Update August 9
Town Beach re-opens park areas Wednesday, August 11, Lake Cochituate remains closed for aquatic activities. Wayland Town Beach’s recent test, conducted by MDPH on August 3, 2021 exceeded the guideline level of Cyanobacteria in the water. MDPH requires two rounds of samples below the guideline level, one week apart, to recommend rescinding the advisory. Click here for the most up to date information.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY FOR NORTH POND OF LAKE COCHITUATE: CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM PRESENT
Wayland Town Beach will re-open to the public daily beginning Wednesday, August 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Advisory remains in place due to the cyanobacteria bloom. There will be No Swimming Allowed and No lifeguards on duty.
The Wayland Health Department and MDPH will continue to monitor the water quality.
Other park areas and amenities that will be available from August 11 – August 31 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.:
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Picnic Grove with grills
- Playground
- Volleyball Court (bring your own ball)
- Basketball Court (bring your own ball)
- Cornhole / Tetherball (bring your own bean bags)
- Trash and Recycling are Carry-In/Carry-Out. Receptacles are available near beach entrance. Please help keep the beach clean.
- Snack Bar will open on a limited schedule.
There will be no boat rentals or complimentary lounge chairs available. Public boat launch is open dawn to dusk.
NO DOGS ALLOWED | NO ALCOHOL | ALL OTHER BEACH RULES APPLY
DAY PASSES: Wayland Residents are FREE for the remainder of the 2021 season. Non-Resident day passes are $5 per person.
SEASON PASSES: Residents and non-residents with 2021 Season Passes will receive a 50% refund. Refunds will be processed automatically, no need to make a request. Please allow up to 21 business days for processing.
PUNCH PASSES: Unused punch passes purchased in 2021 will be honored in the 2022 beach season.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 – UPDATE 4
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) collected water samples from Lake Cochituate’s North Pond (Wayland Town Beach):
- MDPH requires two rounds of samples below the guideline level, one week apart, to recommend rescinding an advisory.
- MDPH recommends that the current advisory remain in place for now. No Swimming allowed.
|
Lake Cochituate – North Pond – Wayland Town Beach: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| LAB RESULTS | Cyanobacteria (MAX 70,000 cells/mL) | E.Coli (MAX 235 CFU/100ml) | |
| JULY 27 | 54,000 cells/ml microcystin toxin level was <1 ppb |
<5 CFU/100ml | |
| AUG 3 | 91,000 cells/ml microcystin toxin level was <1 ppb |
<5 CFU/100ml | |
| AUG 10 | Samples will be taken when the algae bloom clears. |
||
THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021 – UPDATE 3
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY FOR NORTH POND OF LAKE COCHITUATE CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM PRESENT
Lake Cochituate – North Pond – Wayland Town Beach
MDPH collected water samples from Lake Cochituate’s North Pond on Tuesday (7/27) at the Wayland Town Beach.
Cyanobacteria levels were 54,000 cells/ml at Wayland Town Beach, which is below the MDPH guideline level of 70,000 cells/ml.
The microcystin toxin level was <1 parts per billion (ppb).
These results will be considered the first low sample, and MDPH will sample again next Tuesday (8/3).
MDPH requires two rounds of samples below the guideline level, one week apart, to recommend rescinding an advisory.
MDPH recommends that the current advisory remain in place for now.
The Recreation Department is hopeful for a Friday, August 6, 2021 re-opening. The Recreation Department has not yet made any decisions on the status of existing season passes. The decision will be made when we know the extent of the shut down. We are hopeful that we can extend the season to Labor Day.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY FOR NORTH POND OF LAKE COCHITUATE
CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM PRESENT
Visual observations provided by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) indicate the presence of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae bloom) cells in North Pond of Lake Cochituate at the Wayland Town Beach. Cyanobacteria was also observed by DCR staff at Middle Pond and South Pond of Lake Cochituate. This evidence suggests that the level of cyanobacteria in the water may exceed the MDPH guidelines for recreational water bodies in Massachusetts and is unsafe for people and pets.
The Wayland Health Department is issuing a PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY and signage has been posted at each access point to the Town Beach. MDPH has also recommended that Middle Pond and South Pond issue public health advisories. The advisory is to warn individuals against contact with the water as it is unsafe for people and pets (please see below sign). We anticipate that ALL sections of Lake Cochituate will have a public health advisory including South Pond, Middle Pond and North Pond.
The Recreation Department has closed the swimming areas of Lake Cochituate including the Wayland Town beach until further notice. Other nearby cities and towns have also closed public parks and beaches along Lake Cochituate.
MDPH will conduct follow-up sampling at the water body when there is no longer visual evidence of a bloom. The Health Department will continue to monitor the lake conditions and post an update on our website once new information is available from the state.
It is not yet known the length of the closure.
For anyone who has recently used the Town Beach or Lake Cochituate, the MDPH recommends:
- Swimmers rinse off after contact with water.
- Do not swim.
- Do not swallow water.
- Keep animals away from the water
Additional info on algae can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/dph/algae
Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) with questions: (617) 624-5757
Subscribe to Town Beach alerts for updates: https://www.wayland.ma.us/subscribe
