Saturday, February 1, 2014

Fecal Matters: Beach Closed to Swimming at Birch Bay near Terrell Creek, Whatcom County, WA.

BEACH Program Update

On January 31, 2014, the Whatcom County Health Department issued a closure for Birch Bay at Terrell Creek.  The closure was issued due to high bacteria counts in Terrell Creek.  Terrell Creek discharges to the south end of Birch Bay.  The public is to have no contact with the water until further notice.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.

Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.

Debby Sargeant is the BEACH Program Manager and is available at 360-407-6139 or debby.sargeant@ecy.wa.gov for questions.

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