Skagway Alaska Beaches
- 2024
- 2023
2024 Skagway Beaches
(Skagway Beaches Map - click on monitoring location dots for details)
2024 Skagway Beaches
Bacteria monitoring has concluded for the 2024 recreation season. 18 sampling events were completed at the following coastal Skagway beaches: Nahku Bay, Smuggler’s Cove, Yakutania Point West, Yakutania Point East, Small Boat Harbor, and Airport Beach. Bacteria monitoring was conducted to evaluate potential public health risks indicated by fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria, and to notify the public when levels exceeded state standards. The final water quality monitoring report is anticipated to be posted to the DEC website by February 2025.
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
Criteria exceedance in BOLD text. ND = Not Detected. *Data will be added when available.
Small Boat Harbor
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-14-24 | ND | 2 |
| 5-21-24 | ND | 27 |
| 5-28-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-4-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-11-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-18-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-25-24 | ND | 2 |
| 7-2-24 | 20 | 7 |
| 7-9-24 | ND | 210 |
| 7-24-24 | 41 | 27 |
| 7-30-24 | ND | 2 |
| 8-6-24 | ND | 17 |
| 8-13-24 | ND | 2 |
| 8-20-24 | 40 | 13 |
| 8-27-24 | 52 | 100 |
| 8-29-24 | 20 | ND |
| 9-3-24 | 10 | 8 |
| 9-10-24 | ND | ND |
Yakutania East
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-14-24 | ND | 2 |
| 5-21-24 | ND | 2 |
| 5-28-24 | ND | 3 |
| 6-4-24 | 10 | 2 |
| 6-11-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-18-24 | 10 | ND |
| 6-25-24 | ND | 5 |
| 7-2-24 | ND | 3 |
| 7-9-24 | ND | ND |
| 7-24-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 7-30-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 8-6-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 8-13-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 8-20-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 8-27-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 8-29-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 9-3-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
| 9-10-24 | Not sampled due to Skagway River flow - sampler safety issue | |
Yakutania West
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-14-24 | 41 | ND |
| 5-21-24 | ND | ND |
| 5-28-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-4-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-11-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-18-24 | 10 | ND |
| 6-25-24 | ND | 2 |
| 7-2-24 | ND | 2 |
| 7-9-24 | ND | 3 |
| 7-24-24 | ND | 22 |
| 7-30-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-6-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-13-24 | ND | 7 |
| 8-20-24 | ND | 7 |
| 8-27-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-29-24 | ND | ND |
| 9-3-24 | ND | 5 |
| 9-10-24 | ND | ND |
Smuggler's Cove
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-14-24 | 31 | ND |
| 5-21-24 | ND | ND |
| 5-28-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-4-24 | ND | 2 |
| 6-11-24 | ND | 2 |
| 6-18-24 | ND | 2 |
| 6-25-24 | ND | ND |
| 7-2-24 | ND | 2 |
| 7-9-24 | ND | 3 |
| 7-24-24 | 10 | 15 |
| 7-30-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-6-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-13-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-20-24 | ND | 3 |
| 8-27-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-29-24 | ND | 5 |
| 9-3-24 | 10 | 7 |
| 9-10-24 | ND | ND |
Nahku Bay
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-14-24 | 160 | ND |
| 5-21-24 | ND | ND |
| 5-28-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-4-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-11-24 | ND | ND |
| 6-18-24 | ND | 3 |
| 6-25-24 | 75 | 33 |
| 7-2-24 | 10 | 3 |
| 7-9-24 | ND | 2 |
| 7-24-24 | 10 | 25 |
| 7-30-24 | ND | 3 |
| 8-6-24 | 10 | 110 |
| 8-13-24 | ND | 2 |
| 8-20-24 | ND | 17 |
| 8-27-24 | ND | ND |
| 8-29-24 | ND | 5 |
| 9-3-24 | ND | 10 |
| 9-10-24 | ND | ND |
Airport Beach
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (CFU/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 7-30-24 | 10 | 3 |
| 8-6-24 | ND | 5 |
| 8-13-24 | ND | 7 |
| 8-20-24 | 10 | 10 |
| 8-27-24 | ND | 7 |
| 8-29-24 | ND | 8 |
| 9-3-24 | 10 | 3 |
| 9-10-24 | 10 | 5 |
Water Quality Standards
See also page 27 of: 18 AAC 70 Alaska Water Quality Standards (amended as of March 5, 2020) - (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.
2023 Skagway Beaches
(Skagway Beaches Map - click on monitoring location dots for details)
2023 Skagway Beaches
Bacteria monitoring occurred 14 times from May and through September of the 2023 recreational season at the following coastal beaches: Nahku Bay, Smuggler’s Cove, Yakutania Point West, Small Boat Harbor, and Airport Beach. Bacteria monitoring was conducted to evaluate potential public health risks indicated by fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria, and to notify the public when levels exceed state standards.
No results exceeded recreational criteria for the 2023 recreational season. A 2023 monitoring report is being prepared and will be posted on this webpage in early 2024.
The monitoring program will resume during the next recreational season from May-September 2024.
Beach Data Results
Criteria exceedance in bold text. ND = Not Detected.
Small Boat Harbor
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (FC/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-23-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 5-31-23 | ND | 13 |
| 6-6-23 | ND | 20 |
| 6-14-23 | ND | 54 |
| 6-20-23 | ND | 3.0 |
| 7-6-23 | 20 | 58 |
| 7-12-23 | 10 | 15 |
| 7-18-23 | ND | 8.0 |
| 7-26-23 | 10 | 7.0 |
| 8-2-23 | ND | 7.0 |
| 8-9-23 | ND | 7.0 |
| 8-23-23 | ND | 10 |
| 8-30-23 | ND | 28 |
| 9-12-23 | 10 | 12 |
Airport Beach
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (FC/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-23-23 | ND | ND |
| 5-31-23 | ND | 3.0 |
| 6-6-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-14-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-20-23 | ND | 8.0 |
| 7-6-23 | 10 | 2.0 |
| 7-12-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-18-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 7-26-23 | 31 | 3.0 |
| 8-2-23 | ND | 7.0 |
| 8-9-23 | ND | 7.0 |
| 8-23-23 | ND | 10 |
| 8-30-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 9-12-23 | 10 | 12 |
Yakutania West
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (FC/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-23-23 | ND | 5.0 |
| 5-31-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-6-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-14-23 | ND | ND |
| 6-20-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-6-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-12-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-18-23 | ND | 3.0 |
| 7-26-23 | ND | ND |
| 8-2-23 | ND | 25 |
| 8-9-23 | ND | 3.0 |
| 8-23-23 | ND | ND |
| 8-30-23 | 20 | 3.0 |
| 9-12-23 | ND | 3.0 |
Smuggler's Cove
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (FC/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-23-23 | ND | 8.0 |
| 5-31-23 | ND | ND |
| 6-6-23 | ND | ND |
| 6-14-23 | ND | ND |
| 6-20-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-6-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-12-23 | ND | 5 |
| 7-18-23 | 10 | 3.0 |
| 7-26-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 8-2-23 | ND | 5.0 |
| 8-9-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 8-23-23 | ND | ND |
| 8-30-23 | ND | 13 |
| 9-12-23 | ND | 2.0 |
Nahku Bay
| Sample Date | Enterococci (MPN/100ml) | Fecal Coliform (FC/100ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-23-23 | ND | ND |
| 5-31-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-6-23 | ND | 180 |
| 6-14-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 6-20-23 | ND | 5.0 |
| 7-6-23 | ND | 3.0 |
| 7-12-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-18-23 | ND | ND |
| 7-26-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 8-2-23 | ND | 10 |
| 8-9-23 | ND | 2.0 |
| 8-23-23 | ND | 5.0 |
| 8-30-23 | 52 | 68 |
| 9-12-23 | 10 | 8.0 |
Water Quality Standards
See also page 27 of: 18 AAC 70 Alaska Water Quality Standards (amended as of March 5, 2020) - (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.
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.
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