Island County health officials said today Holmes Harbor is safe for swimming.

Dr. Roger Case, health officer for Island County, said a review of bacterial studies for the swimming area at Freeland County Park shows the harbor is safe for swimming. The public health posting that has warned against swimming is being removed.

Case said bacterial levels are “now quite low and pose no threat to the public’s safety.”

Holmes Harbor has been closed for shellfish harvesting and other recreational activities since March 2006. Preliminary results from 18 months of sampling surface water showed the presence of fecal coliform bacteria.

The county health department will continue to monitor Holmes Harbor for bacterial levels.