Beach · San Juan County · WA

Is Orcas Island County, Beach 283 safe to swim?

Clear to swim

No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.

Updated July 19, 2026 · Washington beach program (EPA BEACON)

Recent rain
0.1 in
Water type
Beach
Last updated
Jul 19
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Clear to swim
Tested
No advisory
Sampled Jul 19 · state beach program
Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored

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What's in the water at Orcas Island County, Beach 283 right now

As of July 19, 2026, Orcas Island County, Beach 283 in San Juan County, Washington is clear to swim. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.1 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Orcas Island County, Beach 283

Orcas Island County, Beach 283 is a lake in San Juan County, Washington. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Frequently asked: swimming in Orcas Island County, Beach 283

Is it safe to swim in Orcas Island County, Beach 283 right now?
Orcas Island County, Beach 283 is clear to swim today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
Does Orcas Island County, Beach 283 have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Orcas Island County, Beach 283. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
Can dogs swim in Orcas Island County, Beach 283?
No bloom is detected at Orcas Island County, Beach 283 today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
How many Washington lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
Today, 18 Washington waters are under a swim advisory and 9 more warrant caution, out of 1348 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
How is Orcas Island County, Beach 283's water quality measured?
SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Orcas Island County, Beach 283, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.

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