Clean Beach Coalition Releases Annual List of Clean and Healthy Beaches

CBC State of the Beach Report Cover

Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 14, 2011

The Clean Beaches Coalition today released its annual list of beaches which have been officially certified as clean, healthy and environmentally well managed.

This year beaches in twenty states and U.S. territories, including American Samoa, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, are on the list. (See complete list below.)

Every year, American families travel to the coast to enjoy the ocean breezes, playing on sandy beaches, fishing in the open seas, or surfing with our children. Annually, Americans make over 2 billion visits to ocean, gulf, and inland beaches. Coastal counties, including beach recreation and tourism contribute over $ 5 trillion dollars annually to the U.S. economy. However, the Great Recession continues to drain critical economic funding away from coastal protection, sustainable tourism and resource management.

“While Americans are coming back to the beach this summer, the devastating effect of the Great Recession is still be felt by beach communities and businesses across the country,” stated Walter McLeod, founder of the Clean Beaches Coalition. “We must make the connection between vibrant coastal economies and clean beaches.” He pointed to the Blue Wave mark as a symbol of the need to protect our beaches and put a premium on their economic value. Healthy, sustainable seafood plays a huge role in our coastal economy.

Blue Wave is the first environmental certification program for beaches in the U.S. Now in its 12th year, the program is recognized as a reliable benchmark for well-maintained beaches and eco-friendly tourism.

The following beaches have been certified in 2011 as “Blue Wave” around the country:

2011 BLUE WAVE BEACHES

American Samoa

Ofu Beach, National Park of American Samoa

Olosega Beach, National Park of American Samoa

California

Drakes Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

Limantour Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

Crescent Beach, Redwood National Park

Gold Bluff Beach, Redwood National Park

Enderts Beach, Redwood National Park

Florida (South Atlantic)

Hollywood Beach

Dania Beach

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Pompano Beach

Deerfield Beach

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Florida (Pan Handle)

Johnson Beach, Gulf Islands National Seashore

Florida (Gulf Coast)

Venice Beach

Siesta Key Beach

Caspersen Beach

Lido Beach

Florida (North Atlantic)

Jacksonville Beach

Florida (Mid Atlantic)

Jetty Park (Port Canaveral)

Georgia

Dungeness Beach, Cumberland Island National Seashore

Hawaii

Keauhou Landing, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Halape Shelter, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Ka’ aha Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Indiana

Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Lake View Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Mount Baldy Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Maryland

North Ocean Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore

Maine

Sand Beach, Acadia National Park

Echo Beach, Acadia National Park

Massachusetts

Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Herring Cove Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Nauset Light Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Race Point Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Michigan

Pere Marquette Beach

Esch Beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

South Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sand Pont Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

North Carolina

North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore

South Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore

New Jersey

North Beach, Sandy Hook National Seashore

N. Gunnison Beach, Sandy Hook National Seashore

New York

Sunken Forest Beach, Fire Island National Seashore

Watch Hill Beach, Fire Island National Seashore

Ohio

Huntington Beach, Cleveland

Oregon

Cannon Beach

Texas

Rockport Beach

Malaquite Beach, Padre Island National Seashore

Little Shell Beach, Padre Island National Seashore

Big Shell Beach, Padre Island National Seashore

Virginia

Tom’s Cove Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore

Washington

Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park

Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park

Wisconsin

Bradford Beach, Milwaukee

North Beach, Racine

Julian Bay Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore

Little Sand Bay Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore

Meyers Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore

U.S. Virgin Islands

Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Seashore

Maho, Virgin Islands National Seashore

Hawksnest, Virgin Islands National Seashore

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