Monitoring Swimming Water Quality on the River
Since 1999, Save The River’s BeachWatch program has monitored swimming water quality at popular swimming areas along the River. Each summer, Save The River staff and volunteers collect water samples at the following sites:
- Frink Park, Clayton, NY
- Potter’s Beach, Grindstone Island, NY
- Round Island, Clayton, NY
- Lake of the Isles, Wellesley Island, NY
- Scenic View Park, Alexandria Bay, NY
- Wilson’s Beach, Cape Vincent, NY
Snapshot of Water Quality, Bacteria Levels
Volunteers collect samples for nine weeks in July and August to provide a snapshot of swimming water quality. All samples are taken to a state-certified facility and tested for E.coli bacteria levels. Test results are posted weekly at the Save The River office, Facebook, Twitter and on the mobile app The Swim Guide, www.theswimguide.org.
At high levels, bacteria can cause health problems such as rashes and gastrointestinal illness, and can be dangerous to very young and very old people, as well as those with a compromised immune system.
To learn more, read our Beach Watch fact sheet.
To volunteer, e-mail us at lauren@savetheriver.org.
Beach Watch Weekly Results
- ‘Blue beaches:’ St. Lawrence River advocates call for action on Styrofoam pollution
- Beach Watch Week 3 Results – Week of July 19, 2021
- Beach Watch Week 2 Results – Week of July 12, 2021
- Beach Watch Week 1 Results – Week of July 6, 2021
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Leads Multi-State Great Lake CleanUP Effort with Great Lakes Waterkeepers and Partners
- Septic System Replacement Fund for the St. Lawrence River
- New Technology Can Help Protect the St. Lawrence River
- Experts: COVID-19 wastewater testing could prevent future outbreaks in North Country seasonal, rural towns
- Save The River hopes new tech could help keep St. Lawrence River trash-free
- Letter to the Editor: Clarkson Starts to Test Wastewater for Virus