The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) will begin the bathing beach sampling season on June 5, 2023. One hundred (100) beaches on seventy-eight (78) different lakes, throughout the county, will be sampled. Sampling is expected to continue for ten weeks. OCHD staff will be surveying beaches beginning June 1 and will start routine sampling the following week.
Beaches are sampled and tested for E. Coli bacteria consistent with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Public Bathing Beach Law (Public Act 368 of 1978). Samples are calculated to determine daily geometric means which must not exceed 300 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. Secondly, the results must not exceed 30-day geometric means (after five sampling events) of 130 colonies per 100 milliliters. If samples exceed these limits, beaches will be closed until acceptable results are obtained.
This year the Oakland County Health Division will be sampling at the following beaches in our area:
- Commerce Lake: Log Cabin Sub. Beach
- Commerce Lake: Oakley Park Beach
- Commerce Lake: Van Stone #1 Beach
- Proud Lake: Proud Lake Recreation Area Campground Beach
- Lower Straights Lake: Maple Point Beach
- Reed Lake: Reed Lake Property Owners Beach
OCHD will post beach closure and re-opening information on their website at: https://www.oakgov.com/community/health/publIc-health-services/environmental-health/beaches. Also, sample results will be listed on the EGLE Beach Monitoring website: https://www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/. Information will be posted on both sites as soon as available from the laboratory.