July 15, 2004 Two sites at Grand Isle State Park Reopened for Swimming

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jul 15, 2004 -

Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health has rescinded the swimming advisory for two beach areas at Grand Isle State Park. The decision was made after water samples taken during the past two weeks showed the area’s water quality has improved sufficiently to meet Louisiana’s BEACH program bacteriological water quality compliance standards.

This means the swimming advisory issued on Friday, July 2, is no longer in effect for Grand Isle State Park Beach sites 2 and 4. The public should be aware that there is currently no advisory against Grand Isle State Park Beach sites 2 and 4; however, a swim advisory remains in effect for sites 1 and 3. Check the signs posted at Grand Isle State Park Beach to determine which areas are safe for swimming.

LDH Office of Public Health staff within the Louisiana BEACH Monitoring program has closely tracked water quality at Grand Isle State Park Beach.   The program re-evaluates the bacterial water quality each week at four separate beach segments located at the park.

The Louisiana BEACH program uses established water quality criteria to classify beach sampling locations as “In Compliance” or “Out of Compliance”. The water quality at sampling locations classified as In Compliance meet water quality criteria. Sampling locations classified as “Out of Compliance” indicates water quality criteria have been exceeded and swimming or other activities that may result in water ingestion may pose an increased risk of disease, particularly for susceptible individuals

The goal of the Louisiana’s BEACH program is to provide the public with the necessary information to allow them to make informed choices about whether or not to enter the water.

The public should be aware that while swimming in Louisiana waters, the Department of Heath and Hospitals advises people to swim at their own risk. Learn more about the Louisiana Beach monitoring program at our Web site:  www.ophbeachmonitoring.com.

For more information, please contact: Stephen Locke, Office of Public Health, 6867
Bluebonnet Blvd., Box 16, Baton Rouge, LA 70810; Phone: (225) 763-3547; FAX: (225)
763-3553; E-mail: [email protected]

--End--