Swimming Nixed At 4 Suffolk Beaches, Advisory Issued For 61

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk health department officials shut down swimming at four beaches from Babylon to Brookhaven town, while also extending an advisory against bathing at 61 beaches into Thursday, according to a news release.

Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore, Tides Beach in Rocky Point, Tanner Park Beach in Copiague, and Ronkonkoma Beach in Islip are off-limits to swimming, officials said.

The advisory is set to lift at 5 a.m., unless elevated levels of bacteria go beyond the 24-hour period, according to officials.

Suffolk’s Department of Health Services is advising against bathing based on potential bacteria levels at the beaches that exceed state standards, officials said.

The beaches covered by the advisory are located in areas that are heavily-influenced by stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds or adjacent tributaries, and, because of their location in an enclosed embayment, experience limited tidal flushing, according to officials.

Health officials are recommending bathing and other water contact be suspended in affected areas until the waters have been flushed by two successive tidal cycles, at least a 24-hour period, after the rain has ended, officials said.

Tanner Park Beach in Copiague and Valley Grove Beach in Eatons Neck are still closed to swimming due to elevated bacteria levels, according to officials.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach hotline at 631-852-5822, contact the Department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 M-F, or visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

For Beach Monitoring Program information, click here.

For an interactive map of beach closures and advisories, click here.