Fecal bacteria at high levels in Golden Gardens stream

Seattle Parks officials have posted signs warning people to stay away from a creek flowing into Golden Gardens Park after testing by an environmental organization found high levels of E. coli and other coliform bacteria in the water.

"I know if it was me and I was taking my kid down there, I wouldn't go to the south end of the beach," where the stream is located, said Joelle Hammerstad, spokeswoman for the Seattle Parks and Recreation department.

Problems at the Golden Gardens stream gained attention after the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit environmental group that has tested the water every two weeks since March, found high levels of bacteria, prompting the Parks Department to post warning signs Tuesday.

Volunteers also found high bacteria levels in Lake Washington at Leschi Park and at Pontiac Point near Sand Point, though not as high as at Golden Gardens.

Charles Wu, a health and environmental investigator for Public Health — Seattle & King County, said the health department is not taking further action until it can verify the Surfrider data.

"They've been filling us in," Wu said. "We're working with scientists at Seattle Public Utilities and the King County department of natural resources in helping us evaluate their test results."

If they find the tests to be accurate, Wu said, it could result in closing the stream to public access. Until then, Wu said, the current message is: Keep the kids out of the water. If they do ingest water, it could lead to gastrointestinal illnesses.

"If there is contact with the [Golden Gardens] stream, wash with soap and warm water," said Wu. "And make sure kids aren't drinking the water."

The bacteria in the water could be coming from several sources, according to Jonathan Frodge, a stormwater specialist for Seattle Public Utilities.

The cause could be as serious as a sanitary spill, such as a broken bathroom pipe, or from a less-worrisome source such as nearby mulch or wood chips. It could also be from raccoons, waterfowl, pets or other animals. Frodge said there's a "high probability" that the dog park up the hill from Golden Gardens contributes to the problem.

The worst would be a human source, he said, because that would increase the likelihood of spreading disease.

"Any disease that exists in the human gut can exist in sewage," he said.

The stream at Golden Gardens is a popular play area for local families. Anne Weber, 38, is concerned about the time she and her daughter have spent there.

"I used to tell myself the water was polluted but tried not to think about it," Weber said.

Her 5-year-old daughter, Ruby, has played in the water with other children, building small rock dams.

"I'm never going to let her get in it again," Weber said.

The Surfrider Foundation tested nine sites for water quality in the Seattle area, including the creek at Golden Gardens. The organization is made up of water users "dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world's waves and beaches."

Abigail McCarthy, a Surfrider volunteer, said the county doesn't have the funding to do all the water monitoring it needs to, so the nonprofit is attempting to "fill in the gaps." She and other volunteers teamed up with J. Scott Meschke, University of Washington environmental and occupational health-sciences professor, to do the testing.

"We follow EPA standard procedures, and most of us in charge of testing have a fairly substantial science background and lab experience," said McCarthy, who has a master's degree in fisheries sciences.

Seattle Public Utilities expects to have its Golden Gardens test results Friday.

Carly Flandro: 206-464-2108 or cflandro@seattletimes.com