Juanita Beach Closed Due To High E. Coli Levels

KIRKLAND, WA — King County closed Juanita Beach to swimmers and other users on Wednesday afternoon citing a water sample with high levels of E. coli bacteria.

How high? There were over 1,700 colony-forming units (CMU) per 100 milliliters of water. The safe level is considered between zero and 1,000 CMU/100ML, according to King County.

The last measurement taken on May 28 only showed 130 CMU/100ML, but the water temperature has spiked since then, rising from 64.4 degrees to over 71 degrees on June 3.

But there was another potential problem — one familiar to Juanita Park users.

"Crews that performed the testing noted a large number of waterfowl in this area, which may have contributed to the elevated levels of E. coli," the city of Kirkland said in a statement about the closure. "King County crews will sample the beach multiple times tomorrow, June 6, and again next Monday, June 10. Per King County protocol, the beach will remain closed for a minimum of three days. The beach at Juanita Beach Park will reopen when E. coli levels return to a safe range."

The beach at Magnuson Park in Seattle was closed before the Memorial Day weekend, also due to high E. coli levels.