Health Advisory issued for Lincoln and other parks

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A health advisory has been issued for Lincoln Park in Valparaiso, Garniers Park and Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach, and Marler Park in Destin after water quality at the parks tested “poor” this week.

The health advisory, issued by the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County, is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standards for enterococci. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.

The water quality at the Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville tested “moderate.”

The water quality tested “good” at Brackin Wayside Park, Clement E. Taylor Park, Emerald Promenade, Henderson Park Beach, and  James Lee Park.

According to the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa), bi-weekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 11 sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program detected the concern.

Samples are collected from March through the end of October.

The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

The most recent sampling was conducted on July 6, 2021.

If you have questions, contact the DOH-Okaloosa County at (850) 833-9247 or (850) 689-7859. You can also visit www.HealthyOkaloosa.com and click the “Healthy Beaches” link to be taken to a list of Okaloosa County’s Healthy Beaches sites, sampling results, and maps.