Oregon health officials lifted an ocean-water contact advisory at Sunset Bay State Park Beach on Friday, October 2, after follow-up testing showed bacteria levels had declined, ending a warning issued two days earlier at the Coos County beach near Coos Bay.
The Oregon Health Authority removed the advisory following additional sampling by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The results showed that contact with ocean water no longer posed a higher-than-normal health risk, allowing visitors to resume swimming and wading without the bacteria-related warning.
The advisory began Wednesday, September 30, when water samples showed unsafe levels of fecal bacteria. Health officials advised visitors to avoid direct contact with ocean water until testing confirmed conditions had improved. Beach activities that did not involve entering the water, including walking, picnicking and flying kites, remained available throughout the advisory.
Visitors should continue avoiding large pools of standing water frequented by birds and runoff draining from those pools. Bird waste can raise bacteria levels in those areas even after ocean-water samples meet health standards. State guidance also advises against wading in nearby creeks, discolored water and runoff flowing across the beach.
OHA recommends staying out of the ocean for 48 hours after a rainstorm, regardless of whether a beach advisory is in effect. Rain can carry waste and other contamination from inland areas into streams and coastal waters.
Exposure to contaminated water can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face greater risks from waterborne bacteria. The state’s notices did not report a confirmed illness outbreak connected to the Sunset Bay advisory.
Officials did not identify the source of the elevated bacteria levels. Stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, failing septic systems and waste from livestock, pets and wildlife can contribute to coastal contamination, but the notices did not establish any of those as the cause of this incident. Neither notice included numerical bacteria counts.
Oregon’s beach monitoring program tests for enterococcus, bacteria found in human and animal waste that can signal the presence of other harmful microorganisms. DEQ collects and analyzes water samples, while OHA issues public health advisories when results indicate an elevated risk and removes them after follow-up testing shows improvement.
The monitoring program has operated since 2003 with support from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants. OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department participate in the effort to monitor popular beaches and notify visitors of contamination.
Sunset Bay State Park offers a sheltered sandy beach, camping and picnic facilities, with hiking trails connecting to nearby Shore Acres and Cape Arago state parks. Oregon residents planning a coastal visit can check the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program’s current conditions before entering the water. Advisory information is also available through OHA’s toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.