How Safe Is It To Swim At Lake Erie Bathing Beaches?
To find out, local agencies monitor beaches daily to determine levels of bacteria. The bacteria used, E. coli, are found in sewage and other animal wastes. But because the results of E. coli levels take at least 18 hours by conventional methods, we are using other quickly-obtained measurements to predict when E. coli concentrations will be high. This is called a “nowcast.”
Find out more about nowcast and how it performed in 2006 and 2007.
Where is a nowcast being used?
Mathematical models were used to develop and test nowcasts for beach advisories at four Lake Erie beaches in 2007--Huntington (Bay Village), Edgewater and Villa Angela (Cleveland), and Lakeshore (Ashtabula). As of 2008, nowcast systems are operational for Huntington and Edgewater. The nowcast at Huntington has been operational since 2006. At Edgewater, 2008 is the first year that beach advisories will be posted using the nowcast system. For a full technical report, see http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1427/
What is used to make predictions on the nowcast?
The mathematical models used to make predictions on the nowcast are based on measurements of environmental and water-quality variables known to influence E. coli levels. These are called "variables" and include measurements of rainfall, wave height, and water clarity. Find out more about the variables used in the 2008 nowcast.
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Welcome to the Nowcast
The nowcast is over for 2008. See you next spring!
A system that uses real-time information to "nowcast" water-quality conditions at two Lake Erie beaches.
The information on
this page is updated by 9:30 AM (EDT) every day during the regular
swimming season. This nowcast issues advisories and predicts the
probability once a day at the posted time only. Storms are likely to
result in a quick change in water quality.
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Water-Quality Advisories
Beach |
Date / time |
Beach Advisory Information |
Edgewater
|
9/11/2008
8:24:00 AM
|
A swimming advisory is NOT in effect at this time
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Edgewater
|
9/10/2008
9:39:00 AM
|
A swimming advisory is in effect at this time
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Predicted Probabilities
Beach |
Date / time |
Probability that current E. coli exceed safe levels (percent) |
Turbidity (NTU) |
Water temper-ature (degrees F) |
Wave height (feet) |
Predicted water quality |
Edgewater
|
9/11/2008
8:24:00 AM
|
28.3
|
6.9
|
66.2
|
0.58
|
Good
|
Edgewater
|
9/10/2008
9:39:00 AM
|
41.5
|
10.5
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69.4
|
0.67
|
Poor
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Recent E. coli Concentrations
Beach |
Date |
Concentration (colonies / 100 mL) |
Edgewater
|
9/11/2008
|
97
|
Edgewater
|
9/10/2008
|
RP
|
Edgewater
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9/9/2008
|
505
|
Edgewater
|
9/8/2008
|
RP
|
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RP: Results pending
NS: No sample collected on this date.
View all of this seasons data on E. coli concentrations and water quality
Entire seasons data on E. coli concentrations and water quality at Huntington Beach (Excel spreadsheets) 2006 | 2007
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