| One-day beach | Extended beach | Permanent beach | |
| Year | closure and advisory | closure (6-12 weeks) | closure (12 or more weeks) |
| number | |||
| 1988 | 484 | 0 | 3 |
| 1989 | 1,052 | 0 | 5 |
| 1990 | 1,592 | 1 | 4 |
| 1991 | 2,008 | 7 | 14 |
| 1992 | 2,619 | 6 | 8 |
| 1993 | 2,438 | 5 | 9 |
| 1994 | 2,279 | 12 | 15 |
| 1995 | 3,522 | 9 | 16 |
| 1996 | 2,596 | 16 | 20 |
| 1997 | 4,153 | 17 | 55 |
| 1998 | 7,236 | 41 | 36 |
| 1999 | 6,160 | 23 | 28 |
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council, Testing the Waters - 2000: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches (NRDC, New York, NY, 2000).
Notes: Data for 1988 through 1986 are from the annual NRDC survey of coastal and Great Lakes communities. Data for 1997 through 1999 are from surveys conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its Beach Watch program. The EPA data are supplemented by information gathered by NRDC from their own surveys for these years. NRDC counts every day of an advisory/closure as one "beach closing." Number refers to the mininum number of closings and/or advisories. Because of inconsistencies in monitoring and closing practices among states and over time, it is difficult to make comparisons between states or to assess trends.
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