50+ MA Beaches Closed To Swimming Ahead Of Labor Day Weekend

MASSACHUSETTS — Nearly six dozen Massachusetts beaches remained off limits to swimming ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend as of Thursday morning.

There should be bright sunshine throughout the weekend with the National Weather Service calling for near-perfect late-summer weather Saturday, Sunday and Monday after a chance of scattered downpours on Friday.

• Here's How Much Longer Summer Is Lasting In MA
• Traveling For Labor Day, Summer's Last Hurrah? What To Know In MA

Most of the 55 beaches were closed on Thursday morning because of high bacteria levels caused by storm runoff and other means of fecal contamination, while a small number of the ponds are suffering from a harmful algae bloom. Water quality at public beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored by local public health departments.

When the water quality is unsafe, the beach must be "posted" with a sign indicating that swimming is unsafe and may cause illness. The main beach at Walden Pond in Concord is closed for the season because of safety concerns associated with the construction of a new bathhouse.

Massachusetts beaches closed as of 10:30 a.m. on Thursday include:

• Amesbury Glen Devin Condominiums
• Ashby Damon Pond Beach
• Ashland Reservoir Main Beach
• Beverly Woodbury Beach
• Billerica Micozzi Beach at Nutting Lake (2 locations)
• Braintree Smith Beach
• Brewster Cliff Pond (2 locations)
• Chicopee Beach
• Concord Walden Pond Main DCR Beach
• Danvers Sandy Beach
• Essex Centennial Grove
• Framingham Learned Pond Beach
• Franklin Chilson Beach
• Georgetown American Legion Park
• Harwich Seymour Pond
• Holden Eagle Lake
• Holliston Pleasure Point
• Holliston Stoddard Park
• Mashpee Bryant's Neck
• Mashpee Town Landing
• Nantucket Sesachacha Pond
• Nantucket Washing Pond
• Natick Cochituate State Park
• Natick Dug Pond
• North Andover Frye Pond
• North Andover Stevens Pond
• Oxford Carbuncle Beach
• Quincy Avalon Beach
• Salem Children's Island (Front)
• Salem Children's Island (Wally)
• Salem Ocean Avenue
• Saugus Pearce Lake Breakheart Reservation
• Sharon Community Center Beach
• Sharon Town Beach
• Sherborn Farm Beach
• Southwick South Pond Beach
• Springfield Bass Pond
• Springfield Camp Wilder
• Springfield Paddle Club
• Templeton Beamans Pond
• Tisbury Hilman's Point
• Townsend Pearl Hill Pond Beach
• Upton Town Beach
• Wareham Shangri-La
• Westborough Lake Chauncy Beach
• Wilmington Town Beach (2 locations)
• Winchendon Lake Dennison (2 locations)
• Winchester Shannon Beach
• Winthrop Donovans Beach
• Winthrop Halford Beach
• Winthrop Beach (DCR)

The bacteria used as indicator organisms to test the waters at beaches are Enterococci and E. coli. Marine beaches are tested for the presence of Enterococci. Freshwater beaches are tested either for the presence of E. coli or Enterococci. Enteric bacteria are indicator organisms found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans, often associated with fecal contamination.

An elevated presence of these organisms indicates the water may not be safe for human or animal consumption or contact, and cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal pain to eye and ear discomfort to flu-like symptoms.

Most of these symptoms are minor, but occasionally a more serious illness may occur. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing serious symptoms.

Some beach areas may remain open for recreational activities, though any contact with the water is strongly discouraged.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)