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. Sampling takes place from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During this time, you can check out current water quality conditions on the swimming map.
Two beaches in Thurston County were monitored weekly during the swim season in 2021. Burfoot County Park was sampled by Thurston County Public Health and Social Services. Priest Point Park was sampled by Surfrider volunteers.
See details on each beach below.
During the 2021 swim season, Burfoot County Park beach was under advisory from July 2 to July 19, due to multiple sampling events with elevated results. This advisory coincided with the heat wave that occurred from June 25 through July 7, 2021. On July 15, results showed that bacteria levels dropped back into the safe swimming range. This beach was sampled 18 times and met the swimming standard for all other periods sampled.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach on September 14.
Priest Point County Park beach was sampled by Surfrider volunteers. During the 2021 swim season, this beach was sampled 13 times and had good water quality. On June 23 and July 6, sample results exceeded the safe swimming standard. Since Priest Point Park has a permanent swim advisory due to its proximity to a sewage treatment plant outfall, signs were already posted to alert the public. This beach met the swimming standards during all other periods sampled.
Data summary: Bacteria results compared to standards
The chart below summarizes the bacteria levels at Thurston 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 Thurston County beaches (in enterococcus per 100 mL) for 2021.
|
Beach
|
GM
|
STV
|
|
Burfoot County Park
|
28
|
291
|
|
Priest Point Park
|
24
|
133
|