Swimmers and dog owners are being urged to avoid the water at Houghton Beach Park in Kirkland after recent tests revealed elevated levels of bacteria. Seattle and King County Public Health issued the advisory following the results, which were announced on Tuesday. While water activities are currently off-limits at this section of Lake Washington, the rest of the park remains open for land-based recreation, according to the City of Kirkland announcement.
Until further notice, residents are advised to avoid all water activities—including swimming, wading, and letting dogs enter the lake—due to potential health risks. Lifeguards will not be present during the closure, and the county plans to conduct follow-up testing next week to determine when it will be safe to reopen.
On a brighter note, Juanita Beach Park has officially reopened as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, welcoming back swimmers, waders, and water lovers of all kinds. Recent water quality tests—the same ones that led to Houghton Beach’s closure—confirmed that bacteria levels at Juanita are now within safe limits. Lifeguards returned yesterday, providing an added layer of safety for those ready to dive back in, as the city's website says.
King County’s Lake Swimming Beach Data webpage provides up-to-date information on water quality, test results, and beach conditions. For quick updates, residents can also sign up for the Lake Beach Alert mailing list to receive notifications as soon as new information is available.
