9 Michigan beaches closed this weekend due to water quality – ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4

Report on Michigan Beach Closures and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the temporary closure of nine public beaches in Michigan as of Friday, July 11. These closures, prompted by water quality concerns such as harmful algal blooms and bacteria, underscore critical challenges and responses related to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The state’s “BeachGuard” monitoring system serves as a key tool in mitigating public health risks and advancing these goals.

2.0 Status of Beach Closures

As of the reporting date, the following nine beaches across six counties were closed to the public due to environmental and health concerns:

• Allegan County
  • Dumont Lake County Park Beach (Dumont Lake)
• Charlevoix County
  • Elm Point Beach (Lake Charlevoix)
• Grand Traverse County
  • Sunset Park (West Grand Traverse Bay)
  • Volleyball Court Beach (West Grand Traverse Bay)
• Macomb County
  • St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach (Lake St. Clair)
• Oakland County
  • Dodge Park #4 (Cass Lake)
  • Groveland Oaks County Park – Paradise Beach (Stewart Lake)
  • Independence Oaks County Park (Crooked Lake)
• Roscommon County
  • Lakeview Waterfront Park (Houghton Lake)

3.0 Analysis of Closures in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

The beach closures are a direct consequence of environmental stressors that compromise water safety. This situation highlights the interconnectedness of public health, environmental quality, and sustainable resource management.

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The presence of harmful bacteria and algal blooms indicates a failure to meet targets for water quality. These closures serve as a public indicator of pollution affecting recreational water bodies, emphasizing the urgent need for improved wastewater management and pollution control to protect vital freshwater resources.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By closing contaminated beaches, authorities are taking necessary preventative measures to protect the public from waterborne illnesses. This action directly supports the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water: The conditions leading to beach closures, such as nutrient pollution causing algal blooms, are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems. These blooms can lead to oxygen depletion (hypoxia), harming fish and other aquatic life, thereby undermining efforts to conserve and sustainably use lakes and their resources.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Safe and accessible public spaces, including beaches, are integral to sustainable communities. The closures limit recreational opportunities and impact local tourism, demonstrating how environmental degradation can affect community well-being and economic activity.

4.0 State Monitoring and Information Dissemination

In response to these challenges, the state of Michigan provides a centralized public information system to promote transparency and public safety.

4.1 The BeachGuard System

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) manages the BeachGuard system. This platform is a critical tool for achieving SDG-related objectives:

• It provides the public with real-time data on beach closures, advisories, and water quality monitoring results from local health departments.
• The system includes an interactive map, enhancing accessibility and allowing residents to make informed decisions before visiting any of Michigan’s thousands of beaches.
• By consolidating this information, BeachGuard supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by empowering citizens to avoid potential health risks and promotes the principles of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by ensuring transparent communication about the safety of public amenities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses beach closures due to health risks like “harmful bacteria in the water” and “algal blooms,” which directly threaten human health and well-being.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core issue is the contamination of water bodies (lakes and bays), which leads to the closures. This relates to the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The closure of public beaches impacts access to safe and inclusive public spaces for recreation, a key component of sustainable communities. The article lists nine specific public beaches that are no longer accessible.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The pollution affecting the Great Lakes and other large water bodies, evidenced by “algal blooms,” is a direct threat to freshwater ecosystems and the life within them.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on closing beaches to prevent public exposure to “harmful bacteria” and “algal blooms” is a direct action to prevent illnesses from water contamination.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The presence of contaminants forcing beach closures indicates a failure to meet this target in the specified water bodies. The state’s “BeachGuard” system monitors water quality, which is a step toward managing and improving it.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… lakes. The article highlights the degradation of several lake ecosystems (e.g., Dumont Lake, Lake Charlevoix, Cass Lake) to the point where they are unsafe for human contact, indicating a need for protection and restoration.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The closure of nine public beaches, as listed in the article, signifies a temporary failure to provide access to “safe” public recreational spaces.
4. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including… nutrient pollution. “Algal blooms,” mentioned as a reason for closures, are a direct result of nutrient pollution, which this target aims to reduce.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 3.9 and 6.3:
   • Indicator: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality (related to Indicator 6.3.2). The article implies this is being measured through the “BeachGuard” system, which provides data on “bacteria levels” and “water quality tests.” A low proportion of clean beaches indicates poor progress.
2. For Target 11.7:
   • Indicator: The number and duration of beach closures. The article explicitly states, “At least nine Michigan beaches are closed.” This number serves as a direct, though informal, indicator of the lack of access to safe public spaces.
3. For Target 14.1:
   • Indicator: Index of coastal eutrophication (related to Indicator 14.1.1a). The article’s mention of “algal blooms” is a direct reference to eutrophication. The state’s monitoring efforts via “BeachGuard” can provide the data needed to track this indicator.

SDG Analysis Summary Table

Source: clickondetroit.com