and island beaches make for great swimming and sunning, digging in the sand or turning over rocks to find other River inhabitants sharing the same spot.” What we didn’t say explicitly then, but what we are all very aware of is that we all want the water we play in to be fishable, drinkable and swimmable. So we test once a week, rain or shine, for 9 weeks in the summer.
Over the years Save The River has worked in partnership with several associations including: Round Island Association, Lake of the Isles Association, the Thousand Islands Land Trust and property owners on and near Wilson’s Bay. Results are published weekly on our webpage, social media and in the Swim Guide website and app.
About Save The River® / Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®
Since 1978 Save The River, a community-based membership not-for-profit organization, has been the leading environmental organization fighting for the ecological integrity of the St. Lawrence River. Its mission is to preserve, protect and restore the River now, and for generations to come. It delivers educational programs to students and adults about the River, its fragility, and the importance of protecting it. Save The River is committed to being a forceful advocate for policies and programs that promote clean water protections and to resist those that eliminate or weaken them.
Please consider volunteering and becoming a member of Save The River to support our education programs and advocacy for a healthy St. Lawrence River.
Contact us at: info@savetheriver.org, or (315) 686-2010
2017 Beach Watch Week 6: August 7
Save The River Reports on Week 6 of Beach Watch Program
Clayton, NY (August 10, 2017) – Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper is monitoring popular summer swimming locations on the River from July 3rd through August 28th on a weekly basis. All locations sampled on August 7, 2017 have passed.
Save The River’s annual sampling program provides a glimpse of the water quality at popular swimming areas during the peak recreational swimming season. For the 2017 sampling season Save The River volunteers are collecting water quality samples at five swimming area: Wilson’s Beach in Cape Vincent, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, Round Island in Clayton, Lake of the Isles on Wellesley Island, and Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay. Frink Park in Clayton is closed to swimming at this time.
Location Pass/Fail Parts per 100mL
Frink Park N/A CLOSED
Lake of the Isles PASS <1.0
Potter’s Beach PASS 1.0
Round Island PASS <1.0
Scenic View Beach PASS 5.2
Wilson’s Beach 3 ft PASS 1.0
Wilson’s Beach 6 ft PASS 1.0
Results are expressed in numbers of bacteria colonies found in 100 milliliter (mL) sample of swimming water. The NY State Department of Health has set a swimming quality limit of 235 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.
As in previous years, samples collected by Save The River will be tested for E. Coli bacteria. Results will be compared to levels set out in state and federal regulations. Save The River will make the results available to the public each week with a pass/fail system at the organization’s office, online on its webpage (www.savetheriver.org) and by following Save The River on Facebook and Twitter. Results will also be posted on www.swimguide.org and in the T.I. Sun.
To sign up for weekly Beach Watch updates or for more information about the program please contact the Save The River office at (315)-686-2010 or visit www.savetheriver.org.
Ontario Senator Bob Runciman, a true “Friend of the River”, leaves the Senate
We note the departure of Senator Bob Runciman from the Canadian Senate and applaud his outstanding service to the St. Lawrence River. He was an early supporter and has been a long term member of Save The River, founding the Canadian chapter. He has been a consistent champion of cross-border initiatives important to the health and sustainable use of the River.
Earlier this year Save The River was pleased to award Senator Runciman its “Friend of the River” award for his work on major issues facing the River and the communities that depend on it being healthy. He was a vocal and influential proponent of the new water levels plan – Plan 2014 – to restore vital wetland habitat and key species to the River. He has been engaged with local, provincial, state and federal officials on both sides of the River on the issue of prevention and control of invasive species and the lessening of challenges to boaters and anglers in our multinational waters.
We take Senator Runciman at his word that he is not retiring and hope to see him frequently on the River where he has had such a positive impact over the years.
Save The River’s Friend of the River™ award is given to individuals or groups who have contributed in an exceptional way to protecting the St. Lawrence River either through advocacy or programs in line with Save The River’s mission and vision.
2017 Beach Watch Week 5: July 31
Save The River Reports on Week 5 of Beach Watch Program
Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper is monitoring popular summer swimming locations on the River this summer from July 3rd through August 28th on a weekly basis.
Save The River’s annual sampling program provides a glimpse of the water quality at popular swimming areas during the peak recreational swimming season. This summer Save The River volunteers are collecting water quality samples at five swimming areas: Wilson’s Beach in Cape Vincent, Potter’s Beach on Grindstone Island, Round Island in Clayton, Lake of the Isles on Wellesley Island, and Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay. Frink Park in Clayton is closed to swimming at this time.
Samples collected on Monday, July 31st from Wilsons Beach, Potter’s Beach, and Lake of the Isles all passed. After bring retested on August 2nd Scenic View Park in Alexandria Bay passed as well.
| Location | Pass/Fail | Parts per 100mL |
| Frink Park | N/A | CLOSED |
| Lake of the Isles | PASS | 1.0 |
| Potter’s Beach | PASS | 2.0 |
| Round Island | No Sample | N/A |
| Scenic View Beach | PASS Resampled on August 2nd | 45.7 |
| Wilson’s Beach 3 ft | PASS | 1.0 |
| Wilson’s Beach 6ft | PASS | 5.2 |
As in previous years, samples collected by Save The River are tested for E. Coli bacteria. Results are expressed in numbers of bacteria colonies found in 100 milliliter (mL) sample of swimming water. The NY State Department of Health has set a swimming quality limit of 235 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.
High levels of bacteria can cause health problems such as rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses and are most dangerous for the very old, very young, or anyone with a compromised immune system. In order to reduce the risk of bacterial related illnesses never swallow swimming water and wash hands after swimming and before eating.
Save The River makes the results available to the public each week with a pass/fail system at the organization’s office, online on its webpage (www.savetheriver.org) and by following Save The River on Facebook and Twitter. Results will also be posted on www.swimguide.org and in the T.I. Sun.
To sign up for weekly Beach Watch updates or for more information about the program please contact the Save The River office at (315)-686-2010 or visit www.savetheriver.org.