12 Greater Victoria beaches currently deemed unfit for swimming

There are currently 12 beaches in Greater Victoria that have been declared unfit for swimming by Island Health, up from seven around this time last month. 

The most recent beach advisories issued by Island Health and the Capital Regional District include Esquimalt Gorge Park Kinsmen Beach, Glen Lake Park Glen View, Cordova Bay McMorran Park, Eagle Lake and Langford Lake Ed Nixon Lane.

On Monday, August 17th, Esquimalt Gorge Park Kinsmen Beach was declared unfit for swimming due to high amounts of enterococci detected in beach sampling. 

Enterococci is a bacteria that inhabits the human gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. While this bacteria can be harmless in the gut, they can cause serious infections in the urinary tract, bloodstream or surgical wounds, and are highly resistant to antibiotics.

On Friday, August 14th, both Glen Lake Park Glen View and Cordova Bay McMorran Park beaches had advisories issued for them due to E. coli and enterococci bacteria respectively.

E. Coli advisories are issued when water sample tests show high levels of fecal bacteria. While advisories are in place, swimming is not recommended because water contact may cause skin, ear, eye or stomach illnesses.

Eagle Lake was deemed unfit for swimming on Tuesday, August 11th due to a blue-green algae bloom. 

Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can produce harmful toxins called cyanotoxins. 

Visitors to the lakes are advised to avoid any contact with the algae and to keep pets on a leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the affected waters until the advisory is lifted.

Toxins released by blue-green algae blooms are known to cause a range of health issues in humans, such as headaches and abdominal pain, and can result in lethal liver damage in dogs if ingested.

On Monday, August 10th, Langford Lake Ed Nixon Lane also had an advisory issued for it due to E. coli bacteria. 

See below for the additional beach advisories issued by Island Health this year:

• Cordova Bay Agate Park Beach – issued on July 30th due to enterococci
• Langford Lake Leigh Road – issued on July 30th due to E. coli
• Prior Lake – issued on July 14th due to blue-green algae
• Thetis Lake Beach – issued on June 23rd due to blue-green algae

Prior to 2026, there were three additional beaches in Greater Victoria with advisories against swimming that remain in place today. 

Ross Bay Beach was declared unfit for swimming in June 2024 due to high levels of enterococci. 

In October 2023, a blue-green algae bloom was discovered at Beaver Lake which remains present. 

Art Mann Park has had a beach advisory in place since January 2015 due to undisclosed “unsatisfactory bacteriological water results.”

All of these beaches continue to be monitored and tested by Island Health. Signs are in place at the impacted sites to warn beachgoers of the dangers of swimming under the current conditions. 

To see active beach advisories in Greater Victoria, click here.