Island County annual BEACH report

During the 2023 monitoring period, Dave Mackie Memorial County Park had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 14 times during the monitoring season, and all events met the safe swimming standard.

During the 2023 monitoring period, Libbey Beach Park had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled seven times during the monitoring season (every other week), and all events met the safe swimming standard.

Freeland County Park beach had a permanent swimming advisory from June 1 through Sept.15, due to sporadic high bacteria levels during the months when beach wrack accumulates on the beach (see more information below). This beach had two sampling events with elevated bacteria results during the week of July 18th and August 22nd. No resamples were taken due to the permanent swimming advisory in place during those times. This beach was sampled 13 times in 2023.

During the summer, north winds cause beach wrack — decaying marine vegetation along the shoreline — to accumulate along the southern Holmes Harbor shoreline. Beach wrack can be up to two feet thick in some areas. In 2012 – 2013, a study was conducted at this beach by the Department of Health in order to determine if beach wrack could be a source of bacteria. The study showed lower levels of bacteria during the winter and spring seasons when beach wrack was not present in such great amounts. High bacteria levels during summer months may be part of a natural condition at this beach.

During the 2023 monitoring period, Windjammer Lagoon had excellent water quality. This beach was sampled 14 times during the monitoring season, and all events met the safe swimming standard.