he weather was perfect and people were ready to swim Friday at Ontario Beach Park — and though it was supposed to be the beach’s first swimming day, the water remained off-limits.

According to Larry Staub, director of parks for Monroe County, high bacteria counts and lack of water clarity prevented swimming.

Staub attributed the water condition to the high winds and 2-foot waves that brought offshore algae to the beach on Thursday.

“The conditions we experienced yesterday, you can’t predict those,” Staub said Friday.

Last year, the beach was closed for swimming more days than it was open.

Out of 80 days in the season, swimming was allowed 38 days and prohibited for 42, the highest closure number since 1992.

“Last year was very rainy, and that caused the beach to close because of the runoff. If you have a dry summer, you tend to be open a little more,” he said.

Though the beach is closed, the lifeguards remain on duty to make sure people don’t get into the water and to provide first aid to park-goers.

“We’re just as disappointed as anyone else is because it’s our first day patrolling the beach,” said Rick Schmitt, Ontario Beach supervisor.

Amanda Girard of Greece brought her toddler daughter to the beach and was disappointed to find their plans were thwarted.

“We came here because we were going to go swimming because they said it was open, and now we’re here and it’s not open,” she said.

But not everyone’s beach plans were deterred.

Walker Itoh’s first-grade class from School 5 played at the park, while students in the City School District’s Office of Adult & Career Education Services enjoyed their annual school picnic.

“Today I brought some corn beef hash and cabbage to bring with the picnic,” said Teresa Pittman, a student at O.A.C.E.S.

Josiah Rebis of Irondequoit said he comes to the beach often in the summer before going to work.

“I’m at the beach today just to hang out, chill, play my guitar and see if any girls are here,” he said.

In an effort to prevent the numerous beach closings, Monroe County is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Rochester in a pilot program that would pump out or herd some of the near-shore algae that pools between the beach and the pier.

But Staub said that won’t prevent the algae caused by fertilizer or animal waste that runs off into the storm sewers and makes its way into the river and lake.

“We’d like to be open more, and we hope (the pilot program) will increase the number of days open, but you really can’t account for Mother Nature,” Staub said.

via Swimming waters closed at Ontario Beach Park | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle.