Wakulla County·Nature Coast·Gulf Coast
Is it safe to swim at Mashes Sands Beach today?
Nearby-station reading — not collected at Mashes Sands Beach.
The badge, reading, and history below come from SHELL POINT, about 3.8 miles away. Use this as local context and check official conditions for Mashes Sands Beach before swimming.
Latest nearby-station DOH sample is GOOD
The latest Florida DOH sample at SHELL POINT, about 3.8 miles from Mashes Sands Beach, measured 10 CFU/100mL in the good range. Use it as nearby context, not as a sample collected at Mashes Sands Beach.
Keep it handy on this device for your next conditions check.
Latest sample on page · nearby station
Monday, August 31, 2026
This sample comes from SHELL POINT, about 3.8 miles from Mashes Sands Beach.
Bacteria reading
10 CFU/100mL
This reading belongs to SHELL POINT. Florida DOH classifies results above 70 CFU/100mL as poor. Lower is better.
Nearby-station context
8% poor results
Use the current sample first, then use up to 12 latest displayed samples as context.
This page helps you make a better beach decision, not just read a badge. If it has rained heavily since Monday, August 31, 2026, lean conservative even though the latest sample is in the good range.
Start with the sample date
The number on this page is only as fresh as the last sample. If the date feels old for your trip, be more skeptical.
Use history as a tie-breaker
Two beaches can both look good today, but the one with fewer past spikes is usually the safer bet on an uncertain weather day.
Rain beats the badge
Stormwater runoff can change conditions faster than Florida's routine testing schedule, especially near inlets, canals, and urban drains.
Mashes Sands Beach beach conditions and water quality today
If you searched for Mashes Sands Beach water quality or beach conditions today, the latest Florida DOH sample shown here comes from SHELL POINT, about 3.8 miles away. That station measured 10 CFU/100mL on Monday, August 31, 2026, which this site classifies as GOOD; it was not collected at Mashes Sands Beach.
Latest sample on this page: Monday, August 31, 2026
This sample is 10 days older than the freshest update currently on this site.
How Mashes Sands Beach compares nearby today
SHELL POINT's nearby-station result used on the Mashes Sands Beach page ranks #2 of 4 nearby page results by current status, recent poor-sample rate, and sample freshness. This is a proxy comparison, not an exact result collected at Mashes Sands Beach.
If you want the stronger backup right now, compare Carrabelle Beach first.
Compare Mashes Sands Beach with Carrabelle BeachYour best next step from this page
Compare Carrabelle Beach next
Carrabelle Beach currently looks like the stronger nearby alternative on this page.
Use Wakulla County as your local backup map
SHELL POINT's nearby-station result used on the Mashes Sands Beach page currently ranks first among monitored page results in Wakulla County by current status, recent poor-sample rate, and sample freshness. This comparison uses SHELL POINT as a nearby proxy for Mashes Sands Beach, not an exact-beach sample. Use the county page to compare the rest of the local beaches in one place.
Plan from Tallahassee
If you are deciding from a city trip, the city guide makes it easier to compare distance, current status, and fallback options together.
Use the right page for the decision you're making
These deeper views help when you need more than the same-day badge.
Track record
Open Mashes Sands Beach history
Use this when today's badge looks okay but you want to review whether SHELL POINT used as context for Mashes Sands Beach has been one of the steadier options.
Backup plan
Compare Carrabelle Beach and other backups
Use this first if Mashes Sands Beach gives you pause and you want the strongest nearby alternative ranked by current status, risk history, and distance.
Weather risk
Use the after-rain view for Mashes Sands Beach
This sample is already 10 days behind the freshest site data. If rain hit after this sample, start with the stricter after-rain view.
Warning signs
Check recent spikes before you go
Use this to see how recent the warning signs are. The displayed history still includes a poor sample on May 11.
Recent samples show a steadier option
SHELL POINT used as context for Mashes Sands Beach has a strong recent-sample track record in this dataset. That makes a dry-weather good sample more reassuring, but it still does not override recent rain, runoff, or brown water.
Most recent poor sample shown here: May 11, 2026 (78 CFU/100mL)
Freshest sample anywhere on this site: September 10, 2026
Sample source details
- Source station
- SHELL POINT
- Station ID
- 297
- Distance from beach point
- About 3.8 miles
- Match method
- Nearby-station proxy
- Data source
- Florida DOH Healthy Beaches Program via Water Atlas API
This station was selected by proximity because the pipeline did not have a strong local name match. Its sample and history are nearby context, not measurements collected at Mashes Sands Beach.
Water Quality History — Latest Samples
Sample source: SHELL POINT (nearby station for Mashes Sands Beach)
Values in CFU/100mL. Green = Good (≤35.4), Yellow = Moderate (35.5–70.4), Red = Poor (≥70.5)
If it rained recently, treat this page as stale faster
Florida DOH testing is routine, not continuous. Heavy rain can push bacteria higher through runoff before the next posted sample catches it. For Mashes Sands Beach, wait at least 72 hours after heavy rain and be extra careful around inlets, canals, storm drains, or brown water. Read the rain guide.
About Mashes Sands Beach
A public beach on Ochlockonee Bay in Wakulla County, offering calm water, picnic areas, and proximity to the Apalachicola National Forest.
Where Mashes Sands Beach sits in Wakulla County
SHELL POINT's nearby-station result used on the Mashes Sands Beach page currently ranks first among monitored page results in Wakulla County by current status, recent poor-sample rate, and sample freshness. This comparison uses SHELL POINT as a nearby proxy for Mashes Sands Beach, not an exact-beach sample.
Compare with Shell Point BeachWhere Mashes Sands Beach sits in Nature Coast
SHELL POINT's nearby-station result used on the Mashes Sands Beach page currently ranks #3 of 6 monitored page results in the Nature Coast group by current status, recent poor-sample rate, and sample freshness. This comparison uses SHELL POINT as a nearby proxy for Mashes Sands Beach, not an exact-beach sample.
Compare with Shell Point BeachKeep Exploring This Coastline
Use the county, regional, and city guide pages to compare more beaches before you commit to one stop.
Compare Nearby Beaches Before You Go
These nearby beaches are sorted by current status, historical spike rate, and sample recency so you can compare backup options before you drive.
Cape San Blas Beach
Gulf County · Nearby station tested Sep 1, 2026
Nearby-station context from Cape Palms Public Access, about 3.9 mi away; not an exact-beach sample.
Carrabelle Beach
Franklin County · Tested Aug 31, 2026
St. George Island Beach
Franklin County · Tested Aug 31, 2026
Read Before You Go
Is It Safe to Swim After Rain?
Wait times, runoff risk, and when to skip the water
Understanding Advisories
What the badges, thresholds, and warnings really mean
Cleanest Beaches in Florida
Compare the lowest poor-sample shares in the displayed history
How Bacteria Testing Works
How sampling works and why “latest” is not the same as live
Flesh-Eating Bacteria & Vibrio
Why this enterococcus badge does not test for Vibrio
Disclaimer: Water quality data is sourced from the Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program. Conditions can change rapidly. This website provides informational guidance only, not official real-time clearance — always check with Florida DOH for official beach conditions. Safe to Swim Florida is an independent project and is not affiliated with any government agency.