Gene Coulon Beach reopens for swimming | Sept. 10

Gene Coulon Beach reopens for swimming | Sept. 10

Published 4:00 pm Thursday, September 10, 2026

One week following its sixth closure for the 12 months, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach in Renton has reopened for swimming.

According to the King County web site, the newest testing on Sept. 8 reveals that Gene Coulon — essentially the most southern swimming seashore on Lake Washington — has decrease ranges of micro organism than what was beforehand examined.

Data reveals that every one three sampled areas are beneath 320 colony forming models (CFU) per 100 milliliters of pattern water (>320 CFU/100 mL). CFU is a rely of the variety of micro organism, per 100 milliliters, and something greater than 320 CFU/100 mL is taken into account a excessive degree of micro organism and thus unsafe for swimming.

Sample A reveals 87 CFU/100 mL, whereas Samples B and C got here again with84 CFU and 83 CFU.

The water at greater than two dozen lake seashores which are well-liked swimming spots are repeatedly examined for micro organism yearly from mid-May to mid-September. If water assessments discover excessive CFU, it implies that there are excessive ranges of organic waste (AKA poop) from individuals, pets or wildlife within the water, which might carry germs that make individuals ailing.

On Aug. 31, the seashore closed for the sixth time when Sample A confirmed 840 CFU/100 mL, Sample B confirmed 5,600 CFU/100 mL and Sample C confirmed 55 CFU/100 mL. The longest the seashore park has stayed open for 2026 has been for 3 weeks at a time, from June 22 to July 12, earlier than being closed down on July 13, after which from Aug. 10 to Aug. 30, earlier than closing on Aug. 31.

What the county does as soon as a seashore is closed

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

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

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

• Remind folks that canines usually are not allowed on the swimming seashore, and geese and geese shouldn’t be fed close to the seashore.

• 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 seashore, by utilizing shiny mylar strips (“scare tape”) or specifically educated canines.

• Renovate docks to permit extra water circulation by means of the seashore space.

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

• Reduce poop moving into streams close to seashores.

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