Beachgoers advised to stay out of water at this South MS beach, 7 areas total

The state has issued a water contact advisory for the Mississippi Sound from Tegarden east to Anniston Avenue because of bacteria levels that could make swimming unsafe, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says.

The Gulfport East Beach area joins six other areas with water contact advisories. Beaches are open, though going in the water could lead to illness. A health advisory has been lifted for Lakeshore Beach in Hancock County from Silver Slipper Casino east to Pointset Avenue.

Areas previously found to contain the bacteria, according to MDEQ, include:

• Bay St. Louis Beach from box culvert eastward to Ballantine Street.
• Pass Christian West Beach from Fort Henry Avenue east to Elliot Street.
• Pass Christian Central Beach from Henderson Ave east to Hiern Avenue
• Pass Christian East Beach from Espy Avenue east to Hayden Avenue
• Long Beach Beach from Oak Gardens east to Girard
• Gulfport West Beach from Marie Avenue east to Camp Avenue

Also, the MDEQ says that swimming is not advised off Coast beaches during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription