Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water

2025 Haines Beaches

(Haines Beaches Map - click on monitoring location dots for details)

2025 Haines Beaches

Bacteria monitoring will occur 18 times from May through September of the 2025 recreation season. Sampling will occur at the following beaches: Lutak Inlet, Portage Cove, and Pyramid Island. Bacteria monitoring is conducted to evaluate potential public health risks indicated by fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria, and to notify the public when levels exceed state standards. Monitoring results will be posted when sampling begins in May.

Protect Your Health

When elevated fecal bacteria levels are present in marine water, precautionary measures are advised. DEC recommends people avoid direct exposure, such as swimming in the water, and wash after direct contact with the marine water. Commonly documented health issues from swimming in bacteria contaminated recreational waters include gastrointestinal illness, respiratory illnesses, skin rashes, and ear, eye, and wound infections. Please follow safe food handling recommendations and cook seafood to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy any bacteria. Note that freezing alone does not kill pathogens. 

Beach Data Results

Water Quality Standards

See also page 27 of: 18 AAC 70 Alaska Water Quality Standards (amended as of November 13, 2022) - (14) Bacteria, For Marine Water Uses

(B) Water Recreation(i) contact recreation

In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 35 enterococci CFU/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed a statistical threshold value (STV) of 130 enterococci CFU/100 ml.

(ii) secondary recreation

In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100ml.

(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life

The geometric mean of samples may not exceed 14 fecal coliform/100 ml; and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed; 31 CFU per 100 ml for a membrane filtration test.