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MiEnviro Portal: BeachGuard

Beachgoers enjoy strolling and swimming at the shore of Lake Erie, where community efforts are focused on reducing harmful algal blooms. Photo courtesy of City of Luna Pier.
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

MiEnviro Portal: BeachGuard

Michigan has more than 1,000 public beaches. Find out if a beach is safe for swimming by using our beach monitoring system - an interactive map of test results from local health departments. 

If a beach you're looking for is not listed, please contact your local health department for information.

A preview of the BeachGuard map, showing various green dots over the metro Detroit beaches
A preview of the BeachGuard map, showing various green dots over the metro Detroit beaches

BeachGuard

Find the latest information on beach closures, advisories, and other conditions

Search for beaches

Wildlife waste (especially from waterfowl), agricultural runoff, pet manure, wastewater spills, toxic algae, and leaking septic systems can make beaches temporarily unhealthy and off-limits to the public.

Typically, after a rainstorm, everything on land gets washed into the surface waters including beaches - that's when bacteria and other harmful microbes may enter the water.

Diseases acquired from contact with contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness; neurological symptoms; wound infections; and affect the skin, ears, eyes, and respiratory systems.

The most commonly reported symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever. 

Our staff monitor Michigan’s surface waters, such as lakes and streams, but not beaches specifically. The authority to monitor public beaches and close them based on conditions rests with local health officers – typically regional or county health departments.

These departments regularly monitor about 400 beaches each year. We provide many of them with state and federal funds to support this monitoring.

Understanding the science behind Michigan beach monitoring

A beach advisory or closure is issued by a local health department when monitoring results indicate contamination is present.  The beach is posted when either the daily geometric mean or the 30-day geometric mean is higher than the safe limit.  Beaches are reopened when monitoring results show the beach is safe for swimming.

Full details on Michigan beach standards

Contact information

For questions about specific beaches or test results, contact your local health department

For questions about EGLE's involvement in beach water monitoring, contact Shannon Briggs, Toxicologist at BriggsS4@Michigan.gov or 517-290-8249.

History of BeachGuard

BeachGuard was previously a stand-alone application, but as of March 2025 it has been consolidated to MiEnviro Portal - our largest permitting and compliance application.

New features include:

  • Options to organize data by county, ownership, or closures.
  • Options for viewing the map from street or satellite views.
  • The ability for users to sign up for and manage custom alerts.