Concerned about the water quality at a local beach? Want to know which beaches state and local health agencies are looking after? Think some of those beaches ought to be ignored?
Organizers of the Washington Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health (BEACH) Program are looking for comments on the beaches they’ve decided to monitor during the summer of 2008 – nine of which are right here in Kitsap County.
The program is a joint venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Health. The program’s goal is to check for potentially harmful waterborne bacteria at state beaches.
Funding for the program is derived from the EPA and funneled through the two state agencies, who in turn rely on local health organizations to conduct the hands-on work for monitoring the sites.
One of the caveats for receiving EPA money is that state agencies have to compile public feedback on the BEACH program, said Sandy Howard, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Ecology.
She also offered assurances that public comments are taken seriously in terms of which beaches get monitored.
The BEACH Program has a Web site where members of the public can view the beaches listed for each county and leave comments for those or any other beaches that may be of concern. The feedback portion of the site will remain up until June 2.
Beaches in Kitsap County that will be monitored under the BEACH program are Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park, Pomeroy Park – Manchester Beach, Indianola Dock, Arness County Park, Lions Park, Fay Bainbridge State Park, Silverdale County Park, Evergreen Park and Illahee State Park.
Beach closures or restrictions can be checked via the county health district’s Web site; Howard urged that people just be clean to avoid bacterial pollution.
“They can do things as simple as picking up their dog poo,” Howard said. “Every little bit helps.”
Leave comments on the BEACH Program’s 2008 list of beaches and suggest other beaches to be monitored by following the “feedback” link at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach.
For beach closures and alerts in Kitsap County: www.kitsapcountyhealth.com/environmenta_health/water_quality/lakes_swimming.htm
