Bacteria Closes 6 Suffolk County Beaches on Memorial Day Weekend

Six beaches on Long Island are closed to bathing Memorial Day weekend because their waters are contaminated with bacteria that can be harmful to people.

Brown tide has left some waters on Long Island the color of a cup of coffee. This year’s outbreak has hit early — the earliest since 2008. The bacteria isn’t dangerous to humans, but pollution helps cause it. Greg Cergol reports.

The beaches are:

• Lake Ronkonkoma Beach in Islip

• Tanner Park Beach in Copiague

• Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore

• Fleet’s Cove Beach in Huntington

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• Huntington Beach Community Association Beach in Centerport

• Crab Meadow Beach in Northport

The Empire State Building lit up red, white and blue on Friday evening in honor of Memorial Day weekend.

Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Dr. James Tomarken said bathing in bacteria-contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat.

While the nation honors servicemen and women lost in battle, David Ushery is with a New Jersey family as they lay to rest fallen Marine 1st Lt. William C. Ryan Jr., almost 48 years to the day after his fighter jet was shot down over the jungle in Laos.

The beaches will reopen to bathing after further testing reveals bacteria has lowered to acceptable levels, officials said.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 852-5822, or visit Suffolk County's beach monitoring page.