Keeping Washington beaches healthy -- we're all in this together!

The Washington BEACH Program is led jointly by the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health, and consists of county and local agencies, tribal nations, and volunteers.

The mission of the BEACH Program is to reduce the risk of disease for people who play in saltwater by:

   •   Monitoring bacteria levels at popular, high risk beaches.

   •   Notifying users when bacteria results are high or when a known pollution event, such as a sewage spill, has occurred.

   •   Educating the public about the risks associated with polluted water and what each of us can do to reduce that risk.
 

From Department of Ecology BEACH program website.

Puget Sound is the second largest estuary in the United States. Only Chesapeake Bay is larger. The Puget Sound estuary is an arm of the Pacific Ocean that extends inland where it meets 19 different river basins.

Strandings occur when marine mammals or sea turtles swim or float into shore and become "beached," or stuck in shallow water. There are typically two types of stranding events:

   1. Single Strandings - When a single animal beaches itself, it is often old, sick or confused, and the stranding is a result of its weakened condition. Single animals can also die from ship strike injuries or entanglements in fishing gear.
   2. Mass Strandings - Most of the species that strand in groups are "social" species, such as dolphins and pilot whales, that live in extended family groups for their entire lives. Some identified causes of mass strandings include: disease and parasite infestations, harmful algal blooms, pollution exposure, naval sonar and seismic testing, trauma, and starvation. Strong social bonds within a group may also explain mass strandings, as healthy members may be reluctant to leave behind a sick member. In addition, strandings often occur after unusual weather events.

If you find an animal stranded on a beach near you, do not try to put it back in the water. Call local police immediately if you do not know the number of the nearest marine mammal stranding network.

Please note: The stranding networks handle each stranding event on a case-by-case basis, because response capability varies between areas depending on available resources and personnel.