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.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2018, we sampled 62 public high-use beaches statewide, either weekly or biweekly, for enterococcus, a type of fecal bacteria. High enterococcus levels are linked to swimmer illness.
Kitsap County saltwater swimming beaches
We monitored 12 beaches in Kitsap County weekly from May 21 – Aug. 31, 2018.
Find details about each of the Kitsap County beaches below:
During the 2018 swim season, Arness County Park beach had good water quality. On July 23, sampling results were in the closure range, but subsequent sampling showed that bacterial levels had dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach met the swimming standards for all other periods sampled.
This beach was closed to water contact from Nov. 14 – 17, 2018, due to a sewage spill.
During the 2018 swim season, Fay Bainbridge Park beach had good water quality. On July 9, sampling results were in the closure range, but subsequent sampling showed that bacterial levels had dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach met the swimming standards for all other periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Illahee State Park beach had good water quality. This beach met the swimming standard for all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Indianola Dock beach had very good water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Joel Pritchard Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standards during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Kitsap Memorial Park has excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Lions Field beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
This beach was closed to water contact due to combined sewer overflows from Feb. 20 – 23, 2018, and again from Dec. 11 – 18, 2018. A closure to water contact due to a sewage spill was issued from Aug. 15 – 20, 2018.
During the 2018 swim season, Point No Point Lighthouse Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Pomeroy Park beach had good water quality. On Aug. 27, sampling results were in the advisory range, but subsequent sampling showed that bacterial levels had dropped into the safe swimming range. This beach met the swimming standard during all other periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Salsbury Point County Park had excellent water quality and met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Scenic Beach State Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
During the 2018 swim season, Silverdale Waterfront Park beach had excellent water quality. This beach met the swimming standard during all periods sampled.
This beach was closed to water contact due to a sewage spill from Jan. 22 – 26, 2018, and again from Dec. 1 – 9, 2018. A closure to water contact due to a combined sewer overflow was issued on Dec. 11 – 18, 2018.
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 2018
| Beach |
Geometric Mean |
Statistical Threshold Value |
| Arness County Park |
15 |
89 |
| Fay Bainbridge Park |
15 |
53 |
| Illahee State Park |
14 |
33 |
| Indianola Dock |
11 |
23 |
| Joel Pritchard Park |
11 |
17 |
| Kitsap Memorial Park |
<10 |
10 |
| Lions Field |
13 |
22 |
| Point No Point Lighthouse Park |
10 |
11 |
| Pomeroy Park - Manchester Beach |
17 |
51 |
| Salsbury Point County Park |
10 |
15 |
| Scenic Beach State Park |
<10 |
10 |
| Silverdale Waterfront Park |
12 |
21 |