Local News

Dozens of Mass. beaches remain closed

Fifty-four beaches in the state are closed, primarily due to excessive bacteria or cyanobacteria blooms.

Nahant Beach, earlier this summer. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe, File

By Madison Lucchesi

2 minutes to read

Fifty-four Massachusetts beaches were closed as of Monday morning.

The beaches, ponds, and lakes are primarily closed due to harmful cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms or excessive bacteria levels, according to the state Department of Public Health’s (DPH) interactive beach water quality dashboard. One beach, Walden Pond in Concord, remains closed for “other” reasons.

On Sunday, 62 beaches across the state were closed at one point during the day, but only 50 were by Sunday evening, according to The Boston Globe.

While temperatures hit over 90 on Sunday, Monday marks the start of a week with temps topping out in the 70s or low 80s, according to WCVB Chief Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon.

Health officials must track bacteria levels at more than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches per Massachusetts law. The frequency of testing varies by beach and can be daily to monthly, depending on the area’s susceptibility to water quality issues.

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The causes of an increase in beach bacteria levels can include runoff pollution, farm runoff, leaky septic systems, overflowing sewers, and animal waste, according to DPH.

The dashboard updates every hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, even on weekends, during beach season.

The list below reflects the latest info as of 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 18.

Massachusetts beach closures as of Monday, August 18, 2025

Amesbury

  • Lake Gardner

Ashby

  • Damon Pond Beach (DCR)

Ashland

  • Ashland Reservoir – Main Beach (DCR)

Beverly

  • Woodbury

Billerica

  • Nutting Lake – Micozzi Beach @ North
  • Nutting Lake – Micozzi Beach @ South

Chicopee

  • Chicopee Beach (DCR)

Concord

  • Walden Pond – Main (DCR)

Danvers

  • Sandy Beach (Danvers)

Essex

  • Centennial Grove

Framingham

  • Learned Pond Beach

Franklin

  • Chilson Beach

Georgetown

  • American Legion Park

Harwich

  • Seymour Pond

Holden

  • Eagle Lake

Holliston

  • Pleasure Point
  • Stoddard Park

Lunenburg

  • Lunenburg Town Beach

Mashpee

  • Santuit Pond @ Bryants Neck
  • Santuit Pond @ Town Landing

Nahant

  • Nahant Beach (DCR) @ 1 (North/Ward Bathhouse)
  • Nahant Beach (DCR) @ 2 (Parking Section 12)
  • Nahant Beach (DCR) @ 3 (Flagpole/Halfway)
  • Nahant Beach (DCR) @ 4 (South/Main Entrance)

Nantucket

  • Sesachacha Pond

Natick

  • Cochituate State Park Beach (DCR)
  • Memorial Beach (Dug Pond) @ Wading

Newton

  • Crystal Lake (Newton)

North Andover

  • Stevens Pond – Center

Oxford

  • Carbuncle Pond

Pittsfield

  • Lulu Pond Beach (DCR)

Salem

  • Children’s Island – Back
  • Children’s Island – Wally
  • Ocean Avenue

Saugus

  • Pearce Lake @ Breakheart Reservation (DCR)

Sharon

  • Community Center Beach

Southwick

  • South Pond Beach

Springfield

  • Bass Pond @ Right
  • Camp Wilder @ Right
  • Paddle Club @ Right

Templeton

  • Beamans Pond – Campground (DCR)
  • Beamans Pond – Day Use (DCR)

Townsend

  • Pearl Hill Pond Beach (DCR)

Wareham

  • Shangri-La

Webster

  • Lakeside
  • Memorial Beach (Webster) @ Location 1
  • Memorial Beach (Webster) @ Location 2

Westminster

  • Crown Hill Pond Beach (DCR)

Wilmington

  • Wilmington Town Beach @ Center
  • Wilmington Town Beach @ Right

Winchendon

  • Lake Dennison State Park (DCR) @ Day Use Beach
  • Lake Dennison State Park (DCR) @ North Camp Beach

Winthrop

  • Donocans
  • Halford

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