Easton's, Sprouting Rock Beach in Newport Closed to Swimming

NEWPORT, RI—Easton's Beach and Sprouting Rock Beach in Newport are closed to swimming after recent water samples show high bacteria accounts, the state Department of Health said Wednesday.

Also closed is Mackeral Cove Beach in Jamestown. Both Conimicut Point and Oakland Beach remain closed to swimming after water quality tests showed high bacteria counts over the weekend.

The closure comes on the second day of summer and is likely to be lifted relatively soon.

The health department said it will continue to monitor the water quality and conditions could change on a daily basis.

For the latest list of beach closures and openings, call 401-222-2751.

There is also:

• General beach information
• A list of beach closures
• An interactive beach map with closures indicated

Also on Wednesday, Save the Bay issued a call to action in response to chronic, unrelenting beach closure problems in Narragansett Bay, particularly in Warwick, where the success of sewer tie-in and community education efforts about human behaviors causing the closures remain questionable.

"Beach closures in Rhode Island are persistent but preventable. They illustrate the environmental harm caused by polluted run-off. Every time it rains, polluted stormwater from roads, parking lots, and other hard surfaces carries with it trash, pet and animal waste, oil and other contaminants to streams, ponds and the shoreline. This contaminated stormwater threatens human health, fouls the shoreline with trash, and poses serious risks to birds, fish, and shellfish," the nonprofit said in a news release.

“What we do in our own backyard – no matter how far we live from the Bay – can contribute to the beach closures that keep our communities from enjoying this state’s wonderful natural resources,” said Narragansett Baykeeper Tom Kutcher.

Individuals can help reduce polluted run-off and prevent beach closures by taking action:

1. Redirect downspouts onto lawn and garden areas in order to reduce the amount of water running off the land and into storm drains;

2. Minimize use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, which contaminate the Bay and harm wildlife;

3. Clean up pet poop - even in one’s own backyard - to reduce fecal bacteria in our waters;

4. Do not feed ducks and geese, whose waste adds bacteria and excess nutrients to runoff;

5. Avoid overwatering lawns or using excess water in washing vehicles;

6. Collect rainwater in rain barrels and leave grass clippings on the ground to help lawns retain moisture;

7. Do not use storm drains for pet waste, grass clippings, leaves, road sand, cigarette butts or other trash, paint, oil, cleansers or any other substance;

8. Keep septic systems in working order;

9. Replace your cesspool with a modern septic system or sewer tie-in;

10. Support efforts by cities and towns to fund the projects that can reduce and treat polluted run-off.