Which popular WA beaches were safe for swimming last year? Here’s what annual report says
As we get closer to summer weather, do you know if your local beach is safe for swimming? Washington state tested 57 of the most popular beaches across the state for its annual Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication & Health to determine if water is safe for swimming. According to BEACH’s annual report, 49 passed inspection during 2023.
In line with EPA recommendations, the state measures levels of the fecal bacteria enterococcus to determine if water is safe for swimming. A beach failed the inspection if it had multiple samples that revealed enterococcus levels exceeding the swimming standard.
The 86% pass rate is down slightly from the previous year but higher than the levels measured in 2021.
Here’s how the beaches in Pierce County, Thurston County, Whatcom County and King County did during the 2023 season.
BEACH Annual report results
Pierce County
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department sampled seven public beaches weekly to test for enterococcus during the 2023 season.
The following beaches were surveyed:
Dash Point Metro Park
Jack Hyde Park
Purdy Sandspit County Park
Sunnyside Beach Park
Titlow Park
Owen Beach
Ruston Way Waterfront Park
Of the seven public beaches tested, two beaches, Titlow Park and Jack Hyde Park had high levels of enterococcus which resulted in the beaches being placed under advisory.
Titlow Park had good water quality throughout the 2023 monitoring period, but one sampling event during the week of July 17 showed elevated bacteria. Resamplings following that sampling period continued to show high levels of bacteria, so the beach was placed under advisory, according to the report.
Jack Hyde Park was sampled 15 times throughout the 2023 monitoring period and had poor water quality throughout the entire monitoring period with two sampling events showing elevated bacteria results. The beach had some weeks that had low or safe bacteria levels, but samples from the week of June 26 bacteria levels were in the advisory range and subsequent resamples showed high levels of bacteria. An advisory was posted at this beach.
Ruston Way Waterfront Park, Dash Point Metro Park and Purdy Sandspit County Park all met the swimming standard during all sample periods.
Thurston County
BEACH monitored two Thurston County beaches in 2023:
Burfoot County Park
Squaxin Bay
Both beaches were sampled 15 times, passing each time. However, Squaxin Bay does have a permanent swimming advisory in place because it’s located near a sewage treatment plant. While that wasn’t reflected in BEACH’s test results – its water quality was still relatively good – it did have slightly lower water quality than Burfoot Park.
Whatcom County
The Whatcom County Health Department, along with volunteers from ocean protection organization Surfrider, surveyed four beaches in the northwest Washington county:
Marine park
Birch Bay County Park
Larrabee State Park
Little Squalicum Park
Marine Park, Birch Bay and Larrabee met the swimming standard each time they were sampled.
Marine Park received the highest marks of any beach in the county for its water quality after it was sampled 14 times. Birch Bay saw similar water quality after being sampled eight times. Larrabee had noticeably higher enterococcus levels, but it still met the swimming standard each of the 15 times it was sampled.
Little Squalicum Park was sampled 15 times, failing four of the tests. Its first failed test occurred in late May before another one in early June and two more in early August.
King County
The Public Health in Seattle and King County sampled 10 beaches weekly or biweekly in King County between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The following beaches were surveyed:
Alki Beach Park
Carkeek Park Beach
Dash Point State Park
Golden Gardens
Lincoln Park
Redondo County Park
Richey Viewpoint
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park
Saltwater State Park
Seahurst Park
According to the report, Lincoln Park was the only beach in King County that showed high levels of bacteria that resulted in an advisory notice being posted on the beach. This beach was sampled 10 times during the 2023 swim season.
Alki Beach Park and Richi Viewpoint Park were sampled 12 times and each had one sampling event show high bacteria levels, but every sampling afterward showed bacteria levels had dropped into the safe swimming range.
Saltwater State Park was tested 15 times during the swim season and had one sampling event show elevated bacteria results during the week of May 22. Sampling events after May 22 showed bacteria levels had dropped to safe swimming range.
Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, Redondo County Park, Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Seahurst Park all met the swimming standard during all sampling periods.
Other beaches tested
Beaches in several other counties were also tested, including:
- Clallam County
- Jefferson County
- Mason County
- Snohomish County
- Grays Harbor County
- Island County
- Kitsap County
- Skagit County
This story was originally published April 29, 2024 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Which popular WA beaches were safe for swimming last year? Here’s what annual report says."
