Following recent water quality tests that found bacteria levels above public health safety standards, Gene Coulon Beach in Renton is currently closed to swimmers.
Water samples collected on Monday revealed bacterial counts of 1,100, 960, and 360 per 100 milliliters, according to King County Public Health. In contrast, a level of 320 or higher is regarded as high.
Due to a lack of current, bird droppings tend to accumulate in the water, supplying the majority of the bacteria.
“We weren’t surprised that a couple of beaches closed this week because we just had heavy rain over the weekend,” Daniel Nidzgorski, an ecologist with King County Natural Resources stated. “When it rains, it washes all the poop from land into the water all at once.”
Every week during the summer, the county tests the water quality at nearby beaches to make sure it’s safe for people to use. The beach could reopen as early as next week due to this schedule.
In King County, Gene Coulon Beach frequently has some of the highest bacterial concentrations.
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“It is gross. I avoid swimming here whenever possible because there’s no water flow through here,” park visitor Brandi Fields stated.
The beach might reopen sooner than in past years, Nidzgorski said. Prior to 2023, a beach could not reopen until its bacterial levels were consistently low for at least two weeks. Clean results are now needed for just one week.
For the most recent information on closures, visitors are advised to visit the King County website before visiting the beach.
High levels of bacteria have forced the closure of Juanita Beach and Gene Coulon Beach as of Thursday, just before Memorial Day weekend.
