Development of a Beach Safety Outreach Program for WI
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Purpose

To reduce the incidence of beach- related illness, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services seeks to increase the accessibility and availability of data and information on microbial beach hazards and to improve public awareness of these hazards. New web content on beach and surface water quality parameters such as coliform bacteria, lake algae (Cladophora), and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) will be created. A range of outreach activities will be conducted, and new outreach materials such as brochures and press releases will be developed. The project will be guided by a comprehensive beach quality program evaluation plan.

Objective

This project is intended to increase public awareness of the hazards fecal contaminants, algae and cyanobacteria pose to recreational water users and enhance the public’s ability to access and understand surface water quality data information.

Outcome

1. Wisconsin citizens will be familiar with common beach safety hazards, such as sewage overflows, storm-related surface runoff, and harmful algal blooms. 2. Wisconsin citizens and health professionals will understand the benefit of beach monitoring. 3. Wisconsin citizens, as well as the press, will be familiar with water quality indicators and know where to find beach safety information using the internet. 4. The number of gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory symptoms and infections associated with microbial or algal contamination of recreational waters will be reduced. 5. Wisconsin citizens have a better understanding of the need to protect the quality of our surface waters by, for example, reducing fertilizer applications, choosing phosphate-free products, keeping yard waste out of the storm sewers, and cleaning up pet waste. 6. Through the Beach Improvement Advisory Committee (BIAC), cross-agency discussions regarding beach health and safety will be facilitated. There is currently no interagency group that meets regularly to discuss beach health issues in a timely fashion. Convening this group will improve interagency collaboration regarding the health and safety of Wisconsin’s beaches and near shore areas. 7. Popular Wisconsin beaches will be prioritized for monitoring and posting based on the number of users and their history of bacterial or algal contamination.

Related Reports

Run Project Summary Report
View Umbrella-Projects
View Related-Projects

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Nearshore Health and NPS
GLRI_00E00509-0
2010
Active
 
Reports and Documents
Development of a Beach Safety Ourtreach Program for WI, GLRI proposal, Knobeloch
 
Activities & Recommendations
Information and Education
To reduce the incidence of beach- related illness, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services seeks to increase the accessibility and availability of data and information on microbial beach hazards and to improve public awareness of these hazards. New web content on beach and surface water quality parameters such as coliform bacteria, lake algae (Cladophora), and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) will be created. A range of outreach activities will be conducted, and new outreach materials such as brochures and press releases will be developed. The project will be guided by a comprehensive beach quality program evaluation plan.
 
Watershed
Yahara River and Lake Monona
 
Waters
Yahara River
Monitoring Data