Gooseberry Beach, Newport Rhode Island. Photo Credit: John Phelan. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

The Rhode Island Department of Health has recommended closing swimming areas at two Newport beaches due to high bacteria counts, officials announced Thursday.

The Spouting Rock Beach Association, known as Bailey’s Beach, and Gooseberry Beach are affected by the closure recommendation, according to the state health department. Bailey’s Beach is a private member-owned club, while Gooseberry Beach is a private beach that is also open to the public.

The department will continue monitoring and reviewing beach water quality through Labor Day. Officials noted that beach status may change as new data becomes available.

Current beach information is available through RIDOH’s beaches telephone line at (401) 222-2751. A list of closed beaches can also be accessed online at https://health.ri.gov/beaches/.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...