409 Riverside Drive | Clayton, NY 13624 | (315) 686-2010

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Save The River! Thousand Islands - Clayton NY on the St. Lawrence River

Save The River! is a non-profit, member-based environmental organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research.

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