The Beach Report for August 11 to 17, 2023

Water quality testing results for beaches in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings and Prince Edward

A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)
A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)

Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.

As of Thursday, August 17, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:

  • Buckhorn Beach – Peterborough County
  • Ennismore Waterfront Park – Peterborough County
  • Henry’s Gumming – Peterborough County
  • Norwood Beach at Mill Pond – Peterborough County
  • Burnt River Beach – Somerville
  • Head Lake Beach – Laxton
  • Lions Park – Coboconk
  • Norland Bathing Area – Laxton
  • Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam
  • Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Northumberland County
  • Kingsford Conservation Area – Hastings County
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.

In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.

During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger's Cove in Peterborough's East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Important note

The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.

You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.

While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.

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Peterborough City/County

City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)

Beavermead Park (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Rogers Cove (131 Maria Street, Peterborough) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)

Buckhorn Beach (12 John Street, Buckhorn, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 14 August – UNSAFE

Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Road, Trent Lakes) – sample date 14 August – SAFE

Douro North Park (251 Douro Second Line, Township of Douro – Dummer) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Ennismore Waterfront Park (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date 9 August – UNSAFE

Henry’s Gumming (150 Chemong Street S, Curve Lake) – sample date 14 August – UNSAFE

Hiawatha Park (1 Lakeshore Road, Hiawatha) – sample date 9 August – SAFE

Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date 8 August – SAFE

Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date 8 August – SAFE

Lime Kiln Park (150 Whetung Street E, Curve Lake) – sample date 14 August – SAFE

Norwood Beach at Mill Pond (12 Belmont Street, Norwood) – sample date 9 August – UNSAFE

Sandy Beach (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 14 August – SAFE

Selwyn Beach Conservation Area (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date 8 August – SAFE

Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Road, South Monaghan) – sample date 9 August – SAFE

Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (289 Caves Road, Warsaw, Township of Douro – Dummer) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)

Belmont Lake (376 Mile of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date 11 July – SAFE

Chandos Beach (2800 County Road/Highway 620, North Kawartha) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Havelock) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview) – sample date 15 August – SAFE

White’s Beach (26 Clearview Drive, Trent Lakes) – sample date 24 August – SAFE

 

City of Kawartha Lakes

Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – sample date August 9 – SAFE

Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – sample date August 9 – SAFE

Burnt River Beach – Somerville – sample date August 8 – UNSAFE

Centennial Park West – Eldon – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Centennial Beach – Verulam – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Centennial Verulam Parkette – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Four Mile Lake Beach – Somerville – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Head Lake Beach – Laxton – sample date August 8 – UNSAFE

Lions Park – Coboconk – sample date August 8 – UNSAFE

Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – sample date August 9 – UNSAFE

Omemee Beach – Emily/Omemee – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Riverview Beach Park – Bobycaygeon – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – sample date August 9 – SAFE

Valentia/Sandbar Beach – Valentia – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam – sample date August 9 – UNSAFE

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Haliburton County

Bissett Beach – Minden Hills – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Dorset Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – sample date August 1 – SAFE

Eagle Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 1 – SAFE

Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – sample date August 1 – SAFE

Forsters Beach – Minden Hills – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Glamour Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date August 10 – SAFE

Gooderham Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Haliburton Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 1 – SAFE

Horseshoe Beach – Minden Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Paudash Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Pine Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 1 – SAFE

Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Rotary Park Main – Minden Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Sandy Cove Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Sandy Point Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Slipper Beach – Dysart et al – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Minden Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Wilbermere Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date August 8 – SAFE

 

Northumberland County

Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Crowe Bridge Park – Trent Hills – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton Township – sample date August 14 – UNSAFE

Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Little Lake – Cramahe – sample date August 14 – SAFE

East Beach – Port Hope – sample date August 14 – SAFE

West Beach – Port Hope – sample date August 14 – SAFE

Sandy Bay Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Victoria Park – Cobourg – sample date August 8 – SAFE

Wicklow Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – sample date August 14 – SAFE

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Hastings County and Prince Edward County

Booster Park Beach – Crowe Lake – SAFE

Centennial Park, Deseronto – Bay of Quinte – SAFE

Centennial Park, Northport – Bay of Quinte – SAFE

Diamond Lake Beach – Diamond Lake – SAFE

Echo Beach – Papineau Lake – SAFE

Fosters Lake Beach – Fosters Lake – SAFE

Frankford Park – Trent River – SAFE

Hinterland Beach – Kaminiskeg Lake – SAFE

Kingsford Conservation Area – Salmon River – UNSAFE

L’Amable Lake Dam – L’Amable Lake – SAFE

Legion Park, Marmora – Crowe River – SAFE

Moira Lake Park – Moira Lake – SAFE

Riverside Park – York River – SAFE

Roblin Lake Park – Roblin Lake – SAFE

Steenburgh Lake – SAFE

Tweed Park – Stoco Lake – SAFE

Wellington Beach – Wellington Bay – SAFE

Wollaston Lake Beach – Wollaston Lake – SAFE