![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
2007 Swimming Season Update
Louisiana
July 2008
- Introduction
- 2007 Summary Results
- For More Information
- Print version (PDF) of this document (494 K, 2 pp.; About PDF)
- Raw data (MS-Excel) for Louisiana (84 K)
Introduction
Figure 1. Louisiana coastal counties with 2007 monitored beach data.
The BEACH Act of 2000 requires that coastal and Great Lakes states and territories report to EPA on beach monitoring and notification data for their coast recreation waters. The BEACH Act defines coastal recreation waters as the Great Lakes and coastal waters (including coastal estuaries) that states, territories, and authorized tribes officially recognize or designate for swimming, bathing, surfing, or similar activities in the water.
This fact sheet summarizes beach monitoring and notification data submitted to EPA by the state of Louisiana for the 2007 swimming season.
Due to the lingering impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, levels of use during the 2007 swimming season remained low relative to historic levels at Cameron Parish beaches, and Fontainebleau State Park remained closed during the entire 2007 swimming season. Based on observed use levels and patterns near the end of the 2007 swimming season and projections of use for the 2008 swimming season by program partners and local officials, it is anticipated that use levels and patterns will remain at approximately historic levels as estimated in 2003 and reported in the Beach Report for all beaches in 2008 except for the Cameron Parish beaches and Fourchon Beach. Cameron Parish beaches are expected to operate at 50%-75% of pre-hurricane levels, and use at Fourchon Beach is expected to remain at historic levels, but the pattern of use has been shifted towards the eastern portion of the beach segment by access constraints.
| County | Total Beaches | Monitored | Not Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcasieu | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Cameron | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Jefferson | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| LaFourche | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| St. Mary | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| St. Tammany | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 28 | 26 | 2 |
2007 Summary Results
How many notification actions were reported and how long were they?
Figure 2: Beach notification actions by duration.
Louisiana issues beach advisories when water quality standards are exceeded. A total of 18 monitored beaches had at least one advisory issued during the 2007 swimming season. Figure 2 presents a full breakdown of notification action durations.
What percentage of days were beaches under a notification action?
Figure 3: Beach days with and without notification actions in 2007.
For Louisiana's 2007 swimming season, actions were reported about 38 percent of the time (Figure 3).
How do 2007 results compare to previous years?
Table 2 compares 2007 notification action data with monitored beach data from previous years.
| Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of monitored beaches | 26 | 22 | 26 |
| Number of beaches affected by notification actions | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| Percentage of beaches affected by notification actions | 85% | 5% | 69% |
| Percentage of beach days affected by notification actions | 42% | <1% | 38% |
What pollution sources affect monitored beaches?
Potential sources of pollution affecting Louisiana's monitored beaches in 2007 are unidentified (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Percent of monitored beaches potentially affected by pollution sources (28 beaches).
For More Information
Louisiana's 2006 Beach Season Data | General information about beaches | Beaches in Louisiana
