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.
The Kitsap Public Health District sampled nine beaches weekly in Kitsap County during the 2023 season.
See details on each beach below.
During the 2023 swim season, Arness County Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 12 times and met the swimming standards for all periods sampled.
During the 2023 swim season, Fay Bainbridge Park beach had poor water quality. This beach had two sampling events with elevated bacteria results. The week of June 5, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent samples showed bacteria levels dropped into the safe swimming range. The week of July 31, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent samples showed bacteria levels dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the swim season and all other sampling events met the safe swimming standard.
During the 2023 swim season, Illahee State Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 14 times during the swim season, and all sampling events met the safe swimming standard.
During the 2023 swim season, Indianola Dock beach had poor water quality. This beach had 4 sampling events with elevated bacteria results. The week of July 5, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard and the beach was placed under an advisory. The weeks of July 24, Aug. 7, and Aug. 21, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent samples showed bacteria levels dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season.
During the 2023 swim season, Joel Pritchard Park beach had poor water quality. This beach had two sampling events with elevated bacteria results. The week of July 5, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard and the beach was placed under an advisory. The following week July 10, sampling results remained elevated and the beach remained under an advisory. This beach was sampled 15 times and met the swimming standards for all other periods sampled.
During the 2023 swim season, Lions Field beach had good water quality. This beach had one sampling event with elevated bacteria results. In the week of June 26, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent samples showed that bacteria levels were back in the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the swim season and all other sampling events met the safe swimming standard.
During the 2023 swim season, Pomeroy Park beach had poor water quality. This beach had four sampling events with elevated bacteria results. The week of July 5, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard and this beach was placed under an advisory. During the week of July 24, July 31, and Aug. 28, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent resamples showed that bacteria were back in the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times and met the swimming standard for all other periods sampled.
During the 2023 swim season, Scenic Beach State Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 14 times and met the swimming standard for all periods sampled.
During the 2023 swim season, Silverdale Waterfront Park beach had poor water quality. This beach had two sampling events with elevated bacteria results. The weeks of July 10 and July 24, sampling results exceeded the safe swimming standard, but subsequent resamples showed bacteria levels dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 15 times during the swim season and all other sampling events met the safe swimming standard.
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 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 Kitsap County beaches (in enterococcus per 100 mL) for 2023.
Beach
GM
STV
Arness County Park
14
25
Fay Bainbridge Park
39
861
Illahee State Park
16
35
Indianola Dock
41
205
Joel Pritchard Park
24
97
Lions Field
22
70
Pomeroy Park-Manchester Beach
33
224
Scenic Beach State Park
10
16
Silverdale Waterfront Park
24
94
Contact information
Contact BEACH: Reach BEACH staff, sign up for our email list, or follow us on social media platforms.
