Keeping beaches safe
The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication & Health (BEACH) Program ensures that marine water is safe to swim and play in and informs the public if water doesn't meet swimming standards.
During the 2017 beach season, 62 public beaches on coastlines were sampled from Memorial Day through Labor Day. High-use beaches were sampled weekly or biweekly for enterococcus, a type of fecal bacteria. High enterococcus levels are linked to swimmer illness.
Kitsap County swimming beaches
Twelve beaches in Kitsap County were monitored weekly from May 22 through Sept. 1, 2017.
Arness County Park beach
During the 2017 swim season, Arness County Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park beach
Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
Evergreen Park beach
This beach had excellent water quality and met the swimming standard during all periods sampled. However, combined sewer overflows in Port Washington Narrows during heavy rains led to swimming advisory from Jan. 19-21 and a closure on Feb. 6-16, 2017.
Fay Bainbridge Park beach
Fay Bainbridge Park beach had very good water quality and met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
A closure was issued at this beach due to a sewage spill on Feb. 6-17, 2017.
A shoreline survey was conducted by BEACH Program staff on August 21, 2017.
Illahee State Park beach
Illahee State Park beach had very good water quality. This beach met the swimming standard for all periods sampled.
Indianola Dock beach
Indianola Dock beach had excellent water quality and met the swimming standards for all periods sampled. However, due to a sewage spill a closure was issued on Feb. 9-21, 2017.
BEACH Program staff conducted a shoreline survey on Aug. 24, 2017.
Joel Pritchard Park beach
Joel Pritchard Park beach had very good water quality. This beach met the swimming standards during all periods sampled.
Lions Field beach
Lions Field beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled. However, due to combined sewer overflows in Port Washington Narrows during heavy rains, this beach had an advisory on Jan. 19-21, 2017 and a closure issued on Feb. 6-16, 2017.
Point No Point Lighthouse Park beach
Point No Point Lighthouse Park beach had very good water quality and met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
Pomeroy Park beach
Pomeroy Park beach had very good water quality and met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
Due to a sewage spill this beach had a closure to water contact on May 31- June 2, 2017.
Scenic Beach State Park beach
Scenic Beach State Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standards during all periods sampled.
Silverdale Waterfront Park beach
During the 2017 swim season, Silverdale Waterfront Park beach had two sampling events that had results in the advisory range. They occurred on May 30 and June 26. Subsequent sampling showed that bacteria levels had dropped into the safe swimming range.
This beach was closed to water contact due a sewage spill on Jan. 30- Feb. 5, 2017 and again on Feb. 9-21, 2017.
Data summary: Bacteria results compared to standards
The chart below summarizes the bacteria levels at Kitsap 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 35 and the statistical threshold value of enterococcus/100 mL is greater than or equal to 276. We issue a public swimming advisory when enterococcus levels reach 104 per 100 mL of water.
Table: Calculated geometric mean and statistical threshold value at Kitsap County beaches
(in enterococcus per 100 mL) for 2017
| Beach |
Geometric Mean |
Statistical Threshold Value |
| Arness County Park |
10 |
12 |
| Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park |
11 |
16 |
| Evergreen Park |
<10 |
<10 |
| Fay Bainbridge Park |
12 |
27 |
| Illahee State Park |
12 |
23 |
| Indianola Dock |
10 |
12 |
| Joel Pritchard Park |
13 |
27 |
| Lions Field |
10 |
12 |
| Point No Point Lighthouse Park |
10 |
14 |
| Pomeroy Park - Manchester Beach |
14 |
32 |
| Scenic Beach State Park |
10 |
14 |
| Silverdale Waterfront Park |
17 |
58 |