Oregon Beach Monitoring Program Underway

The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2025 season by announcing the coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall. The OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division, monitors some of the most frequently visited beaches in the state. The list 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.

The following beaches are being monitored this season, including name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County

• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County

• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County

• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County

• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County

• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County

• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County

• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County

• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County

• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County

• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County

• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County

• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County

• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County

• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln City

• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln City

• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County

• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County

• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County

• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County

• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County

• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County

• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County

• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

  
  

The OBMP season runs from mid-May to mid-September.  Advisories are issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in upcoming seasons. The OBMP works with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to determine beaches that need monitoring based on several criteria. These criteria include pollution hazards present; previous monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request. For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at Beach.Health@oha.oregon.gov or 1-877-290-6767.