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 2019, 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.
Thurston County saltwater swimming beaches
We monitored three Thurston County beaches weekly or bi-weekly. Burfoot County Park, Frye Cove County Park, and Priest Point Park were sampled from May 20 – Aug. 30, 2019.
Find details about each of the Thurston County beaches below:
During the 2019 swim season, Burfoot County Park beach had excellent water quality, meeting the swimming standards during all periods sampled.
During the 2019 swim season, Frye Cove County Park beach was sampled biweekly (eight times) and had excellent water quality. Results at this beach met the swimming standards during all periods sampled.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach by BEACH Program staff on April 8, 2019.
Priest Point County Park beach was sampled by Surfrider volunteers. During the 2019 swim season, this beach was sampled 14 times and had good water quality. On August 1, 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 2019
| Beach |
Geometric Mean |
Statistical Threshold Value |
| Burfoot County Park |
<10 |
<10 |
| Frye Cove County Park |
10 |
11 |
| Priest Point Park |
24 |
88 |