DNR Seeking Public Input on Great Lakes Beach Listings
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking the public to help update its beach list to keep people safe on Great Lakes beaches this summer.
Each year, the DNR’s beach program reaches out to Wisconsinites, local beach managers and public health departments along Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coasts to determine what changes, if any, are needed to the Wisconsin beach list and program information.
The proposed list reflects the reclassification of the beaches at Kite Surfing-Clara Avenue in Sheboygan County and McKinley Jetski Launch (Watercraft Beach) in Milwaukee County as historical and unmonitored, at the request of the local public health authorities who monitor the beaches.
Public comments and local knowledge of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines provide the best information about our 53 miles of coastal beaches.
“The Wisconsin Beach List was originally developed in the early 2000s,” said Jessica Brandt, DNR coastal beach program manager. “The annual public comment period ensures that the list is up to date and reflects any recent changes in use or status of beaches and boat launches.”
To maintain Wisconsin’s eligibility for funding under the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, state programs must provide an opportunity for public comment when changes to the list or monitoring program occur. The BEACH Act is an amendment to the Clean Water Act which requires all coastal states — including Great Lakes states — to develop programs for effective water quality monitoring and public notification at coastal recreational beaches. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to participating states to develop and implement a statewide beach monitoring program.
With these funds, all Wisconsin beaches along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines are identified and prioritized for water quality monitoring. A beach is defined as any place that the public has recreational access to the water, regardless of whether the location is used for swimming. Boat launches, some natural areas and private beaches available to the public are included.
The federal funding allows communities with Great Lakes beaches to monitor for elevated levels of Escherichia coli (commonly referred to as E. coli), which is a bacterium that can cause illness if ingested. These bacteria are relatively easy to test for compared to other pathogens, so they serve as a useful indicator of the possible presence of other health risks in the water — such as fecal matter, viruses, other bacteria or other pollutants.
“This monitoring data helps local health officials determine when to close a beach due to unsafe conditions and to notify the public of elevated bacteria levels so that beach visitors can make informed choices about swimming at the beach,” Brandt said. “In many cases, monitoring would not take place without the assistance provided by this federal funding.”
We are continuing to improve and upgrade the beach health database and website features and welcome feedback on them throughout the year. If you have any questions or comments on the beach health website and database, please email DNRBeachHealth@wisconsin.gov or call Jessica Brandt at 920-366-7275.
The proposed changes to the beach list for 2026 are available online on the DNR website. Please email public comments on the beach listings to DNRBeachHealth@wisconsin.gov by Dec. 31, 2026.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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