KICKOFF

Summer is here (kinda, right?), so it’s time for us to kickoff our annual Water Quality Monitoring program! For the past nine years, Rogue Riverkeeper has worked with interns and volunteers to collect water samples at popular recreation sites across the Rogue Basin to test for E. coli bacteria and let you know where it is safe to recreate. Sample results and any E. coli pollution, if present, are then compared to standard bacteria levels (set by the Department of Environmental Quality) allowed in Oregon’s recreational waters. If the levels are too high, those sites violate Oregon’s water quality standards and the findings will be noted on Swim Guide as well as passed along to the Department of Environmental Quality.

In keeping with what other US Waterkeepers are doing to address the potential risks associated with COVID-19, we are making significant changes to our program this year. Historically, our water quality program has relied on trained volunteers and a seasonal intern, but this year we are reducing the number of sites we will sample and will rely on staff for collection and analysis so as to limit risk of contact with COVID-19.

For our 2020 season, we will collect weekly samples June through September at: Emigrant Lake, Rogue River at Gold Hill, Evans Creek in Rogue River, Little Butte Creek in Eagle Point, Bear Creek in Ashland, Medford, and Central Point, and Wagner Creek in Talent. We will continue to coordinate with the City of Ashland which samples Ashland Creek and the Lower Rogue Watershed Council which samples the Rogue River at Lex’s Landing in Gold Beach, Quosatana Campground, and Agness.

Here’s what you can expect from our water quality monitoring program this summer!

Testing of high profile sites. Instead of grabbing samples at our typical 22 monitoring sites, we are testing high profile sites only so as to provide important data results to the public and the Dept of Environmental Quality.
Conduct in-house field work. In order to protect our community, Riverkeeper staff will be collecting and testing samples this summer limiting others exposure to the coronavirus.
Increase personal protective gear. We will be increasing safety protocols by using gloves, masks, eye protection, and waterproof boots and increasing safety measures in our lab as well.
You will still know where it is safe to swim! We will continue to post our weekly sampling results to the Swim Guide App and our website so you know where it is safe to recreate. However, we urge you to follow the current restrictions for recreation and social distancing to keep you, your family and community safe.

UPDATE

The heat has arrived! And we are enjoying our local waterways more than ever. Check out the following graph to see the bacteria levels in your favorite waterway - and how it compares to others in the region.

A majority of the waterways we sample test below the Oregon DEQ state standard (406 MPN), for example, Evans Creek at Palmerton Park in the City of Rogue River, Emigrant Lane, and the Family Beach on the Rogue River in Gold Hill. Yet other creeks are routinely in violation like Little Butte at Harnish Park in Eagle Point, Bear Creek at the Bear Creek Playground in Medford, and (sometimes) Wagner Creek in the Creekside neighborhood. These waterways are impacted by irrigation returns and agriculture, polluted urban runoff, and logging practices.

Because we have limited the number of sites we are testing to protect staff and limit potential exposure, some RRK members are asking about bacteria levels at popular recreation sites we have monitored in the past.

The following graph shows past E. coli bacteria results (2018-2019) at some of our favorite swimming spots! Because these sites have historically passed Oregon state E. coli standards with flying colors, we are not testing them this summer.

Want more? Check out this short video on how water samples are collected, processed, and analyzed. And check out our visual reports from the 2017 and 2019 seasons for more historic data and information.

So before you head out to your favorite lake or river, check out the most recent water quality information on our Swim Guide page and through the Waterkeeper Swim Guide app as well as the latest COVID-19 recreation precautions and restrictions. Know before you go, stay safe, stay healthy!

For the Rogue!
Sara, Outreach Coordinator

(Modified) Summer Water Quality Program Kicks Off!

KICKOFF

UPDATE