Island County BEACH report

During the 2024 swim season, Dave Mackie Memorial County Park had very good water quality and was sampled 14 times. All sampling events had bacterial levels in the safe swimming range.

Freeland County Park beach had a permanent swimming advisory from June 1 through Sept. 16 due to sporadic high bacteria levels during the months that beach wrack accumulates on the beach. On July 9, monitoring results showed elevated bacteria levels. This beach was sampled 14 times in 2024 and had good water quality.

During the summer, north winds cause beach wrack (decaying marine vegetation along the shoreline) to accumulate along the southern Holmes Harbor shoreline. Beach wrack can be up to two feet thick in some areas. The Washington Department of Health conducted a study from 2012 to 2013 to determine if beach wrack could be a source of bacteria. The study showed lower levels of bacteria during the winter and spring seasons when beach wrack was not present in such great amounts. High bacteria levels during summer months may be part of a natural condition at this beach.

During the 2024 monitoring season, Windjammer Lagoon had very good water and was sampled 14 times. All sampling events resulted in bacteria levels in the safe swimming range.