Chilson Tops List of More Than 50 Beaches Closed Statewide

There was a  time when the closing of the Town Pool or Chilson Beach would have elicited groans, panic, and headlines for Franklinites. But in an age of climate-controlled-everything and vacation homes, the news that Chilson Beach flunked its bacterial testing early this month and twice since, was scarcely noticed.  And this year, it is by no means alone with some 55 beaches prohibiting swimming due to contamination as of Thursday morning.

"We
only test the water quality at the beach during the swimming season,
June 11-August 13, said Frankln's Director of Recreation, Ryan Jette.  "In my experience, we start to see
the elevated numbers in early August when it gets hot and
stagnant. The geese don't help either. We have been
fairly lucky in years past, but this year was not so lucky," Jette added.

Other beaches closed as of Thursday include:

• Amesbury Glen Devin Condominiums
• Ashby Damon Pond Beach
• Ashland Reservoir Main Beach
• Beverly Woodbury Beach
• Billerica Micozzi Beach at Nutting Lake (2 locations)
• Braintree Smith Beach
• Brewster Cliff Pond (2 locations)
• Chicopee Beach
• Concord Walden Pond Main DCR Beach
• Danvers Sandy Beach
• Essex Centennial Grove
• Framingham Learned Pond Beach
• Georgetown American Legion Park
• Harwich Seymour Pond
• Holden Eagle Lake
• Holliston Pleasure Point
• Holliston Stoddard Park
• Mashpee Bryant's Neck
• Mashpee Town Landing
• Nantucket Sesachacha Pond
• Nantucket Washing Pond
• Natick Cochituate State Park
• Natick Dug Pond
• North Andover Frye Pond
• North Andover Stevens Pond
• Oxford Carbuncle Beach
• Quincy Avalon Beach
• Salem Children's Island (Front)
• Salem Children's Island (Wally)
• Salem Ocean Avenue
• Saugus Pearce Lake Breakheart Reservation
• Sharon Community Center Beach
• Sharon Town Beach
• Sherborn Farm Beach
• Southwick South Pond Beach
• Springfield Bass Pond
• Springfield Camp Wilder
• Springfield Paddle Club
• Templeton Beamans Pond
• Tisbury Hilman's Point
• Townsend Pearl Hill Pond Beach
• Upton Town Beach
• Wareham Shangri-La
• Westborough Lake Chauncy Beach
• Wilmington Town Beach (2 locations)
• Winchendon Lake Dennison (2 locations)
• Winchester Shannon Beach
• Winthrop Donovans Beach
• Winthrop Halford Beach
• Winthrop Beach (DCR)

The bacteria used as indicator
organisms to test the waters at beaches are Enterococci and E. coli.
Marine beaches are tested for the presence of Enterococci. Freshwater
beaches are tested either for the presence of E. coli or Enterococci.
Enteric bacteria are indicator organisms found in the intestines of
warm-blooded animals and humans, often associated with fecal
contamination.

A state source, providing information on background, indicated that a variety of factors can cause water quality to change rapidly within a waterbody, including rainfall, stormwater outflows, failed septic systems leaching the watershed, and animals near the water.

Data on recent tests at Franklin's Chilson Beach can be found here:

https://www.franklinma.gov/338/Beaver-Pond-Chilson-Beach