REMINDER: Don’t wade or swim in the Sound at Lincoln Park

| Environment | Health | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

3:58 PM: A reader suggested a reminder is in order that a swimming advisory is still in effect for the beach at Lincoln Park. We first reported last Friday that health authorities were warning of elevated bacteria levels and advising people to avoid contact with the water there. You can check its status via this map.

7:10 PM: As a commenter notes, Lincoln Park’s status has vanished from the state’s infomap in the hours since we published this. It has not been replaced by an “all clear” type of symbol, so we can’t assume that this means it’s OK now. We will check with state and county health/environmental authorities in the morning.

Jim June 28, 2023 (5:30 pm)

It’s rather pink with brown here in the Arroyos too

WSB June 28, 2023 (5:41 pm)

That could be noctiluca. The bacteria this alert refers to does not tend to be visible. Are you seeing something like this?
https://westseattleblog.com/2023/05/seeing-red-orange-water-at-west-seattle-beaches-heres-whats-happening/

Katie June 28, 2023 (6:06 pm)

What does this mean for Colman Pool, which draws its water from Puget Sound?

Marina June 28, 2023 (7:35 pm)

The water at Colman is filtered and chemically treated, so it is safe. If it is ever UNSAFE, the pool will be closed.

Eldorado June 28, 2023 (6:11 pm)

Another one of those ‘accidental’ sewage leaks again?

Jim June 28, 2023 (10:53 pm)

I’m wondering if it’s an ongoing problem more than they’re willing to admit. Some months back when there was a big leak due to power issues at the station down by Fauntleroy It was like a day later they claimed that the water was safe
bolo June 28, 2023 (11:26 pm)

From the Dept. of Ecology website, explaining their test to determine water quality criteria for decision-making: “Decisions to post swimming advisories are based on the amount of enterococci bacteria in the water that indicates human or animal feces are present.”

So to answer your question, “human or animal feces are present” could indicate a possible sewage spill, among other causes.

When this kept happening at Golden Gardens Park a few years back they thought it was from concentrated dog activity next to a stream that emptied at the beach down below. Not sure if that was the final verdict.

cory June 28, 2023 (6:50 pm)

Thanks for the notice. The map linked does not show any data for the water at Lincoln Park though.

WSB June 28, 2023 (6:58 pm)

That is a change since just a couple hours ago – the yellow triangle was still there when I published this, and when I checked again a while later. Perhaps they’ve lifted the order, although if so a green circle should have replaced the yellow triangle. I won’t be able to reach anyone to ask until tomorrow morning. – TR
- Pdavis June 28, 2023 (9:35 pm)
  
  Thank you for making sure the public is aware of the bacteria in the water at Lincoln Park. I was down there last night and there was multiple people in the water and even children….. absolutely scary! There were signs posted, but they are very small. Difficult to stand out to someone. I did walk down to the water and let the people in the water know it was dangerous, and to wash their hands and keep that child’s hands out of his mouth. I am hopeful, that other people will caution others who are going in the water, and in particular having their children in the water at the beach at Lincoln ParkThank you WSB for reminders, hopefully daily while this bacteria is in our water. It would also be great if whoever made the signs for Lincoln Park, that they would make them much more obvious and bigger, because it became clear that people are not seeing the signs. Maybe placed the signs at the park entrances as well so that hopefully people will see it as they walk in.. obviously people are just simply walking up to the water on the beach at not noticing those signs

KB June 28, 2023 (10:35 pm)

@WSB, would you please ask them to test Lowman also? Tons of kids play on the beach at that park and I don’t see that it’s tested, and it’s so close to Lincoln Park

Brian June 29, 2023 (4:40 am)

It was super cool how on the last story regarding this, other commenters mocked me for being concerned about small children swimming in this water without knowing it was a danger. Where are those folks with their quips now?