BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Source: Palm Beach County) — Due to health and safety concerns, the remaining three county beaches that had been open as of Thursday at Noon have now been closed. Staff reports throat/nose/eye irritation. Parking lots, picnic areas, and pavilions not on the beach will continue to be open.
There have been reports of limited fish kills on some of the other closed beaches and cleanup efforts have already started. PBC Environmental Resources Management (ERM), along with Parks and Recreation, will work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to coordinate cleanup as quickly as possible. Due to turtle nesting season, cleanup needs to be approved by DEP.
ERM continues to collect water samples and has sent those samples to the state to be analyzed. ERM will continue to monitor at least weekly and coordinate analysis with the State.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has established a fish kill hotline. Residents are asked to call 800-636-0511 to report fish kills, diseased fish, or fish with other abnormalities. Leave a detailed report and contact information on the recorded message. A biologist will contact the caller, usually the following workday, if more information is needed.
