Headlines have filled the newspapers in Manitowoc County over the years: "Beaches closed due to E. coli levels," "Five beaches are not safe for E. coli bacteria" " and "Eight county beaches closed due to bacteria testing." All of these headlines were from the same year! It's awful to watch the five o'clock news and see the beaches closed and the contaminated water. Lake Michigan is a major source of water, beauty and tourism for lake cities and counties like Manitowoc. Having bad water and beaches affects many aspects of life in the county which clean up the beaches and water of Lake Michigan, not just in Manitowoc County, because the well-being of the people, the land and the attractiveness of Wisconsin are at risk that Lake Michigan and its beaches in Wisconsin are not it's a mistake, every year the same unpleasant thing happens. The beaches are closed one after another. This past “summer” season, this occurred multiple times across the state. The number of closures from May 1st to October 1st was 123 beaches. The number of alerts due to E. coli levels stands at 281 (“Wisconsin Beach Health”). The total number of closures in Manitowoc County alone was thirty-six. That's about 30% of closures statewide. The number of alerts was forty-two, approximately 15% of the statewide alerts. It is quite obvious that out of seventy-two counties in Wisconsin, eleven of which are lake counties, Manitowoc has by far the most beach closures. This is a real disadvantage, considering that tourism is one of Manitowoc's most profitable revenues. Another problem with Lake Michigan and beaches is the blue-green algae problem. As stated on the Wisconsin DNR website, “In Wisconsin… middle of the paper… it is up to the government and the DNR. The facts show that Michigan has taken advantage of all the public grants and funding available to it. It obviously worked, as evidenced by their crystal clear water. Wisconsin could mirror this exactly and perhaps the water could become less cloudy and brown, something most people would agree is not a bad idea. Works cited "Beach Advisory Report". Wisconsin Beach Health. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 01/10/2011. Network. November 15, 2011. “Blue-green algae in Wisconsin waters.” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, n.d. Web. November 15, 2011."Protecting and Restoring the Great Lakes." Department of Environmental Quality. Michigan State and Web. November 15, 2011. Smarr, Matt. “Coastal Management Program.” Department of Environmental Quality. Michigan State and Web. November 15 2011.