The public has until early next week to weigh in on the 18 stretches of beach that the state of Oregon is proposing to monitor this summer for high bacteria counts and other potential
pollution concerns.
The proposed monitoring sites stretch from Seaside Beach in Clatsop County south to Mill Beach in Brookings. Five of the 18 beaches – D River Beach, Beverly Beach, Agate Beach, Nye Beach and Seal Rock Beach — are in Lincoln County.
The list includes some of the most frequently visited beach in the state, said Jara Popinga, program coordinator for the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program.
“The Oregon Coast is 360 miles long and has over 80 beach sites,” she said. “Obviously, we can’t monitor every one of those. So we focus mainly on the most visited beaches and those where we’ve seen problem pollution levels in previous years.”
So-called “exceedances” tend to occur after major rains, when pollution from animal feces, human campsites and infrastructure such as septic systems wash down coastal creeks and streams into the ocean, Popinga said.
When that happens, a van staffed by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality hustles in to perform tests that can yield results in anywhere from two to three hours. If bacteria levels are high enough, signs are posted in the area and the Oregon Health Authority steps in to announce the issue on its website.
“We want to be clear that we don’t have the authority to close beaches,” she said. “What we tell people is that if they come into contact with water during an adverse event, they should use soap and clean water on areas of the skin where water contacted you. Enjoy the beach, but stay out of the water.”
As part of a flexible sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health, according to a department new release.
The public comment period for input on this year’s proposed monitoring sites ends Monday, April 26.
The program, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, operates on a three-week rotation of sampling the north coast, the mid coast, and the south coast.
Here are the beaches proposed for this year’s monitoring season:
SEASIDE BEACH – Seaside, Clatsop County
CANNON BEACH – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
TOLOVANA SP BEACH – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
SHORT SAND SP BEACH – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
ROCKAWAY BEACH – Rockaway, Tillamook County
TWINS ROCKS BEACH – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
NESKOWIN SP BEACH – Neskowin, Tillamook County
D RIVER SP BEACH – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
BEVERLY BEACH – Newport, Lincoln County
AGATE SP BEACH – Newport, Lincoln County
NYE BEACH – Newport, Lincoln County
SEAL ROCK SP BEACH – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
HECETA BEACH – Florence, Lane County
BASTENDORFF BEACH – Coos Bay, Coos County
SUNSET BAY SP BEACH – Coos Bay, Coos County
HUBBARD CREEK BEACH – Port Orford, Curry County
HARRIS BEACH SP – Brookings, Curry County
MILL BEACH – Brookings, Curry County
The proposed list includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon, 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.
The OHA will accept public comments and suggestions on the proposals via email at Beach.Health@state.or.us or by calling 971-673-0400.
