Nassau beaches reopen -- with 1 exception

With one exception, Nassau County has reopened all of its beaches on the North and South shores, its health department said Monday morning.

Laurel Hollow Beach in Laurel Hollow remains closed because of elevated bacteria levels, the Department of Health said in a Sunday news release.

Heavy rains last week had prompted the department to close 17 beaches as a precautionary measure, officials said.

Nassau health officials make such closings because stormwater runoff after heavy rainfall often has a negative impact on bacterial readings used to assess water quality for swimming and bathing.

In Suffolk, Steers Beach in Northport and Valley Grove Beach in Eatons Neck remain closed because of elevated bacterial levels, the county said Monday.

For recorded information on beach closings and openings in Nassau, call 516-227-9700. Health department representatives are available weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., at 516-227-9717.

Suffolk's bathing beach hotline is 631-852-5822. Residents also can all the department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760, weekdays or visit suffolkcountyny.gov/health and click on "Beach Advisories and Closures" link.