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While currently open as of this writing, Coulon Beach swim area was closed during the Memorial Day weekend and the first above 80-degree day of the season.
Coulon Beach Park swim area was closed on this sunny Memorial Day weekend because of high bacterial counts. It was one of only two beaches on Lake Washington closed for this reason. Unfortunately this has become more common in recent years, with Coulon’s swim area sometimes closed for weeks at a time.
Renton’s Coulon Park swim beach was closed while most local beaches were open during this warm holiday weekend.
While it’s clear that ducks and geese are contributing to the problem, it’s less obvious to Park visitors that storm drains in western Renton Highlands, the Landing and even I-405 are also contributing to the problem by adding pollution to “Johns Creek” which empties next to Coulon’s swim beach.
Renton has been working for decades to improve the water quality in Johns Creek, and a Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP) is in place to improve it. Renton Stormwater utility fees, along with grants when they can be obtained, pay for this work.
Johns Creek is not the only creek that carries Renton’s surface water into Coulon Park; Kennydale Creek deposits Kennydale’s surface water about a mile to the north. But in addition to emptying further away from the swim beach, Kennydale Creek flows mostly in a natural creek bed open to the sun and air, which helps reduce bacteria levels. Johns Creek flows through many pipes and culverts, only in open air as it nears Coulon Park.
So to keep our swim beach open, businesses and residents in Renton Highlands, the Landing, Paccar, Southport and parts of North Renton should help keep our street gutters clean and spread the word that whatever flows into storm drains can flow right into the Coulon Beach Swim area.
The following photos and maps give more information about this little-known creek and the plans in place to improve it.
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