Whatcom County BEACH report

We sampled five beaches weekly or biweekly in Whatcom County during the 2024 monitoring season:

Birch Bay County Park
Larrabee State Park
Little Squalicum Park
Port of Bellingham Marine Park
Taylor Dock

Tree-lined beach with driftwood and green plants — Larrabee State Park Beach in Whatcom County.

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.

Five beaches in Whatcom County were monitored during the swim season in 2024. Birch Bay County Park, Port of Bellingham Marine Park, and Taylor Dock were sampled every other week by the Whatcom County Health Department or local volunteers. Larrabee State Park and Little Squalicum Park were sampled weekly by Surfrider Foundation volunteers.

See details on each beach below.

During the 2024 monitoring season, Larrabee State Park beach was sampled 16 times and had poor water quality. On June 3 sampling results showed elevated levels of bacteria which led to a swimming advisory from June 6 through June 12. On July 22, sampling results showed elevated levels of bacteria; however, subsequent sampling showed that bacteria levels were back in the safe swimming range. All other sampling events met the swimming standard.

Little Squalicum Park beach has consistent low to moderate bacteria levels, with occasional high bacteria spikes. A permanent swimming advisory is in place for this beach. Little Squalicum Park beach was sampled 15 times during the monitoring season.

During the 2024 sampling season, Little Squalicum Park beach had three sampling events that exceeded the safe swimming standard. The exceedances occurred on May 28, June 3, and August 27. This beach met the swimming standard for all other periods sampled.

Data summary: Bacteria results compared to standards

The chart below summarizes the bacteria levels at Whatcom 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 Whatcom County beaches (in enterococcus per 100 mL) for 2024.

Beach	GM	STV
Birch Bay County Park Beach	19	189
Larrabee State Park Beach	39	158
Little Squalicum Park Beach	33	209
Port of Bellingham Marine Park Beach	25	185
Taylor Dock	51	501

Contact information

Contact BEACH: Reach BEACH staff, sign up for our email list, or follow us on social media platforms.