Seven ocean beaches in Lincoln County are among the two dozen that will be monitored for fecal bacteria this summer by the Oregon Health Authority. The beaches will be monitored from June to September.
The monitoring entails collecting water quality samples at the most frequently visited beaches on the coast as well as beaches where state regulators have found bacteria in the past. The state also monitors beaches where local organizations and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution.
In Lincoln County the monitored beaches are at D River and Siletz Bay in Lincoln City; Beverly Beach, Agate Beach and Nye Beach in or near Newport; and Ona Beach and Seal Rock beaches in Seal Rock.
For current conditions, please visit www.healthoregon.org/beach or contact the monitoring program at Beach.Health@oha.oregon.gov or 1-877-290-6767.
Why is South Beach State Park not being monitored? The fact is more Lincoln County surfers use this stretch of beach more then any other we should be informed and protected.
The Newport chapter of Surfriders tests more sites in the county all year around–depending on how many volunteers there are–with the assistance of staff at the Newport Aquarium (to analyse the samples) unless that’s changed since I did some sample collection. It’s great the state does some testing but it’s also important to acknowledge what Surfrider members do &, if residents/tourists appreciate that work, and perhaps support the work through membership or donations that work–along w/other chapter activities such as beach trash collection, Moolack Beach/high101 joint trash collection efforts w/a local hang gliding group and recently cooperating on 101 cleanup with a local (Newport) senior fishing club group, surfing events, etc