Oct. 29, 2025
PORTLAND, Ore. —Oregon Health Authority today lifted an alert it issued for Cannon Beach at Gower Creek after laboratory tests on samples collected near a sewage spill show there is low risk of exposure to fecal bacteria.
The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP), based at OHA, issued the alert Oct. 27 based on a reported sewage overflow at the Gower Creek outfall, where the creek spills into Cannon Beach. OHA wanted to alert the public to possible health risks while awaiting results of water sampling and laboratory analysis; OHA issues formal advisories based on laboratory results.
Laboratory results the City of Cannon Beach submitted to OHA show that enterococcus (bacteria) levels fell below beach advisory action values. As a result, OHA is lifting its alert to the public and will not be issuing a formal beach water quality advisory. Contact with the ocean water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk.
OBMP noted that the city also quickly posted signs at multiple beach access points after the sewage spill and followed up with repeated water quality testing over the following two days.
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 OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0440, or call OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.