CT Beach and State Parks Water Safety/Swimming Updates. What's open or closed? This handy page contains daily updates, info and apps/numbers you can use to make your visits safer and easier!
UPDATE 8.6.21 - A beach in Vernon is off limits to swimmers.
As of Friday, Aug. 6, the town's Parks and Recreation Department said the beach at Valley Falls Park was closed for the weekend of Aug. 6 through Aug. 8.
The department said an employee performed routine maintenance and spotted some rust-colored water.
"We don’t know what it is or if it is even anything," the department said. "We have asked the local health department to check it out. Out of an abundance of caution, we shifted weekend swimming to the other swimming area."
The Parks and Recreation Department opened the beach at Newhoca Park for swimming.
Swimming hours are noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Headed to a State Beach? Call 866-CT-PARKS before you go!
The CT DEEP Water Monitoring Program conducts weekly bathing water sampling at state-owned and managed swimming areas. Water testing begins the week before Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend. Water samples collected by DEEP staff are analyzed at the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) lab in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
Samples are analyzed for indicator bacteria, which do not cause disease themselves, but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection officials to evaluate the potential contamination of waterbodies. Specifically, indicator bacteria are used to predict the threat of waterborne illness by detecting potential contamination from fecal material of human or animal origin. Beach closure determinations are made jointly by the DPH and the DEEP using indicator bacteria data and best professional judgement.
Beginning in 2013, DEEP also began studying blue-green algae or cyanobacteria toxin concentrations at state-owned swimming areas and boat launches. Additional beach closures may occur due to reports of a cyanobacteria bloom (also referred to a 'harmful algal blooms' or HABs) in the vicinity of the swimming area. To learn more about this effort visit the cyanobacteria webpage.
Beach Opening and Closure Notices
24-Hour Swimming Area Information Line
The DEEP State Parks Division maintains a toll free 24-hour State Parks Swimming Area Water Quality Status information line. By dialing 866-CT-PARKS or (866) 287-2757, the public and news media can check the status of Connecticut's State-owned swimming areas.The Information Line provides up-to-date information through a recorded message. In the event a swimming area is closed, the message may indicate alternative swimming locations.
State Swimming Area Water Quality Report
This report lists the location and status of all swimming areas managed by DEEP and is available during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Beach Status is updated daily from Monday through Friday. Please note that changes in beach status occurring over the weekend are updated on the Water Quality Information phone line and social media (@CTStateParks) only.
Additional Resources
- Indicator Bacteria Monitoring at Public Bathing Beaches (QAPP). This Quality Assurance Project Plan describes in detail the procedures used to assure the indicator bacteria data collected from public bathing areas is reliable, credible, and usable for management decisions.
- Beach Monitoring and Closure Protocol. This document was written to standardize bathing beach monitoring and closure policies across a variety of agencies and municipalities. The document identifies indicator criteria and describes in detail the process for establishing a monitoring program, conducting sanitary surveys, and beach closure steps. Additional sampling is conducted following closures due to indicator bacteria criteria exceedances.
- EPA BEACH Program strives to improve public health and environmental protection programs for beach users and to provide the public with information about the quality of their beach water.
- Video: What You Should Know About Cyanabacteria in Connecticut's Recreational Waters. This video was designed to address common questions and concerns regarding blue-green algae blooms in Connecticut's waters.
Related Pages
- General CT Swimming Information
- List of State Swimming Areas with Water Quality Status
- CT DEEP Surface Water Monitoring Program
Program Contact Information
State Bathing Beach Monitoring Program Coordinator
Water Monitoring and Assessment Unit
(860) 424-3028
This skyscape over Long Island Sound includes a sandy beach, colorful kayaks in the foreground and a large beach gazebo. Bright sunny day with puffy clouds. Madison Connecticut West Wharf area.Photo: Moment RF/GETTY