BEACH BLUES. This summer, locals and visitors alike — eager to enjoy classic summer pastimes — have frequently come across signs that read "beach closed" at locations all across the Chippewa Valley. Unfortunately, these signs are there for a good reason: to indicate beach water quality and test for contaminates that could make you sick.

It’s 90 degrees outside and sunny. The afternoon is yours for the taking. You throw on your bathing suit, pack the cooler with drinks, and hit the road. As you pull into the parking lot, you can almost feel the sand against your feet and hear the cool water rushing over you.

Giddy with anticipation, you hop out of the car… and are stopped dead in your tracks. A big, yellow sign makes your heart sink to the ground: “beach closed.”

Unfortunately, these signs are there for good reason. Throughout the summer, microbiologist Tristin Faust from the Eau Claire Health Department routinely tests beach water throughout Eau Claire and the surrounding area for contaminants to prevent residents from swimming in water that will make them sick.

“We test our beaches weekly,” Faust said. “If we have any closures or have to post an advisory about unsafe levels (of contaminants), then we test the water daily until the issue clears up.”

From Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, the health department posts regular updates about beach conditions on their website and Facebook page. Faust tests seven public beach locations in Eau Claire County: Riverview Beach, Half Moon Lake, Lake Altoona, Coon Fork Campground Beach, Big Falls, Lake Eau Claire, and Coon Fork Beach.

As of mid-August this year, Faust said there have been 53 closures or advisory days. These numbers are fairly consistent with 2024 trends.

The primary substances Faust tests for are E. coli and blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. 

“E. coli is a good indicator organism,” Faust said. “If you have high levels of E. coli present in the water, there is a greater risk that there are other parasites or viruses present that could cause illness.”

Faust said she and her team test for blue-green algae by first visually surveying the water for a potential algal bloom. They then use a field monitoring device called an “algae torch” to gather readings of Chlorophyll A levels that could eventually lead to a bloom. 

“Potential health effects from algae and other toxins could be irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, and respiratory symptoms,” Faust said. “If you swallow the toxins, that could lead to nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.”

Faust noted that higher quantities of toxins could lead to more long-term issues, such as damage to the liver or nervous system. While toxin levels can vary with weather patterns, she added that higher temperatures can point to a higher risk.

“As the water temperature rises — typically in the later summer, so late July to August — we can start to see more algal blooms,” Faust said. “But when we’re talking about algae, it really fluctuates year to year, and we haven’t noticed a consistent long-term or short-term trend.”

As of mid-August of this year, Faust said there have been 53 closures or advisory days related to algal bloom this summer, and 42 related to bacteria levels. She said these numbers are fairly consistent with 2024 trends.

“If we have any closures or have to post an advisory about unsafe levels (of contaminants), then we test the water daily until the issue clears up," Faust said.

This summer, according to the department’s Facebook posts, Lake Altoona and Lake Eau Claire received by far the most closures and advisories, with Big Falls and Half Moon Lake following close behind. During the month of August, closures and advisories appeared to see an increase across the board. According to Faust, heavy rainfall may have been a factor.

“Contaminants can come from point-sources or non-point sources within the watershed,” Faust said. “So, especially when we have large rain events washing everything out, it could really be from anywhere.”

Fishing, another popular summer activity for residents, can also be dependent on water quality. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitors fishery conditions to keep the public safe in that regard.

Joseph Gerbyshak, a senior fisheries biologist with the DNR, manages fisheries in Eau Claire and several neighboring counties. His job includes conducting fish surveys and proposing management options to improve the fisheries.

Gerbyshak said one contaminant to keep anglers aware of is the bacterium Flexibactercolumnaris, which has been detected in several waters near Eau Claire. While not harmful to humans, this bacteria can lead to mass fish kills and distort population numbers in the early summer months.

According to Gerbyshak, residents can access a DNR publication called Choose Wisely to view the latest angler and fish consumption advisories.

Faust encouraged residents to be vigilant about following government advisories and closures to stay safe in the water. She said picking up pet waste, properly maintaining septic systems, and avoiding excessive fertilizer use can help prevent contaminants from entering the rivers, lakes, and streams used recreationally by the public. 

For more information about water quality and safety in the Chippewa Valley, visit the City of Eau Claire and Wisconsin DNR webpages online.