QUILCENE — High levels of fecal bacteria in the water off Quilcene Beach have prompted Jefferson County Public Health to issue a health advisory and post a closed sign at the beach.
Samples taken Wednesday at the beach at 1731 LingerLonger Road — known as Herb Beck Marina Beach — and analyzed for enterococcus bacteria — averaged over 600 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.
The Washington BEACH program closure level is 276 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, said Michael Dawson, water quality manager for the county public health department.
“This is the highest bacteria level at any of our salt water beaches” in Dawson’s experience — since at least 2009, he said.
He said Friday that the origin of the bacteria was unknown.
“We did additional sampling to try to narrow it down a little bit,” Dawson said.
More samples were taken Friday with results expected early this week. But Dawson wants to see the water test clear for a couple of samples. The next sample will be taken Wednesday.
“Se we won’t see any change until after the Wednesday sample test results on Thursday afternoon,” he said.
Then he hopes to be able to replace the closed sign with a caution sign or simply re-open the beach.
The public is urged not to swim or wade and to avoid contact with the water at Quilcene Beach until it is declared safe, Dawson said.
Enterococci bacteria in the water indicates that human or animal feces are present. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Jefferson County Public Health monitors local saltwater swimming beaches weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Washington BEACH program.
The department also monitors fresh water lakes in the county.
Anderson Lake near Chimacum has been closed to any type of recreation since June 6 because of high levels of anatoxin-a, a potent nerve toxin that can cause illness and death in people and animals.
A bloom of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, produces the toxin. The bloom in Anderson Lake contains several toxin-producing species of algae, including Dolichospermum, formerly Anabaena.
The water sample taken from the lake May 29 contained a toxin level of 112 micrograms per liter, well above the state recreational criteria of 1 microgram per liter.
The rest of Anderson Lake State Park remains open for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Gibbs Lake, a county lake near Chimacum, is posted with a caution sign because of a light bloom of algae. No toxins were detected after the last sample was tested on Monday.
Lake Leland near Quilcene was clear of blooms and of toxins in Monday’s test.
To check the status of Jefferson County lakes and learn more about toxic cyanobacteria monitoring, visit the Jefferson County Public Health website at https://tinyurl.com/PDN-LakeStatus or call 360-385-9444.
Toxin-producing blue-green algae has not been spotted in Clallam County.
Report algae blooms in Clallam County by phoning 360-417-2258.
For fishing seasons and regulations, see the Fish and Wildlife website at www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing.
Information on visiting Anderson Lake State Park is available at https://tinyurl.com/PDN-ParkVisit.
Information on visiting Gibbs Lake County Park and the Lake Leland Campground is available at www.countyrec.com.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
