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Jersey Shore beaches closed due to high bacteria levels reopen

The number closed beaches is down from 15 on Wednesday.

The Dorset Avenue beach in Ventnor, which was  closed Wednesday as shown here, reopened Thursday.
The Dorset Avenue beach in Ventnor, which was closed Wednesday as shown here, reopened Thursday.Read moreAmy Rosenberg / Staff

All 15 Jersey Shore beaches that were closed this week closed due to high levels of bacteria have been allowed to reopen, the state Department of Environmental Protection reported.

Atlantic City and Ventnor, where a total of 11 beaches were closed by the state on Wednesday, got their clean bills of health Thursday afternoon.

The other beaches that reopened Thursday included a bay side beach in Somers Point and three beaches in the Toms River area.

Runoff polluted with bird  droppings following heavy rains was considered the main culprit for the higher bacterial levels, Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman, has said.

More rains are expected, however, Friday, with a flash flood watch set to go into effect at the Shore starting at 2 p.m. and running through Saturday afternoon.