2020 Water Quality Report Card + #BearCreekLove
Rogue Riverkeeper's 2020 Water Quality Monitoring seasonal program has come to a close and we are excited to share the results with you!
THE GOOD NEWS
The majority of waterways we sampled tested below the Oregon DEQ state standard for E. coli (406 MPN) including: Evans Creek in Rogue River, Rogue River in Gold Hill, Baby Bear Cr. at Bear Creek Park in Medford, Bear Creek at North Mountain Park in Ashland, Ashland Creek and the Ashland Swim Reservoir, Emigrant Lake, and our three lower Rogue sites at Agness, Quosatana, and Lex's Landing.
THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS
Several sites were routinely in violation including: Little Butte in Eagle Point, Bear Creek at Upton Bridge, Bear Creek at Bear Creek Park, and Wagner Creek in Talent. Impacts to these waterways include irrigation returns, agriculture, polluted urban runoff, and other pollution sources.
2020 Rogue Basin Water Quality Report Card findings.
The Rogue Basin Water Quality Report Card highlights the results of our 2020 water quality monitoring program where we tested for bacteria pollution across 14 sites in the Rogue watershed. Every summer from June to September, Rogue Riverkeeper collects water samples at popular recreation sites to test for the presence of E. coli bacteria to determine whether the samples meet the state water quality standard for human contact. The information is uploaded onto The Swim Guide site each week, so you can check the water quality at your favorite recreation sites. Click images!
Big thanks to our monitoring volunteers and partner organizations - the City of Ashland and Lower Rogue Watershed Council.
Want to know more about the process?
Turning toward Bear Creek.
In the past, our report card has included a spotlight on Bear Creek as part of our Bear Creek Initiative campaign; and this year, our increased focus is particularly relevant. Rogue Riverkeeper is actively taking measures to limit the harmful impacts to Bear Creek and the Rogue post-fire by:
Coordinating with community partners, municipalities, and agencies specializing in vegetation restoration, water quality monitoring, stormwater (runoff) management, bird and wildlife (salmon!) monitoring, and Bear Creek Greenway repairs to identify ways that we can minimize negative impacts to local waterways;
Working directly with local agencies and other non-profits on an immediate response to address water pollution. We've recently joined meetings led by Rogue Valley Sewer Services , Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District to coordinate pollution prevention into Bear Creek;
Talking to other Waterkeepers, particularly in California and Colorado that have also experienced devastating fires in rural communities;
Quickly implementing a Bear Creek photo-monitoring protocol to capture changes to Bear Creek pre- and post-rain events.
A brief tour of Bear Creek riparian corridor…
How can you help?
If you’re interested in helping monitor and restore the health of Bear Creek and the Rogue, please let us know! This is still evolving, but may involve photo-monitoring, testing for pollution, or helping with clean ups.