What is the Beach Monitoring Program?
The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) monitors recreational water quality at ocean beaches. OBMP works with other state agencies to collect and test water samples, and when bacteria levels are above normal a water contact advisory is issued. The goal of the OBMP is to protect the public health by providing information about water quality, strengthening water quality standards at beaches, and promoting scientific research. Q: How often is the water tested? A: During the summer, ocean water is sampled either once a week, every two weeks, or monthly based on the priority ranking of the beach. The priority is determined by beach use, pollution hazards, previous monitoring results, and input from coastal stakeholders. When a sample exceeds the state standard a water contact advisory is issued and resampling occurs within 96 hours. During the winter, water is sampled every two weeks at the beaches that are used most for winter water recreation. No resampling is conducted during the wint
