State Saltwater Beach Monitoring Program Resources for 2010

The state BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health) Program notifies the public when bacteria results are high, and educates people about what they can do to avoid getting sick from recreating in saltwater. The Departments of Ecology and Health coordinate this program which is then implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations, and volunteers.

The federally funded program proposes to monitor 52 of the state's most popular saltwater beaches this summer, down from the 70 beaches it monitored last year, and the 53 the year before that. The program targets popular beaches near sources of pollution with the goals being to monitor for bacteria and, if found, correct problems.

Half Moon Bay, the South Jetty (Westhaven State Park), and the Groins (off the Chehalis Point revetment) are all on the list of proposed monitoring sites again this year as they have been since the program began. These beaches make the list because of the proximity of the City of Westport wastewater treatment plant outfall in Half Moon Bay.

Besides the program's usual website updates and emails, it will enhance its public notifications this summer about beach health problems using web based communications like Twitter, and Ecology's blogsite EcoConnect at http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2010/05/fecal-matters-which-saltwater-beaches.html.

Jessica Archer, coordinator of the BEACH Program say "We want to keep educating everybody about actions they can take to keep the water at their beach clean." She also advises people to scoop, bag, and trash pet waste; inspect and maintain your home septic system; pump your recreational boat or vehicle holding tanks into authorized pump stations; and to always pick up all of your trash at the beach.

For updates, information and a list of beaches the state proposes to monitor this summer visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/ or email questions to Jessica Archer at jessica.archer@ecy.wa.gov.