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Date: August 26, 2009
Contact: Bob Grant, Chief Ranger, 508-957-0735

Cape Cod National Seashore Chief Ranger Bob Grant announced today that the lifeguarded portion of Race Point Beach in Provincetown has been temporarily closed to swimming due to high bacteria levels.  Water quality will be re-sampled daily until bacteria concentrations return to desired levels, at which time the beach will be re-opened to swimming.  Beach activities that do not involve contact with the water, such as walking and sunbathing, are still permitted.

In accordance with National Park Service policy and Massachusetts Public Health requirements, Cape Cod National Seashore conducts weekly monitoring of Enterococcus bacteria at all protected beaches during the summer months.  Enterococcus are a bacterial indicator group used to predict the presence of organisms that can cause gastroenteritis.  Guidelines for acceptable levels of Enterococcus in marine waters are established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Public Health Department.  The source of the bacterial contamination is unknown. If high bacteria levels persist, expanded sampling and additional investigations will be initiated to identify potential sources. 

Superintendent George Price said, "This happened several years ago at Nauset Light Beach, and a few years before that at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.  Although we were never able to determine the sources of the elevated bacteria, fortunately it dissipated quickly and the beaches were re-opened in just a couple of days.  We hope this incidence of high bacteria also dissipates quickly so that Race Point Beach visitors can get back in the water.  In the meantime, bacteria levels at all other park beaches are still very low and acceptable for swimming."

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