To escape those hot summer days, nothing beats a little lake swimming but finding a lake nearby that is clean and in some cases safe to swim in,
can be a challenge. Well there’s an app for that.
Created by a network of nonprofit watershed protection organizations, Swim Guide helps you locate the closest, cleanest beach, get directions, view photos, and determine if the lake water is safe for swimming.
“Swim Guide changes the way we use our beaches,” says Mark Mattson, President & Waterkeeper, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. “In the past, you had to do a lot of research to find a beach close to you, or to check on the quality of the water, but Swim Guide makes beach-going easy. It really encourages you to enjoy the natural environment in your own backyard.”
Whether you’re looking to do a little lake swimming close to home or you’re heading out of town for the weekend, Swim Guide includes original descriptions and photographs of 800 different beaches in Ontario, British Columbia, New York State, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Later this summer, Edmonton Alberta and Miami-area beaches will be added, and Swim Guide will continue to expand until it covers beaches in every major beach community in North America.
Swim Guide not only enables you to share with your social networks what beaches you are enjoying, you can flag a beach if you notice pollution issues at a particular beach.
“It’s great because it also allows users to report any pollution or environmental concerns to ensure that our beaches remain safe for swimming,” he says.
To learn more about the Swim Guide watch this video:
The free Swim Guide is available now in the app Store(SM): http://bit.ly/SwimGuideApp for iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod touch®. It is also available on the web at: www.theswimguide.org .
Happy Swimming!