During the 2021 swim season, Birch Bay County Park beach was sampled eight times. Water quality at this beach was excellent. Bacteria levels met swimming standards during all periods sampled.
During the 2021 monitoring season, Blaine Marine Drive Park beach had excellent water quality and met the swimming standard for all sampling events. This beach was sampled as part of a special project and was, therefore, only sampled twice during the swim season.
During the 2021 monitoring season, Larrabee State Park beach was sampled 15 times. This beach had very good water quality and met the swimming standard for all periods sampled.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach on August 27.
Little Squalicum beach has consistently 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 2021 sampling season, Little Squalicum Park beach had six sampling events that exceeded the safe swimming standards. The exceedances occurred on May 24, June 21, June 29, July 20, August 17, and August 31. This beach exceeded EPA’s water quality criteria for both the geometric mean and the statistical threshold value.
A shoreline survey was conducted at this beach on August 27.
Port of Bellingham Marine Park beach was sampled 10 times during the 2021 sampling season. Results from this beach exceeded the safe swimming standard on July 6 and August.16. However, subsequent sampling revealed that results were back in the safe range, and no action was taken. Bacteria levels met the swimming standards for all other periods sampled.