Oregon Health Authority’s Beach Monitoring Program invites public comment on a list of beaches it is proposing to monitor this summer. The OHA Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) works with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to pick beaches that need monitoring based on established criteria. These criteria include pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input. As part of a flexible sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. Based on OBMP’s evaluation criteria, the following list contains the proposed beaches for 2021 monitoring season; a copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request:
SEASIDE BEACH – Seaside, Oregon – Clatsop County
CANNON BEACH – Cannon Beach, Oregon – Clatsop County
TOLOVANA SP BEACH – Cannon Beach, Oregon – Clatsop County
SHORT SAND SP BEACH – Arch Cape, Oregon – Tillamook County
ROCKAWAY BEACH – Rockaway, Oregon – Tillamook County
TWINS ROCKS BEACH – Twin Rocks, Oregon – Tillamook County
NESKOWIN SP BEACH – Neskowin, Oregon – Tillamook County
D RIVER SP BEACH – Lincoln City, Oregon – Lincoln County
BEVERLY BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
AGATE SP BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
NYE BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
SEAL ROCK SP BEACH – Seal Rock, Oregon – Lincoln County
HECETA BEACH – Florence, Oregon – Lane County
BASTENDORFF BEACH – Coos Bay, Oregon – Coos County
SUNSET BAY SP BEACH – Coos Bay, Oregon – Coos County
HUBBARD CREEK BEACH – Port Orford, Oregon – Curry County
HARRIS BEACH SP – Brookings, Oregon – Curry County
MILL BEACH – Brookings, Oregon – 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. OHA and DEQ use available resources to monitor as many beaches as possible. However, with more than 360 miles of coastline, more than 90 beaches and just one full-time sampling technician, not all beaches can be monitored. OBMP will accept public comments and suggestions on the proposed 2021 beaches through April 26, 2021. Contact OBMP by email at each.Health@state.or.us">Beach.Health@state.or.us or call 971-673-0400 to submit input.
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