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Kennebunkport’s 2018 Water Quality Monitoring at Goose Rocks Beach and Colony Beach

Posted on: July 30, 2019 - 3:42pm
Goose Rocks beach

Maine DEP recently issued a statement regarding water quality at Maine’s beaches in response to a recent report by the Environment America Research and Policy Center titled "Safe for Swimming? Water Quality at Our Beaches".Click here to view the statement: 

Since 2004, Kennebunkport has partnered with the Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) program to monitor water quality and notify the public of unsafe swimming conditions at Goose Rocks and Colony beaches. In 2018, samples were collected 3 times per week at three sites for Goose Rocks Beach and 2 times per week at one Colony Beach site. Monitoring locations included the mouth of the Batson River (GR-5), near the Proctor Road beach access (GR-2), the mouth of the Little River (GR-1), and the mid-point of Colony Beach (Colony-1). 

In 2018, 82% of samples at Goose Rocks Beach and 84% of samples at Colony Beach were below Maine’s EPA-approved safety threshold for recreation in marine waters. In general, monitoring sites near freshwater inputs (streams, rivers, storm drains) such as GR-1 and GR-5 are most susceptible to elevated bacteria as pollutants can be transported from upland areas during all weather conditions, but especially when sampling is done at low tide and/or  when it rains. Typically, there are few to no bacteria exceedances observed for the center site of Goose Rocks Beach (GR-2).

When monitoring results are above the safety threshold, Town staff post a contamination advisory at the beach near public entrances, the Town Office, the Police Department, the Goose Rocks Beach General Store (Goose Rocks Beach only), the Town website, and the Maine Healthy Beaches website.  Staff also send an email notification to subscribers. Kennebunkport continues to monitor Goose Rocks and Colony Beaches 2 times per week in 2019. So far, results for 87% of samples at Goose Rocks Beach and 94% of samples at Colony Beach have been below Maine’s safety threshold for 2019. Kennebunkport has been actively working to identify and address any potential sources contributing to high bacteria at the beach.

To learn more about the MHB program, read the 2018 Season Summary Report to EPA, or check the status of MHB participating beaches visit maine healthy beaches.