For the summer of 2026, in consultation with Lynn, Swampscott, Save the Harbor, Save King’s Beach, Lynn Water and Sewer Commission, and several engineers, the King’s Beach Steering Committee has created a plan to take the next steps toward a safe and swimmable King’s Beach with a four-part scope.
- Sediment testing will help determine whether the sediment deposits in the Lynn and Swampscott culverts may be contributing to the bacteria concentrations of the discharged drainage flows to King’s Beach.
- Independent culvert testing in both the Lynn and Swampscott outfalls five days a week from April to September will replicate the 2017 study that led to the current IDDE strategies and tell us if and how the last nine years of work have impacted Stacey’s Brook.
- Flow level monitoring will help evaluate bacterial loading from each municipality based on volume, rather than the simple snapshot of a traditional bacterial sample. Additionally, this data may help refine sizing assumptions for a future UV system.
- Wet weather testing will help specify specific and detailed windows during which the UV system would or would not be effective due to turbidity and flow. Should a complementary solution be agreed to in the future, this data will help improve the efficiency of the system.
The goal of this year's methodical approach is to provide actionable information to advance the cause of cleaning up King’s Beach. This work has begun as of May.
Please note that both IDDE programs in Lynn and Swampscott are ongoing as well.