Psych! Gene Coulon Beach is closed once more to swimming | May 26

Psych! Gene Coulon Beach is closed once more to swimming | May 26

Published 4:35 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Just while you thought it was secure to return within the water, the county declares Gene Coulon Beach to as soon as once more be unsafe for swimming.

For the second time this month, and fewer than every week since being open for swimmers, King County has declared that the water at Gene Coulon Beach — probably the most southern swimming seaside in Lake Washington — has micro organism ranges which can be too excessive.

According to May 26 exams, the water samples at Gene Coulon present that 2/3 of the sampled areas are over 320 colony forming items (CFU) per 100 milliliters of pattern water (>320 CFU/100 mL). CFU is a depend of the variety of micro organism, per 100 milliliters.

While Sample B exhibits 230 CFU/100 ml in a single space, which is low, Sample A exhibits 350 CFU/100 mL and Sample C reveals 690 CFU/100 mL.

Due to those excessive micro organism ranges, the county says that folks ought to keep out of the water if they don’t need to get sick.

Last week, the typical CFU of micro organism examined on May 18 confirmed 27.66 CFU/100 mL. The prior week, and the primary testing of the 12 months, confirmed that the micro organism examined on May 11 was notably excessive at a median of 5,033.33 CFU/100 mL, with Bacteria Sample C clocking in at 14,000 CFU/100 mL.

The water at greater than two dozen lake seashores which can be fashionable swimming spots are usually examined for micro organism yearly from mid-May to mid-September.

If water exams discover excessive CFU, it implies that there are excessive ranges of organic waste from folks, pets, or wildlife within the water, which may carry germs that make folks in poor health.

Houghton Beach, Matthews Beach, Newcastle Beach and Pritchard Island Beach are additionally at the moment closed because of excessive micro organism ranges.

What the county does as soon as a seaside is closed

The county first tries to search out the supply of the excessive micro organism, which suggests discovering the supply of waste moving into the water. Additional testing could also be utilized together with contacting native sewage utilities about doable sewage leaks and spills.

When the supply of the excessive micro organism ranges are decided, the county will work with seaside managers to maintain poop out of the water, permitting swimmers to finally return.

According to the county web site, seaside managers will probably be suggested to do the next:

• Remind those who canines aren’t allowed on the swimming seaside, and geese and geese shouldn’t be fed close to the seaside.

• Clean up goose poop from docks to maintain it out of the water on the swimming space.

• Reduce the variety of geese close to the seaside, through the use of shiny mylar strips (“scare tape”) or specifically educated canines.

• Renovate docks to permit extra water circulation by way of the seaside space.

• Improve drainage within the park space close to the seaside, to cut back micro organism washing into the lake close to the seaside.

• Reduce poop moving into streams close to seashores.

To study extra about King County’s swimming seaside information, go to kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/parks-recreation/king-county-parks/water-recreation/swimming-beach-bacteria-temperature.