West Bay Park

Olympia, Washington
Managed by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

**Swimming Advisory, August 2022**
"A permanent swimming advisory is posted at this beach because of the risk associated with a nearby treatment plant outfall, stormwater outfalls, and a marina. Children, elderly, and those in ill health are advised not to swim. Increased levels of bacteria are present." - Washington Department of Ecology

A great example of partnership between public and private entities to acquire and develop public space on the shoreline.

Great views of Mt. Rainier, downtown Olympia and the port facilities across the inlet.

Local Rotary clubs funded part of the park's development including the kayak launch.

Opened in summer 2010, the park provides shoreline access to Olympia's Budd Inlet between the 4th St. bridge and West Bay Marina.

Please note: This beach has been assigned "Special Status" as it has not been monitored since 2011.

Get directions to this beach
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Special health or safety status in effect

  • Special Status
  • This means the affiliate organization managing a beach has set the beach status based on special local knowledge or information. Check the beach description and the Sources section for details.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

West Bay Park is not sampled

Source Information

The Washington Department of Ecology BEACH program tests water quality at salt water swimming beaches every week from Memorial Day to Labor Day for enterococcus bacteria. During the sampling period, Puget Soundkeeper regularly updates the Swim Guide to reflect the most current information. The saltwater swimming criteria are in two parts:

The geometric mean* should not exceed 30 enterococci/100 mL, based on results from a minimum of five weekly samples and a maximum of 12 weekly samples. The statistical threshold value* should not exceed 110 enterococci/100 mL, based on results from a minimum of five weekly samples and a maximum of 12 weekly samples. If either of these criteria is exceeded, a beach advisory should be issued at the beach.

To protect swimmers' health, BEACH also uses a Beach Action Value. If enterococcus levels exceed 104 enterococci/100 mL, a beach advisory is issued.

A beach is marked green if it meets all of the above criteria.
A beach is marked red if it exceeds any one of the above criteria.
A beach is marked grey if no current data is available.

Sample results are also shared on the Department of Ecology BEACH program website: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/Tools/BeachClosure.aspx

More information about sampling protocols is available here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/program.html

* The geometric mean and statistical threshold value concentrations are based on the arithmetic average of the three samples collected at a single beach for the day

Read more
Water Quality Graph

West Bay Park

Olympia, Washington
Managed by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Special health or safety status in effect
  • Special Status
  • This means the affiliate organization managing a beach has set the beach status based on special local knowledge or information. Check the beach description and the Sources section for details.
For water quality icon legend, click:  

**Swimming Advisory, August 2022**
"A permanent swimming advisory is posted at this beach because of the risk associated with a nearby treatment plant outfall, stormwater outfalls, and a marina. Children, elderly, and those in ill health are advised not to swim. Increased levels of bacteria are present." - Washington Department of Ecology

A great example of partnership between public and private entities to acquire and develop public space on the shoreline.

Great views of Mt. Rainier, downtown Olympia and the port facilities across the inlet.

Local Rotary clubs funded part of the park's development including the kayak launch.

Opened in summer 2010, the park provides shoreline access to Olympia's Budd Inlet between the 4th St. bridge and West Bay Marina.

Please note: This beach has been assigned "Special Status" as it has not been monitored since 2011.

Get directions to this beach
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

West Bay Park is not sampled

Source Information

The Washington Department of Ecology BEACH program tests water quality at salt water swimming beaches every week from Memorial Day to Labor Day for enterococcus bacteria. During the sampling period, Puget Soundkeeper regularly updates the Swim Guide to reflect the most current information. The saltwater swimming criteria are in two parts:

The geometric mean* should not exceed 30 enterococci/100 mL, based on results from a minimum of five weekly samples and a maximum of 12 weekly samples. The statistical threshold value* should not exceed 110 enterococci/100 mL, based on results from a minimum of five weekly samples and a maximum of 12 weekly samples. If either of these criteria is exceeded, a beach advisory should be issued at the beach.

To protect swimmers' health, BEACH also uses a Beach Action Value. If enterococcus levels exceed 104 enterococci/100 mL, a beach advisory is issued.

A beach is marked green if it meets all of the above criteria.
A beach is marked red if it exceeds any one of the above criteria.
A beach is marked grey if no current data is available.

Sample results are also shared on the Department of Ecology BEACH program website: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/Tools/BeachClosure.aspx

More information about sampling protocols is available here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/program.html

* The geometric mean and statistical threshold value concentrations are based on the arithmetic average of the three samples collected at a single beach for the day

Read more
Water Quality Graph

  Beach Location Water Quality
Olympia, Washington
Shelton, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Shelton, Washington
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