Two local beaches make dirtiest beaches list

Two of Franklin County’s beaches made the top ten list of dirtiest beaches in Florida last year. The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued the list for the past 19 years. The worst beach in Florida was Dixie County's Shired Island, which failed to pass bacteria standards 90 percent of the times it was tested. Alligator Point had swimming advisories issued 56 percent of the time and Carrabelle Beach 43 percent. Wakulla County's Shell Point Beach had swimming advisories 43 percent of the time and Mash's Sand 39 percent. There are 306 Florida beaches that are tested weekly for bacteria including enterococcus and e coli, both of which can be dangerous for swimmers. The Natural Resources Defense Council report says the causes of polluted water include storm water runoff, sewage, septic tanks, boating, wildlife and human waste. Locally, county commissioners are working with state officials and local business interests to ascertain what is causing swimming advisories off of St. George Island, though there is no plan at this time to look at Alligator Point or Carrabelle beach.