County Clears Local Beaches for Bathing

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services on Sunday morning lifted a beach advisory that had warned against bathing at a handful of local beaches following Friday's heavy rains.

Affected beaches include Bayberry Cove Beach, Bayview Beach, Grantland Beach, Little Bay Beach, and Indian Field Beach in Setauket; Soundview Beach Association Beach in Old Field; and Stony Brook Yacht Club Beach and Stony Brook Beach in Stony Brook.

The department said in a statement that those beaches were closed on Friday because they are "heavily influenced by stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds and/or adjacent tributaries, and because of their location in an enclosed embayment, experience limited tidal flushing."

The advisory was issued because the department found elevated levels of bacteria at those beaches.

The advisory was lifted at 6 a.m. Sunday after two consecutive tidal cycles had passed.