Grand Traverse County Health Department

09/02/2026

Happy Workplace Lactation Week! 🍼💙

Here at the Grand Traverse Health Department, our breastfeeding suite is available for our lactating clients and staff. If you’re here for an appointment and would like to use the space, just ask a staff member—we’re happy to help!

Thanks to the PUMP Act, nearly all workers are now covered by federal requirements for lactation break time and a private space to pump breastmilk.

Returning to work while breastfeeding? Check out these resources for helpful information and support:
• https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/talking-your-employer-about-pumping-work
•https://media.nwica.org/pump-for-nursing-mothers-act.pdf
• https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work

Workplace Lactation Week

09/01/2026

Alert issued for section of Boardman/Ottaway River has been lifted.

View the full update here: www.gtcountymi.gov/2609/Media-Releases

09/01/2026

September is Food Safety Education Month! Teach kids how to prepare food using the 4 steps of food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Teaching good habits now will pay off later.

Get fun games and activities for kids:
https://www.fightbac.org/kidsfoodsafety/kids-games-and-activities/

08/31/2026

Happy First Day of School Kingsley Area Schools!

Don't forget to say hi to Ms. Lydia she is Kingsley High Schools new E3 onsite mental health counselor!

08/28/2026

The Level 3 water advisory will remain in place through the weekend following the recent sewage release in the Boardman River near West South Airport Road. Avoid all body contact with the water in the affected area shown on the map. Recent testing indicates that E. coli may still be present and moving downstream.

Additional water samples will be collected on Monday, August 31. We will share another update on Tuesday, September 1, once those results are available.

View the full update here: www.gtcountymi.gov/2609/Media-Releases

08/27/2026

🚨 Public Health Update Regarding the Sewage Main Break

Here’s what you need to know:

Good news: Water samples collected from multiple locations on the Boardman River north of Boardman Lake, as well as from Boardman Lake, met EGLE standards for full-body contact.

One area of concern: A sample collected near the source of the release by Logan’s Landing exceeded EGLE Level 2 standards. As a precaution, please limit water contact to below waist level within the shaded area shown on the map.

Follow-up water samples are being collected from multiple locations within the affected area. We will share another update on August 28 once the follow-up sampling results are available.

View the full update here: www.gtcountymi.gov/2609/Media-Releases

08/27/2026

Weekly Beach Monitoring Report:
All Grand Traverse County beaches sampled on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, had satisfactory E. coli levels. All beaches are classified as Level 1 and are considered safe for full-body contact.

For more information visit: www.gtcountymi.gov/814/Public-Beach-Monitoring

08/26/2026

The MI Free Condoms Campaign is making sexual health resources more accessible by offering free condoms around our community because sexual health is community health!

Thank you to our business partners:
Right Brain Brewery
The Laughing Buddha
Slip.vintage
House of Dank Traverse City
Underground Hare

Stop by, grab what you need, and help spread the word!
If you are interested in becoming a business partner with MI Free Condoms and would like more information, please email [email protected].

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

⚠️NO BODY CONTACT ADVISORY!

• Boardman Lake: The entirety of Boardman Lake beginning at South Airport Road
• Boardman/Ottaway River: From Boardman Lake downstream to East Grandview Parkway

Advisory Details:
Residents and visitors are strongly advised to avoid all body contact with water in the affected areas, including
swimming, wading, and paddling, until further notice. Contact with water contaminated by untreated sewage may
pose serious health risks, including gastrointestinal illness, skin irritation, and infections.

Water sampling will be conducted tomorrow, August 26, with results expected to be available by August 27.

For more information visit: https://www.gtcountymi.gov/2609/Media-Releases