Lousiana 2010 Swimming Season Update
Beaches monitored in 2010 continued to experience lingering impacts from hurricanes Katrina, Rita (August
and September 2005, respectively), and Gustav and Ike (September 2008). Use of Cameron Parish Beaches
remained below pre-storm levels, although they are slowly recovering as the area is rebuilt, and Hackberry
Beach remained inaccessible. Although Louisiana experienced no direct hurricane impacts during 2010, the
oil spill that resulted from the April 20, 2010, explosion on the BP leased Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling
platform affected most coastal beaches on the eastern half of the state. Oil flowed from the damaged well for
three months following the explosion until it was capped on July 15, 2010, although closures at some beaches
continued through the end of the swimming season due to persistent oil fouling and the presence of cleanup
crews. Use at the remaining beaches during 2010 was at approximately historic levels.
Table 2. Beach notification actions, 2008-2010.
Year
Number of monitored beaches
Number of beaches affected by notification actions
Percentage of beaches affected by notification actions
100% 96% 74%
Percentage of beach days affected by notification actions 66% 53% 55%
What is the topic of the first selection?.
O oil spills that occurred in Louisiana
O lingering affects of Hurricane Katrina
O accessibility of Louisiana's beaches
O problems affecting beaches in 2010
2008 2009 2010
26 27 27
26 27 20