Letter: We need to support the Beach Act

I’m grateful for the coverage of the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (“OHA kicks off 2024 Oregon beach monitoring season”). With recent levels of contamination, it’s important to keep an eye on what beaches are safe to swim at. Data from past years verifies the alarming rates of bacteria at local beaches that can make our swimmers sick. In 2022, 86% of Oregon beaches tested had potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator bacteria on at least one day.

Fortunately, Representative Suzanne Bonamici is on the committee that has the power to move along the BEACH Act (HR 7203), which will enable communities to continue beach testing, allowing us to know when there is bacteria in the water. Surfers, swimmers and other beachgoers should urge their representatives to support this Act. You can find more information about bacteria levels at your local beach in the Safe for Swimming (https://environmentamerica.org/oregon/resources/safe-for-swimming/) report on Environment Oregon’s website.

Carly Cohen, Summer Associate

Environment Oregon