A public health advisory for contact with marine water at Seal Rock State Park Beach in Lincoln County was lifted Friday, June 6, by the Oregon Health Authority. The advisory was issued June 4, after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters. Results from subsequent samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality showed contamination had subsided, and the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal health risk associated with water contact activities. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools and runoff from water frequented by birds, because this can be an indication of increased bacteria from fecal matter. State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect. Since 2003, state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are Oregon Public Health, Department of Environmental Quality and the Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, contact the Beach Monitoring Program at 971-673-0400 or www.healthoregon.org/beach; also contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 1-877-290-6767.
