SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Beach advisories for 4 of 12 monitored Ketchikan Beaches

 

August 09, 2020
Sunday PM


(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The results for water samples collected on Tuesday, August 4, as part of the Ketchikan Beach program are now available.  The monitoring results are summarized below:

Beach advisories were issued for four of twelve Ketchikan beaches for exceedance of Enterococci (above 130 MPN/100ml primary contact recreation). 

  • Thomas Basin 620 MPN/100ml
  • Seaport Beach 155 MPN/100ml
  • Rotary Park Pool 323 MPN/100ml
  • Herring Cove 706 MPN/100ml

The remaining 8 monitored beaches are below enterococci state recreation standards.

The next Ketchikan Beach sampling is planned for Thursday August 13th. Sample results are expected to be available by Friday August 14th.

The Alaska Beach program was initiated along the Ketchikan coastline to monitor fecal waste contamination during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 recreational seasons. The 2020 recreational season will be conducted May through September. 

Marine water samples are being collected at 12 monitoring sites in Ketchikan to evaluate potential health risks indicated by enterococci bacteria, and to notify the public when levels exceeded state standards. 

Past years of bacteria monitoring have shown elevated levels of bacteria along the Ketchikan coastline from several potential sources, including private and public sewer treatment systems, individual septic tanks, wildlife, pet feces, ferries, and private and commercial vessels.

Exposure to fecal bacteria can cause illness in humans. Beachgoers are encouraged to wash their hands and shower after swimming or recreating in the water. Cook fish and shellfish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Avoid direct contact with water when bacteria advisories are in effect.

The Alaska Beach Monitoring Program is part of a nationwide effort to decrease the incidence of water-borne illness at public beaches under the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act. The Alaska Clean Water Actions (ACWA) Grant for this project is managed by the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition with sampling collection by the Ketchikan Indian Community. 

 

On the Web:

 Ketchikan Beach Program - for a beach map, results table, FAQs

 

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
www.dec.alaska.gov

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.



Send a letter to the editor@sitnews.us

Contact the Editor

SitNews ©2020
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

 Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews are considered protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper freelance writers and subscription services.

E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us

Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.