Durham Region beach report for July 19, 2024

DURHAM: Heavy rains earlier in the week have resulted in several beaches in Durham being posted as unsafe for swimming. Beaverton North Beach (Wellington St. and Victoria St.) is the lone North Durham beach open for swimming this weekend.

Other beaches in Durham open for swimming this weekend include:

Bowmanville West (West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd.)

Oshawa Lakeview Beach East (Simcoe St. South and Lakeview Park Ave.)

Oshawa Lakeview Beach West (Kluane Ave. and Lakeview Park Ave.)

Pickering Frenchman's Bay East (Wharf St. and Liverpool Rd.)

Pickering Frenchman's Bay West (West Shore Blvd. and Beachpoint Promenade)

Whitby Beach (Heydenshore Park - South Blair St. and Water St.)

Beaches in North Durham closed for swimming:

Beaverton South Beach (Simcoe St. & Harbour Park Cres.)

Thorah Centennial Park (Shoreline Rd. RR#47 and Thorah Concession Rd. 9)

Scugog Kinsmen Beach (Palmer Park - Water St. and Mary St.)

*Kinsmen Beach (Palmer Park), near Platten Island, has a blue-green algae advisory. People can protect themselves and their pets from blue-green algae blooms by not swimming or playing in areas where water is discoloured or where foam, scum, or mats of algae on the water’s surface are present. Consuming fish from areas where mats of algae are present is also not advised.

The Durham Region Health Department reminds the public not to swim in beach water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall, as bacteria levels can increase due to run-off.