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McSorley Creek

In 2020 the Friends of Saltwater State Park began a monthly program testing the water quality in McSorley Creek, which is the stream that runs through the Saltwater State Park, on to the beach and into Puget Sound.
We want to know whether it is a healthy stream for people, animals and fish. We test the water quality twice a month to measure how clean the water is.


We also need to know the seasonal variation of the water quality. The temperature of the water and the amount of water in the stream change during the year. Naturally, the water is warmer in the summer than the winter, and there is more water in the stream in the spring than in late summer. This affects the minerals and oxygen in the water and its ability to serve as a healthy environment for life.


We are also interested in seeing if the water quality is getting better or worse over time. This will take several years to understand. As we get more information, we can decide whether we need to take any action to improve or preserve the health of the stream.

 

Harmful occurrences can wash pollutants into streams. This can be a sewage spill or heavy rainfall washing run-off from roads that contains car leaks, particles from normal wear of brakes and tires along with pesticides and pet waste from yards into the stream. If this happens we may see changes in what we test for, such as pH, alkalinity or the bacteria count. We will report our findings to the Washington Department of Ecology Washington State Parks to investigate and take action.


With public education, we hope to keep you informed and aware of the importance of clean natural waters to people and wildlife. There are actions we can all take to keep our streams and the Puget Sound clean and healthy. Everything that we put on the ground, like fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, automobile chemicals (including car washing soap), or waste of any sort, ends up in a local stream and ultimately the Puget Sound.


Glossary:
Bacteria: Certain single cell organisms. They can be beneficial or harmful to humans
(pathogenic bacteria cause disease). This program tests for the pathogenic bacteria E-Coli, which, if present, may indicate the presence of other pathogenic bacteria as well.
 

pH: pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic the water is. When the pH number is low the water is more acidic. When the pH is high the water is more basic. A pH of about 7 is neutral, and optimal for most aquatic life.


Alkalinity: This is a measure of how quickly the pH of the water will change with the addition of acid or base. Higher alkalinity indicates that more acid or base is needed to change the pH.
 

Hardness: This is a measure of the calcium carbonate concentration in water. Calcium is needed for aquatic health and can reduce the effects of some harmful materials.
 

Orthophosphate and Nitrate: These are the forms of phosphorus and nitrogen that can be used by aquatic organisms. Orthophosphate and nitrate are nutrients that are required by all organisms, but too much of these nutrients can cause harmful algae blooms that use up oxygen and may be harmful in other ways.

Dissolved Oxygen: This is the form of oxygen contained in water that is available for respiration (breathing) by aquatic organisms.
 

Turbidity: Turbidity is a measure of solid particles (like mud and dirt) contained in water that makes the water hard to see through (cloudy!). Excess particles are not good for good quality water.

Suggested water quality ranges for maximum health of aquatic life:
Dissolved oxygen at 9.0 mg/L or above
pH between 6.5 and 9.
Alkalinity between 60 and 150 mg/L
Hardness between 60 and 189 mg/L
Turbidity below 5.0 NTU

E-Coli 3 month mean below 100 for recreational use

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Report Date
AirTempC
WaterTempC
pH
Oxygen Saturation %
Total Alkalinity mg/L
Total Hardness mg/L
Turbidity JTU
Turbidity NTU
Nitrate N mg/L
Orthophosphate
E-coli Sample Volume mL
E-coli Plate 1
E-coli Plate 2
E-coli Plate 3
E-coli per 100 mL
Total Coliform, #/100 mL
E-Coli 3 mo. geometric mean
E-Coli max single sample
E-Coli max 3 month mean
E-Coli 3-mon. Highest Single Plate
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L
03/19/2024
14
9
8
89.7
70
40
2
5
0.3
0.2
1
1
0
0
33
3266
48
320
100
800
10.4
03/06/2024
6
5
7.5
80.5
65
60
2
0.5
0.2
1
0
0
1
33
3100
65
320
100
800
10.3
02/21/2024
7
8
8
94.1
50
50
2
5
0.2
0.2
1
2
0
1
100
5433
117
320
100
1300
11.1
02/08/2024
7
7
7.5
76
65
50
2
0.4
0.2
1
2
2
3
233
4933
145
320
100
1300
9.2
01/22/2024
9
5.5
7
83.3
30
50
2
5
0.7
0.2
1
0
0
0
1
4568
183
320
100
1300
10.5
01/06/2024
6
5
7
74.2
50
40
5
0.4
0.2
1
8
2
5
500
11033
588
320
100
1600
9.5
12/19/2023
9
7
7
76.9
55
60
2
8
0.2
1
1
0
3
3
200
8067
612
320
100
1600
9.3
12/07/2023
8
8
7
78.8
40
40
5
0.6
0.2
1
11
13
9
1100
19267
888
320
100
2300
9.3
11/24/2023
2
5
7
81.3
65
110
2
8
0.2
0.6
1
3
4
4
367
5467
999
320
100
2500
10.4
11/07/2023
11
10
7
67.3
45
40
2
2.5
0.2
1
7
8
13
933
16200
1027
320
100
2500
7.6
10/18/2023
13
13
8
81.9
65
80
2
8
0.4
0.2
1
16
9
8
1100
11667
1228
320
100
3100
8.6
10/05/2023
18
12
8
68.5
85
70
2
0.25
0.2
1
8
2
9
633
15466
1015
320
100
3100
7.4
09/19/2023
8
115
110
2
8
0.2
0.2
1
17
16
23
1867
14367
896
320
100
3100
8.9
09/08/2023
18
14
8
71.8
120
90
2
0.5
1
25
24
18
2233
22600
767
320
100
3100
7.4
08/16/2023
24
17
8
82.5
120
60
2
8
0.4
0.2
1
4
5
433
8766
676
320
100
3100
8
08/02/2023
17
13
8
75.2
105
90
2
0.5
1
31
27
2733
27733
577
320
100
3100
7.9
07/19/2023
18
15
8.5
82.2
110
70
2
8
0.2
0.2
1
4
3
350
3650
154
320
100
1200
8.3
07/03/2023
20
14
8
70.9
95
80
2
0.5
1
3
300
13300
141
320
100
1200
7.3
06/20/2023
16
12
8
82.4
65
50
2
8
0.3
1
1
7
8
7
733
16133
54
320
100
1200
8.9
06/07/2023
23
15
7.5
66.3
110
100
2
0.5
1
12
9
0
1050
18550
41
320
100
1200
6.7
05/07/2023
14
11
7.5
79.1
35
50
2
0.25
1
0
0
5
167
12200
15
320
100
500
8.7
04/18/2023
13
8
8
95.8
60
70
2
8
1
0
0
0
0
2134
7
500
100
500
10.3
04/04/2023
8
6
7.5
82.3
35
60
2
0.25
1
2
3
1
200
2134
7
500
100
320
10.2
03/21/2023
10
8
8
100
70
100
2
8
0.4
0.2
1
0
0
0
0
1014
10
400
100
320
11.9
03/05/2023
8
5
7.5
80.9
25
40
2
0.25
1
2
3
1
133
4250
10
400
100
320
10.4
02/22/2023
4
5
8.5
97.7
65
2
8
0.2
0.2
0.2
0
1
0
33
1266
6
320
100
400
12.5
02/07/2023
9
5
7.5
74.2
35
50
2
0.25
1
0
0
0
0
7334
6
320
100
400
9.5
01/17/2023
9
7
8
90.9
45
50
2
8
0.6
0.2
1
0
0
0
1
3301
37
320
100
2700
11
01/12/2023
10
6
7.5
73
35
50
2
0.25
9.1
12/30/2022
8.5
6
7
89.5
35
60
2
8
1.5
1
3
4
2
300
18167
140
320
100
2700
11.1
12/07/2022
6
5
6.5
80.1
30
50
2
8
0.3
1
0
0
0
1
4801
124
320
100
2700
10.3
09/21/2022
14
8
92.6
95
100
2
1
1
09/06/2022
15
13
8
82.9
105
110
2
1
1
0
4
0
133
6033
334
320
100
1200
8.7
08/23/2022
8
100
90
2
1
9
12
11
1067
13767
420
320
100
1200
8.6
08/08/2022
20
15
7.5
84.2
100
80
2
8
1
1
7
5
5
567
8567
306
320
100
1100
8.5
07/19/2022
16
14
7.5
81.6
100
70
2
8
2
14
22
10
767
5500
198
320
100
1100
8.4
07/10/2022
27
15
7
85
60
2
8
1
0
1
1
67
2000
168
320
100
5500
06/21/2022
15
13
7
83.8
75
60
2
8
223
320
100
8.8
05/17/2022
12
10
8
80.5
70
50
2
8
2
6
7
5
300
3917
188
320
100
1050
9.1
04/21/2022
13
9
7.5
94.8
60
60
2
2
1
4
1
100
2950
160
320
100
1050
11
04/05/2022
15
7
7.5
90.9
60
50
8
2
3
11
10
400
7617
164
320
100
1050
11
03/22/2022
15
8
7.5
85.6
50
50
2
8
2
3
2
1
100
4233
141
320
100
1050
10.1
03/08/2022
10
7
8.5
86.8
55
50
2
8
2
1
4
3
133
3750
188
320
100
1050
10.5
03/01/2022
8
2
10
15
21
767
9967
199
320
100
1050
02/15/2022
11
7
8.5
100
70
60
2
8
2
0
2
2
67
1417
84
320
100
550
12.1
02/01/2022
0
5
8
89.1
65
50
2
8
11.4
01/04/2022
-1
4
7.5
88.5
40
60
2
5
1
1
117
8050
48
320
100
550
11.6
12/21/2021
-1
5
7
89.8
45
60
2
8
2
11
11
9
517
4067
35
320
100
550
11.5
12/07/2021
5
8
7.5
84.7
50
60
2
8
2
3
4
5
200
6033
28
320
100
500
10
11/30/2021
6
10
7.5
85
55
40
2
2
10
4
7
350
2817
21
320
100
500
9.6
11/16/2021
2
9
7
89.7
30
60
2
2
0
0
0
1
3534
12
320
100
150
10.4
11/02/2021
4
10
7
86.7
45
50
2
2
0
0
0
1
2301
12
320
100
150
9.8
10/20/2021
9
12
7.5
86.1
65
70
2
2
0
3
0
50
1500
28
320
100
150
9.3
10/06/2021
16
14
8
88.3
60
50
2
2
3
3
2
133
7533
29
320
100
200
9.1
09/05/2021
16
15
8
81.2
140
90
2
2
1
0
1
33
1616
21
320
100
200
8.2
08/18/2021
16
16
8.5
82.8
100
100
2
2
0
1
0
17
1284
22
320
100
200
8.2
08/02/2021
15
17
8
82.5
100
90
2
2
0
0
1
701
30
320
100
200
8
07/07/2021
14
16
8
80.8
110
70
2
2
4
1
2
117
300
19
320
100
250
8
06/16/2021
13
15
8
82.2
85
50
2
2
1
0
3
67
284
14
320
100
200
8.3
06/01/2021
14
14
8
82.5
100
80
2
2
1
0
0
17
217
8
320
100
250
8.5
05/18/2021
11
10
8
87.6
95
80
2
2
1
1
1
50
417
9
320
100
250
9.9
05/04/2021
11
12
7.5
84.3
70
60
2
2
2
0
5
117
2484
9
320
100
250
9.1
04/20/2021
15
14
8.5
101
105
70
2
2
0
0
0
1
184
4
320
100
100
10.4
04/06/2021
11
11
8.5
99.1
55
60
2
10.9
03/16/2021
8
5
8.5
100
75
50
2
12.8
03/03/2021
10
7
8
93.4
65
50
2
2
0
0
0
1
468
17
320
100
150
11.3
02/17/2021
6
4
7.5
99.2
55
80
2
2
2
0
0
33
3033
29
320
100
150
13
02/02/2021
5
8
7.5
88.1
55
30
2
2
2
1
0
50
2800
38
320
100
150
10.4
01/19/2021
5
7
7.5
88.4
70
60
2
2
0
0
0
1
1601
36
320
100
150
10.7
01/04/2021
9
8
7
84.7
35
50
5
1
3
0
0
100
7000
86
320
100
200
10
12/22/2020
6
7
7.5
87.6
25
30
10
12/04/2020
5
7.5
8
85
110
80
2
404
320
100
67000
11/22/2020
6
8
7.5
86.4
65
60
2
266
320
100
67000
11/06/2020
10
10
7.5
83.2
70
50
2
2
1
4
125
8625
266
320
100
67000
10/06/2020
16
15
7.5
80.2
80
70
2
09/15/2020
18
19
8
60.2
155
120
2
1
484
504
670
55267
281
320
100
67000
09/10/2020
17
18
7.5
86.3
125
90
2
08/04/2020
20
19.5
8
82.8
95
100
2
50
6400
23
320
100
07/10/2020
18
18
7.5
86.3
90
80
2
165
4309
17
320
100
06/10/2020
17
18
8
95.8
70
60
2
33
454
5
320
100
05/07/2020
16
16
6.5
98
100
80
2
1
667
3
320
100
04/07/2020
10
9.8
7.5
88.5
65
60
2
17
11
4
320
100
03/03/2020
10
8
8.5
91.5
80
60
1
10
1
320
100
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