While north Texas beaches are feeling the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bill, South Padre Island beaches remain open and safe to swim.
Special to the PRESS
With reports out of Galveston stating that levels
of fecal bacteria are high along the Texas coastline, South Padre Island beaches remain open and free of bacteria. “I encourage potential visitors to book a great summer vacation very soon. We’ve had record visitation so far in June. Our Public Works crews keep the beaches well-‐groomed and looking great. We welcome visitors and expect them to have a safe, fun-‐filled vacation experience,” said SPI Council Member Dennis Stahl
While City of South Padre Island beaches remained open prior to Tropical Storm Bill, Cameron County beach accesses 1-‐6 were closed due to a strong rip current and high tide as the storm traversed the Gulf of Mexico. The downpour of rain has carried waste and fecal matter from upstream and dumped it along the northern Texas coastline. Seventeen beaches in Galveston County had high levels of fecal bacteria Tuesday morning reported KHOU-‐TV out of Houston. Officials there are warning people to be careful.
The City of South Padre Island and Cameron County beach accesses are open and unaffected by the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bill. Swimmers and beachgoers are urged to always check the conditions of the surf by using the flag system, which indicates daily the conditions on the beach. South Padre Island Coastal Resources & Parks Administrator Reuben Trevino stated that the City gets weekly reports from
the Texas General Land Offices “Texas Beach Watch Program” and to date have not had a sample come back with high enough levels of bacteria to trigger a warning. SPI City Manager William DiLibero added that South Padre does not face the water pollution concerns associated with storm water runoff and wastewater treatment plant overload that occur at beaches located near urban areas. Beachgoers can check out the latest beach water quality information available on: http://www.texasbeachwatch.com
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