Recreation Advisories

The Kalamazoo River Area of Concern (AOC), which is the 80-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, does not advise against swimming and other full body contact water activities. Only during beach closings, when there are signs of stirred-up sediment and fecal bacteria (due to runoff of livestock waste and septic systems), should you avoid the water. All other activities such as boating are fine according to the MDCH. 

The DEQ offers an online beach monitoring program that allows you have real-time beach closures and information of why the beach is closed.  Additionally, there is an inland-lake monitoring program, which is a volunteer program that allows individuals to test their lakes’ water. 

The EPA offers an online beach-monitoring program called BEACON. This national database of offers the public up-to-date and archived information on beach closings and advisories.  

For more information on Tourism and Recreation on the Great Lakes, click here.

For more information related to recent health issues and risks pertaining to the Great Lakes basin, including summaries, reports, and beach closings, click here.