DEQ report confirms that Sunset Bay’s contamination likely coming from freshwater tributaries, Jan. 15

COOS BAY – Fecal bacteria contamination in Sunset Bay is coming from freshwater creeks leading into the bay on the Southern Oregon Coast and not potential sources in the bay itself, a recently completed study by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality confirmed. DEQ officials sampled streams leading into Sunset Bay and the bay itself in search of the cause of the contamination. Big Creek, the primary tributary to Sunset Bay, is the likely the main source of fecal bacteria contamination. Previous research also put the focus of contamination study on freshwater flowing into Sunset Bay from Big Creek. DEQ conducted sampling in the fall of 2018 to better understand the sources of fecal bacterial contamination in and around Sunset Bay. As a result, Big Creek, as well as Sunset Bay are now listed as impaired waters by DEQ under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. This listing in spring 2020 is the first step in addressing water quality issues in Sunset Bay and Big Creek improving public safety for swimmers. DEQ cannot definitively identify the specific sources along Big Creek, but found that the bacteria sources for Sunset Bay are likely terrestrial rather than marine. Possible sources include failed septic systems, leaky sewage pipes, recreational vehicle wastewater and wildlife, such as elk, deer and beavers. Monitoring at Sunset Bay is part of the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program, a partnership between DEQ and the Oregon Health Authority. DEQ has conducted monitoring for fecal bacteria at Sunset Bay since 2002 as part of the program. Annual grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fund the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program. The main goal of the program is to protect public health by monitoring fecal bacteria contamination in marine and freshwaters at Oregon’s coastal beaches. The Big Creek and Sunset Bay Bacteria Investigation report is available at https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/Pages/Beach-Bacteria-Reports.aspx.