During the 2018 swim season, Dave Mackie Memorial County Park had very good water quality. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season. All sampling events had bacterial levels in the safe swimming range.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach by BEACH Program staff on May 15, 2018.
Freeland County Park beach had a permanent swimming advisory from May 16 to Nov. 30. The advisory was issued because there were sporadic high bacteria levels during the months that beach wrack (decaying marine vegetation) accumulates on the beach. This beach was sampled 16 times during 2018. On May 21, sampling results showed bacterial levels in the closure range, but upon subsequent sampling results dropped into the safe swimming range.
During the summer, north winds cause beach wrack to accumulate along the southern Holmes Harbor shoreline. Beach wrack can be up to two feet thick in areas. In 2012 – 2013, a study was conducted at this beach by the Department of Health 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.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach by BEACH Program staff on May 15, 2018. A recommendation to the county was made that water quality signage should be more visibly posted. We also recommended maintaining the seasonal advisory.
During the monitoring period, Windjammer Lagoon had very good water quality with low bacteria levels. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season and met swimming standards for all periods sampled.