The Oregon Health Authority has started its beach monitoring program for the summer and fall by announcing the list of 24 coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria.
The beaches on the list that the agency is monitoring includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.
Seven of the 24 monitored beaches are in Lincoln County, along with Tillamook the most of any county on the coast. They are the D River Beach and Siletz Bay Beach in Lincoln City; Beverly Beach, Agate Beach and Nye Beach in or near Newport; and Ona Beach and Seal Rock Beach in or near Seal Rock.
In Tillamook County the beaches are Manzanita Beach, Rockaway Beach, Twin Rocks Beach, Oceanside Beach, Cape Kiwanda Beach and Neskowin Beach.
Other beaches being monitored are Seaside Beach, Cannon Beach, Tolovana Beach State Park, Short Sand Beach, Heceta Beach, Bastendorff Beach, Sunset Bat State Park Beach, Hubbard Creek Beach, Harris Beach State Park, Mill Beach and Crissey Fields recreation site.
Surfriders monitors water quality of some of the beaches in Lincoln county (primarily Newport, but that could change!) for much of the year.(when it safe for volunteers to collect water samples). One of many reasons to join Surfriders if you live on the coast, whether you surf or not.