We monitored three beaches in Clallam County during the 2022 season:
- Cline Spit County Park beach
- Hollywood Beach
- Salt Creek Recreation Area beach
The Makah Tribe BEACH Program only sampled from November to December in 2022.
Keeping beaches safe
The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication & Health, or BEACH, Program ensures that marine water is safe to swim and play in and informs the public if water doesn't meet swimming standards. Sampling takes place from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During this time, you can check out current water quality conditions on the swimming map.
Three beaches in Clallam County were sampled weekly during the 2022 season by the Clallam County Health Department. The Makah BEACH Program sampled five beaches from November to December in 2022.
See details on each beach below.
During the 2022 monitoring period, Cline Spit County Park beach had poor water quality. This beach had two sampling events with elevated bacteria results, Aug. 2 and Aug. 8. However, subsequent sampling showed that bacteria levels dropped back into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season.
During the 2022 swim season, Hollywood Beach had one sampling event with elevated bacteria results. On Aug. 24, results were in the advisory range, but subsequent samples showed bacteria levels dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season.
During the 2022 swim season, Salt Creek Recreation Area beach had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season, and all events met the safe swimming standard.
Data summary: Bacteria results compared to standards
The chart below summarizes the bacteria levels in Clallam County beaches in relation to the EPA swimming standard or saltwater swimming criteria. Beaches are considered unsafe for swimming when the geometric mean of enterococcus/100 mL of water is greater than or equal to 30 and the statistical threshold value of enterococcus/100 mL is greater than or equal to 110. We issue a public swimming advisory when enterococcus levels exceed 104 per 100 mL of water.
Table: Calculated geometric mean and statistical threshold value at Clallam County beaches
(in enterococcus per 100 mL) for 2022.
| Beach |
GM |
STV |
| Cline Spit |
19 |
69 |
| Hollywood Beach |
20 |
65 |
| Salt Creek Recreation Area |
15 |
34 |