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stations exceeded the primary contact standard and were followed by confirming 

 samples within the standard. For these reasons, the DEPE recommends considering 

 the bacterial data and the sanitary surveys in conjunction with the data concerning 

 beach closings in order to evaluate coastal water quality. 



Table 9 summarizes the ocean beach closings in 1992. When a recreational beach 

 and a contiguous non-recreational beach were closed together, those beaches appear 

 together on the list. For example, the closing of the beaches at Rosemary and 

 Forgetmenot Avenues on August 19 is listed as one closing. If only a non- 

 recreational beach or only a recreational beach was closed, that beach is listed 

 separately in Table 9. 



Twenty-seven beach closings occurred in 1992. Twenty-two of these closings 

 occurred immediately after five days of rain in August. That rain increased 

 stormwater discharges to the nearshore waters, and brought a corresponding 

 increase in the ambient concentrations of fecil coliform. Actions to address this 

 problem are discussed in section III(E) below. 



Three closings in Seaside Heights were attributable to the bird populations 

 roosting under the Sheridan Avenue amusement pier. The droppings from those 

 birds contain high concentrations of fecal coliform that raised concentrations of that 

 bacteria in the waters adjacent to the pier. Seaside Heights has been unsuccessful in 

 its attempts to reduce the bird populahon. Possible actions to address this problem 

 are discussed in section in(E) below. 



The remaining two closings occurred in Cape May City and Long Branch. The 

 Cape May City closing occurred when a sewage line backed up and discharged to the 

 stormwater collection system; following that incident, the health agency closed the 

 beach as a precaution until the sampling data showed that the recreational beach 

 was not adversely affected. The beach at Joline Avenue in Long Branch was closed 

 in response to increased ambient concentrations of fecal coliform from an unknown 

 source. 



Excessive fecal coliform concentrations or suspected sewage pollution accounted 

 for 26 of the 27 ocean beach closings in 1992. In comparison, 10 ocean beach closings 

 in 1991 were attributable to those causes. No closings were required for floatable 

 debris washups in 1991 or 1992. 



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