Northport, Eatons Neck beaches reopen
Brian Gilman of Northport with his 5-year-old daughter, Sophia, at Steers Beach Park in Northport. (June 19, 2011) Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
Two Huntington-area beaches that were closed to swimming Monday because of high bacteria levels were allowed to reopen late Tuesday, the Suffolk County Department of Health said.
Steers Beach in Northport and Prices Bend Beach in Eatons Neck were closed to bathers Monday, according to department Commissioner James L. Tomarken; the department's hotline announced late Tuesday that the beaches were being allowed to reopen.
Department of Health spokeswoman Grace Kelly-McGovern said that it usually takes two tidal changes for the water to become clean enough for beaches to reopen. Researchers were taking samples until the waters reached that level, she said, explaining that once two clean samples were obtained, the beach could be reopened.
Tanner Park beach in Babylon and Sayville Beach in Sayville, which were closed to bathing on July 28 due to bacteria levels, continue to be closed, according to the health department.
Lake Ronkonkoma Beach is now open after samples of the water show bacteria are within acceptable levels.
No Nassau County beaches have been closed other than Crescent Beach, which has been closed since June 13, 2009 because of high bacteria levels, health officials said.
With Jennifer Barrios
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