McSorley Creek
In March of 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 park. There are several reasons to keep track of the water quality in McSorley Creek:
We want to know whether it is a healthy stream for animals and fish, including Salmon. Young Salmon, called fry, are hatched and live in streams and rivers, and they need high quality water so the stream can grow insect larvae and plankton for them to eat. The fry grow into their next stage, called smolts, and make their way into the ocean where they become adults. After a few years in the ocean, they swim back into the same stream to lay their eggs. Fish like salmon that have a fresh water stage and a salt water stage are called anadromous fish.
We want 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.
Saltwater State Park is used by people as well as by fish and insect larvae. To assure that it is a safe place for people to enjoy, we test the levels of Bacteria in the water. There are thousands of different kinds of bacteria that can cause disease, and we can’t test for all of them; so we test for one species of bacteria, called e-coli, that is commonly found in contaminated waters. If that species is not present, or is present in very low numbers, the water is considered to be safe for swimming and fishing. Tighter standards are used for drinking water.
We are also interested in seeing how much the long term trends in water quality from year to year, and whether, overall, it’s getting better or worse. This will take several years of testing to start 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.
Sometimes harmful incidents dump pollutants into streams. If this happens, we may see changes in some of the things we test for, such as pH or alkalinity or bacteria count. We can then report our findings to the Washington Department of Ecology 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, be it fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, automobile chemicals (that includes car washing soap), or wastes of any sort, ends up in a local stream and ultimately the Puget Sound. Let’s all make an effort to maintain or improve the quality of our natural waters.
This testing program is being conducted in connection with an organization known as Global Water Watch (GWW). GWW supports a worldwide network of water quality monitors, and maintains a centralized database of their test results. GWW provides training and support through local monitoring groups; in our case the group is the SnoKing Watershed Council, a volunteer organization covering Snohomish and King Counties. Results from the monitoring sites are posted at their website, SnoKingwatershedcouncil.org.

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



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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |