Surprises In New LI Sound Beach Grades Released By Environmental Group

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — The environmental organization, Save the Sound, has released its latest water quality ratings for beaches along the Long Island Sound.

Save the Sound announced its new Beach Grades for 200+ Long Island Sound beaches on Sound Health Explorer, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. The organization recommends that people "dive into" those grades to see how the water quality of their favorite beach compares to those of other beaches along the Long Island Sound shoreline.

Find the Beach Grade for your favorite Long Island Sound beach on this map.

Save the Sound created the Beach Grades system with scientists who study water quality in the Long Island Sound. It is powered by local and regional health departments which collect fecal indicator bacteria samples during the swimming months. Fecal indicator bacteria concentration in water at a beach determines whether or not the water is safe for people to swim in. High fecal bacteria counts and associated pathogens in the water can make people ill and can be associated with untreated sewage or increased amounts of polluted stormwater.

Here are how Westchester County beaches on the Long Island Sound scored:

• Glen Island Beach (New Rochelle): A+
• Beckwithe Pointe (New Rochelle): A+
• VIP Club (New Rochelle): B-
• Greentree Club (New Rochelle): A+
• Davenport Club (New Rochelle): B
• Surf Club (New Rochelle): C+
• Hudson Park (New Rochelle): D+
• New Rochelle Rowing Club (New Rochelle): A+
• Echo Bay Yacht Club (New Rochelle): A+
• Larchmont Shore Club (Larchmont): B-
• Larchmont Manor Park (Larchmont): B+
• Orienta Beach Club (Mamaroneck): B-
• Beach Point Club (Mamaroneck): B
• Harbor Island Beach (Mamaroneck): D
• Shore Acres Club (Mamaroneck): B
• Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club (Mamaroneck): B
• American Yacht Club (Rye): B
• Shenorock Shore Club (Rye): A+
• Coveleigh Club Beach (Rye): A-
• Rye Town Park (Rye): A+
• Rye Playland Beach (Rye): B-
• Manursing Island Club (Rye): B+
• Westchester Country Club Beach (Rye): A+

Here are how some of the closest beaches to Westchester County scored:

• Orchard Beach (Bronx): A
• Byram Park Beach (Greenwich, CT): D+
• Great Captain Island Beach (Greenwich, CT): A+
• Island Beach (Greenwich, CT): B-
• Greenwich Point Beach (Greenwich, CT): B
• West Beach (Stamford, CT): B
• Cummings Park Beach (Stamford, CT): C+
• Quigley Beach (Stamford, CT): A+
• East (Cove Island) Beach (Stamford, CT): A-

Precipitation totals across the Long Island Sound watershed from May 2021 to August 2021 were the highest ever recorded on Sound Health Explorer, which has data going back to 2003.

“Our rainfall norms, and even outlier predictions, are being replaced by more frequent and higher intensity rainstorms associated with climate change,” said Peter Linderoth, Director of Water Quality for Save the Sound. “This will have real implications on the health of our waters for people but also for the wildlife that inhabit them.”

Heavy rainfall can bring polluted stormwater to Long Island Sound beaches, which is reflected in the Beach Grades. The 2021 data, on which the latest grades were based, showed a four percent increase in the frequency of wet weather failures over 2020's data.

“If your favorite beach received a poor overall grade with associated poor wet weather marks, you need to look no further than the ground under your feet to shed some light on the problem,” said Linderoth. “Beaches in areas with higher coverages of surfaces impervious to water—like roads, parking lots, and roofs—tend to be impacted more by stormwater runoff than areas with less of these surfaces. This situation can be remedied, and Save the Sound strongly advocates and implements projects that offer nature-based solutions to this issue, like rain gardens to naturally treat stormwater runoff.”

Dry weather failures are usually due to the same pollution sources as wet weather-related issues, but they tend to occur closer to the specific beach. The sources can include aging and failing sewer infrastructure or septic tanks, poor disposal of pet waste, and/or a concentrated abundance of wildlife, such as geese or deer.

Save the Sound says it uses the Beach Grades to provide information to the public and to target areas in need of fecal contamination reduction. 10 Long Island Sound beaches received grades of D or worse in 2021. Residents who frequent those areas are encouraged to discuss their Beach Grades with their elected officials, health departments or other municipal staff. Residents are also invited to contact Save the Sound with any questions, comments or leads on sources of fecal contamination at a particular beach.

Save the Sound's full biennial Long Island Sound Beach Report is expected to be released in the spring of 2023, while the latest Long Island Sound Report Card is expected to be released later this year.