Goose Rocks Beach Rivers Water Quality Test Results
DATE: August 28, 2023
- Goose Rocks Beach, Little River (GR-1): 20 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria ("flag" bacteria)
- Goose Rocks Beach, Batson River (GR-5): 41 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria ("flag" bacteria)
- Tidal river temperatures:
- Little River (GR#1) 18.5 degrees C or 65.3 degrees F
- Batson River (GR#5) 17.8 degrees C or 64.04 degrees F
Maine's EPA-approved Beach Action Value (or single sample maximum safety threshold) for Enterococci in marine waters is 104 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci bacteria results greater than or equal to 104 MPN/100ml and human bacteria greater than or equal to 525 copies/100ml are considered unsafe levels for water contact.
Date | Mouth of the Little River (GR-1) | Mouth of the Batson River (GR-5) |
August 28, 2023 | 20 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 41 MPN/100ml Enterococce bacteria |
August 21, 2023 | 173 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 160 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
August 16, 2023 | 203 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 465 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
August 14, 2023 | 30 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 52 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
August 9, 2023 | 341 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 6131 MPN/100 ml Enterococci bacteria |
August 7, 2023 | 108 MPN/100 ml Enterococci bacteria | 97 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
July 31, 2023 | 474 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 135 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
July 24, 2023 | 20 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | <10 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
July 19, 2023 | 341 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 305 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
July 17, 2023 | 1211 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 1039 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria |
July 10, 2023 | 110 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | <10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
July 5, 2023 | 862 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | 1039 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 26, 2023 | 10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | <10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 21, 2023 | 708 MPN/100ml Enterococci bacteria | 1354 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 14, 2023 | 20 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | <10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 12, 2023 | 10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | 10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 8, 2023 | 52 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | 41 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 7, 2023 | 350 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | 41 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
June 5, 2023 | 231 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | 221 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
May 31, 2023 | 10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria | <10 MPN/100mL Enterococci bacteria |
Results of DNA testing
Date | Mouth of the Little River (GR-1) | Mouth of the Batson River (GR-5) |
August 21, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 8/25/2023) none detected | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 8/25/2023) none detected |
August 7, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 8/11/2023) none detected | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 8/11/2023) none detected |
July 19, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 7/25/2023) none detected | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 7/25/2023) none detected |
July 14, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 7/18/23) none detected | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 7/18/23) none detected |
July 12, 2023 | Retest: Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 7/14/23) 5045 copies/100ml | No test required |
July 5, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 7/10/23) 5140 copies/100ml | Human bacteria (DNA)- (resulted 7/10/23) none detected |
June 28, 2023 | No test required | Retest: Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 6/30/23) none detected |
June 21, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 6/27/23): none detected | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 6/27/23): 10250 copies/100ml |
June 5, 2023 | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 6/9/23) none detected | Human bacteria (DNA) - (resulted 6/9/23) none detected |
Below is a map of the river testing sites at Goose Rocks Beach (sites GR-1 and GR-5):
Testing at Batson River and Little River at Goose Rocks Beach
Water Quality Testing
The MHB program supports monitoring of the fecal indicator bacteria Enterococcus at coastal beaches. This type of bacteria is associated with the fecal material of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The US EPA recommends using this bacteria to indicate the possible presence of unsafe pathogens in the water because there are too many pathogens to test for individually. While unlikely to cause illnesses themselves, the presence of these bacteria in the water suggests that other pathogens that could pose a health risk may be present as well. It is important to the Town of Kennebunkport to provide this information to allow people to make informed decisions.
For more detailed information regarding water quality monitoring of the Goose Rocks Beach Watershed view A Tale of Tide and Turf.
Unique Challenges Presented at Goose Rocks Beach
Managing water quality at Goose Rocks Beach is more challenging than most open water beaches in Maine because of two tidal rivers that bookend the beach. The brackish waters of tidal rivers can naturally carry higher levels of bacteria. Analysis of the data from Goose Rocks Beach since 2004, shows that the Batson and Little River testing sites experience more elevated bacteria levels (especially at low tide), while the main swimming beach does not. Heavy rainfall and strong tides can also increase the chance for high bacteria levels. After a heavy rainfall, the Maine Healthy Beaches program recommends that swimmers avoid water contact for at least 24 hours. Following elevated bacteria results, the Maine Healthy Beaches program recommends that swimmers avoid those specific areas until water quality results are below the safety threshold (104 MPN/100ml).