Point Boro River Beaches Are Open Today

Both River Beaches are open this morning, but a manpower shortage may limit how long one can stay open.

The increased bacteria levels were likely caused by Hurricane Irene sending stormwater runoff into the Manasquan River. However, more recent testing shows that bacteria levels have dropped significantly.

The most recent readings posted on the Ocean County Health Department website show 50, 10 and 20 colonies of enterococci (bacteria) per 100 ml of water for the River Avenue Beach, based on water sample tests done on Wednesday.

The standard for a beach closing is anything above 104 enterococci (bacteria) per 100 ml of water, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The county tests only for enterococci and fecal coliform, which are both bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.

There are no Wednesday test results posted for the Maxson Avenue Beach, probably because it had already been opened on Thursday and that section of the website focuses on beaches closed due to high bacteria levels. There are no Thursday test results posted for either beach.

Water samples taken on Monday led to the river beach closures, said Leslie Terjesen, public information officer for the county health department, on Thursday.

733 colonies of enterococci (bacteria) per 100 ml of water at Maxson and 800 colonies per 100 ml of water at River Avenue Beach, according to results posted on the department's website.

The website posted results of tests conducted on Tuesday, which showed 80 enterococci per 100 ml of water and less than 10 enterocci per 100 ml of water for the Maxson Avenue Beach, and 170, 110 and 140 for the River Avenue Beach.

Now the town just has to figure out how the available manpower plays into a long weekend beach schedule.

Many of the lifeguards have returned to college or their teaching jobs, possibly leaving the staffing level too thin to man both beaches through Labor Day, said Karen Haycook, borough Recreation Department Director on Thursday afternoon.

She said if the Ocean County Health Department continues to give the green light to both beaches staying open, and manpower levels are not sufficient, the River Avenue beach will be kept open because it has a larger swimming area.

Although the county tests only for animal waste bacteria, there are other pollutants at times washing into area waterways. These contaminants include residue from pesticides, gasoline and oil from the street.

Another source of pollution in the Manasquan River, as well as throughout the Jersey Shore region and any other region popular for boating, is oil dumped by boaters.