BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom County doesn’t do well in bacteria tests of Washington’s saltwater beaches.
Environment America tested more than 200 saltwater beaches in Washington in 2018 and found Whatcom County tops the list with unsafe levels of bacteria on 12% of days tested.
Some local beaches, including Birch Bay and parts of Lummi Bay, did very well with no unsafe days.
But Little Squalicum Park in Bellingham and Wildcat Cove at Larrabee State Park were among local unhealthy beaches, and Portage Bay was found to be unsafe on two-thirds of the days tested.
Overall, 41% of Washington’s saltwater beaches exceeded safe bacteria levels at least one day last year.