A trip to the beach can be a fun way to cool off. And Louisianans don't need to cross state lines to get there.
The Louisiana Department of Health Beach Monitoring Program tests water at 23 beach locations along the Louisiana coast to determine if water quality meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria. The program is part of the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000.
The BEACH Act is an amendment to the Clean Water Act that requires all coastal states to develop programs for effective water quality monitoring and public notification at coastal recreational beaches, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
LDH tests beach water for enterococci bacteria. Officials say these bacteria are often found in sewage pollution and can cause illness, infection, or rashes. Samples are collected weekly during Louisiana's beach season from May 1 through October 31.
There is currently no advisory for Fontainebleau State, Constance Beach, Holly Beach, Gulf Breeze and Lake Charles North Beach, reports indicate.
| Monitoring Site | Most Recent Sample Date | Advisory Status | ||
| Constance Beach | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Cypremort Point State Park | 06/21/2023 | Advisory | ||
| Elmer's Island | | 06/19/2023 | | Advisory |
| Fontainebleau State Park | 06/19/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Grand Isle State Park Site #1 | | | | Currently Closed to Sampling |
| Grand Isle State Park Site #2 | | | | Currently Closed to Sampling |
| Grand Isle State Park Site #3 | | | Currently Closed to Sampling | |
| Grand Isle State Park Site #4 | | | Currently Closed to Sampling | |
| Grand Isle Site #1 | | 06/19/2023 | | No Advisory |
| Grand Isle Site #2 | | 06/19/2023 | | No Advisory |
| Grand Isle Site #3 | 06/19/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Gulf Breeze Site #1 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #1 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #2 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #3 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #4 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #5 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Holly Beach Site #6 | 06/13/2023 | No Advisory | ||
| Lake Charles North Beach | | 06/21/2023 | No Advisory | |
| Lake Charles South Beach | | CLOSED | | CLOSED TO RECREATIONAL USE BY CALCASIEU PARISH |
| Little Florida Beach | 06/13/2023 | Advisory | ||
| Long (Dung) Beach | 06/13/2023 | Advisory | ||
| Martin | 06/13/2023 | Advisory | ||
| Rutherford | 06/21/2023 | Advisory |
Holly Beach, Constance Beach and Gulf Breeze are located in Cameron Parish, about an hour south of Lake Charles.
Fontainebleau State Park is located in Mandeville on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The entrance fee is $3 per person, but it's free for children under 3 and seniors 62 and older.
Water Quality Sampling remains suspended for the Grand Isle State Park due to damage from Hurricane Ida, authorities say.
Click here for a map of updated beach locations and advisory status.
