Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication & Health (BEACH)
The BEACH Program monitors the safety of saltwater swimming beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We lead the program jointly with the Washington State Department of Health and work with county and local agencies and volunteers.
Local health departments issue water contact advisories or closures at swimming beaches. The BEACH Program communicates the risk to the public and educates beachgoers on how to avoid getting sick from playing in the water.
Learn more about how and why beaches may be closed and how to help your local marine beach stay swimmable.
- Swimming tips to minimize risk — Know before you go. Make your swim a healthy one.
- Help your beach — Learn what you can do to keep Washington marine beaches safe for swimming. Be a good beach steward.
- Swimming standard & marine water quality — Learn about how EPA swimming standards apply to Washington beaches.
- Report an environmental issue — Report a sewage spill, oil spill, or other environmental issue by phone, email, or online form.
- Information for BEACH samplers — Detailed protocols and other resources for BEACH partners and others who may be interested in how the program works are here.
Local health departments and others monitor freshwater swimming safety, especially in lakes.
- Washington State Toxic Algae addresses toxic cyanobacterial blooms in Washington lakes. Check to make sure your lake is safe for swimming.
- Local health jurisdictions monitor some freshwater swimming lakes. The Washington Department of Health maintains a map-based application to find your local health department.
- King County Swimming Beach Monitoring covers marine and freshwater swimming beaches.
Related links
Contact information
Heather Gibbs
BEACH Program Coordinator
heather.gibbs@ecy.wa.gov
360-480-4868
Mugdha Flores
Communications Manager
mugdha.flores@ecy.wa.gov
360-628-7692
Mail to:
Washington State Department of Ecology
BEACH Program, Environmental Assessment Program
PO Box 47710
Olympia, WA 98504-7710