These Massachusetts beaches are closed as of Aug. 22

Summer may be winding down, but there is still time to hit the beach. Just make sure you visit an open one. These 86 beaches across Massachusetts are closed as of Aug. 22 due to bacteria concerns. 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says bacteria levels tend to rise right after periods of heavy rainfall. Dirty runoff from the streets gathers excrement and other harmful bacteria in the sewers, which in turn can run into nearby bodies of water.

Swimming in unsafe water can potentially lead to a bevy of health problems. The most frequent and notable effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and diarrhea. When ingested, bacteria can also cause flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, and eye-nose-throat problems.

It is unclear when the beaches will reopen. Water testing results take 24 hours, DPH says, so results typically come out the next day. For now, the department warns beachgoers to be vigilant and check its interactive beach water quality dashboard. 

List of beaches closed as of Thursday, Aug. 22

Beaches with an * indicate beaches that were closed for over a week. Two asterisks (**) indicate the beach has been closed for more than two weeks. Three asteristcs (***) indicate the beach has been closed for more than 3 weeks. Beaches with a † indicate beaches that have been closed for more than one month.

Amherst

• Puffers Pond*
• Stanley St. swimming hole*

Ashby

Ashland

Barnstable 

• Eugenia Fortes
• Kalmus Ocean
• Wequaquet Lake Town*
• Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club*

Beverly

• Mingo
• Obear Park
• Woodburty

Boston

• Constitution
• Malibu
• Savin Hill
• Tenean

Braintree

Brewster

Chilmark

Clarksburg

Cohasset

Concord

Danvers

Dartmouth

Dennis

Framingham

• Learned Pond Beach**
• Waushakum Beach

Franklin

Gloucester

• Cressy’s
• Good Harbor Creek
• Half Moon
• Plum Cove

Grafton

Haverhill

Holland

Kingston

• Gray’s Beach*
• Rocky Nook

Lowell

• Merrimac River Bath House**

Lynn

• Kings†
• Lynn Shore Beach†

Manchester

Medford

Nahant

• Black Rock
• Nahant Beach**

Nantucket

• Sesachacha Pond†
• Washing Pond

Natick

• Cochituate State Park Beach***

North Andover

• Fyre Pond Beach*
• Stevens Pond – Center***

Northampton

Oxford

Plymouth

Provincetown

Quincy

• Wollaston at Channing, Milton, Sachem Streets and Rice Road

Salem

• Camp Naumkeag†
• Children’s Island†
• Ocean Avenue***
• Willow Avenue**

Sandwich

Saugus

• Pearce Lake**
• Peckham Pond

Scituate

Shutesbury

Southwick

Springfield

Swampscott

Swansea

• Cedar Cove Club
• Leeside
• Sandy Beach
• Swansea Town BEach

Templeton

Townsend

Truro

• Longnook**
• Noon’s Landing

Wayland

West Stockbridge

West Tisbury

Westborough

Winchendon

Winchester

Winthrop

Worcester

• Shore Park**
• Indian Lake***
• Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach***