Florida does not have a white sand beach on every waterway or beach. Miami’s water is dirty in one area.
SurfRider Foundation released its rankings of “Beach Bacteria hot spots” in the U.S. and declared Park View Kayak Launch, in Miami Beach, Florida as a bacteria-hot spot. It ranked Park View Kayak Launch at 90 percent. It is unsafe to swim because the water is heavily polluted. Beach Bacteria Hot Spots are areas that have a high level of pollution and are not suitable for swimming.
SurfRider’s Blue Water Task Force analyzed more than 10,000 water samples collected from 604 sites in 2024 to identify those areas with unsafe bacteria levels. The organization works with communities to educate them about public health and advocate for the cleaning up of heavily polluted beach areas. The Blue Water Task Force is active year-round, protecting public health even when samples aren’t being taken.
A sewer main ruptured in March 2020 and flooded the water with pollutants. Park View Kaway Launch is not like other places where pollution can persist for several years. This pollution was caused by a broken sewer main. Despite the city’s efforts to resolve the problem, there are still unsafe levels of sewage present in the water.
The “no-contact with the water” Park View Canal advisory is still in effect for the area next to the kayak launch on 73 Street. “Water sampling results continue show that fecal indicator bacterium concentrations exceed recreational water quality standards set by the Florida Department of Health.” the Miami Beach website states.
Surfrider Foundation
Miami’s “no contact order” should alert visitors to stay away from the water until it is cleaned.
Surfrider believes that everyone should be able to access clean water for surfing, swimming, and playing in. Since the Surfrider Foundation’s founding in 1984, improving coastal water quality is one of the foundation’s top priorities.
