Issues: Oceans

All Documents in Oceans Tagged u.s. coasts

Keep Our Beaches Clean
Prevent the Beachwater Pollution That Makes Swimmers Sick
Fact Sheet

Beach vacations are an annual summer event for many families. But beachgoers at polluted beaches around the country may bring back an unwanted souvenir from their trip: ear infections, stomach flu, skin rashes, and other illnesses that are caused by polluted beachwater. To help keep our beaches clean, NRDC supports improved beachwater testing to detect the pathogens that can cause health problems in swimmers. Bills now pending in Congress would provide funding for much-needed beach cleanup efforts and help ensure that the public is notified promptly when beaches are unsafe for swimming. These bills will help make sure that our beaches are safe for swimming every day.
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Beach Pollution
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ

Answers to questions including: How widespread is beach pollution? What are the major causes of beach pollution? Can swimming in polluted water make you sick?

Pollution-Related Beach Closings and Advisories Remain High in 2008
Stormwater and sewage spills continue to wash pollution into beach waters
News

Pollution-related closings and health advisories at U.S. beaches remained high in 2008, according to NRDC's annual report on beachwater quality. The reported number of closings and advisories made 2008 the fourth-worst for beaches since NRDC began tracking these events 19 years ago.

Testing the Waters 2009
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
Report

NRDC's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that pollution caused the number of beach closings and advisories to hit their fourth-highest level in the 19-year history of the report. The number of 2008 closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from serious water pollution that puts swimmers at risk. The 2009 survey is based on information reported for 2008.

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Documents Tagged u.s. coasts in All Sections

Water Quality at U.S. Beaches
How to find out whether state and local authorities test for beach pollution, and what they do if they find it.
Guide

Wondering how clean the water is at your favorite vacation spot? Finding an answer can be tricky. Beach testing and closing/health advisory practices vary from beach to beach and state to state. Even when states and localities perform tests, they don't always notify the public or close beaches when bacteria levels in the water exceed health standards. Learn how you can try to check the safety of your favorite beach before you head out for a swim.

Florida’s Coastal and Ocean Future
A Blueprint for Economic and Environmental Leadership
Issue Paper

With tourism, fishing and recreational sport bringing billions of dollars into Florida each year, the coast is Florida's economic engine. But now the state's unique beaches are being threatened by pollution, unsustainable development and overfishing that are leading to plummeting fish catches, outbreaks of harmful algae, dying marine life and beach closures. This issue paper, originally published in September 2006 and updated in April 2007, provides a blueprint for how local leaders and decision makers can -- and must -- take action to protect Florida’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Since its original publication, 160 businesses and organizations have endorsed the Blueprint. The 2009 Florida Coastal and Ocean Policy Report Card provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the legislative and government actions taken in Florida during 2007 and 2008 toward the goals outlined in this issue paper.

New York State's Strained Ocean Resources
Commercially and culturally vital, New York's shorelines, beaches and fisheries are in trouble.
Fact Sheet

Healthy, diverse ocean ecosystems are an important part of New York's coastal heritage and economic well-being. Yet these ocean systems are severely strained from pollution, destruction of productive marine habitat, and overfishing.

Cape May to Montauk: A Coastal Protection Report Card
Report

The Atlantic coastlines of New York and New Jersey are imperiled today by widespread pollution and unchecked coastal development. This December 2002 NRDC study grades 169 localities and a half-dozen state and federal agencies for their effectiveness at controlling pollution and managing coastal sprawl.

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