GUERNEVILLE – Russian River bacteria counts have been coming up
higher than normal this summer at some River beaches that are being
routinely tested to see if germ levels pose health hazards.
Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville and the Monte Rio public beach
were both posted as “unsafe for swimming” last week by Sonoma
County Environmental Health officials who monitor the Russian
River.
With the big July 4 weekend arriving operators at both beaches
hope new tests this week will show bacteria counts low enough to
remove the optional county health department warnings.
State health guidelines recommend but do not require beaches to
be posted with warnings when “indicator organisms” exceed the
following levels:
•10,000 per 100 milliliters (ml) for total coliform;
•235 per 100 ml for e. coli, and
•61 per 100 ml for enterococcus.
Routine bacteria tests in the month of June showed continuously
elevated enterococcus counts at Johnson’s Beach, but the most
recent test (June 26) showed the germ count had dropped back to
what environmental health officials consider safe.
“Warning, swimming not advised,” said the signs posted in
English and Spanish last week at Johnson’s. “Bacteria levels at
this beach have exceeded recommended state of California guidelines
for fresh water bathing,” said the warnings posted by Sonoma County
Public Health Officer Mary Maddux-Gonzalez of the Sonoma County
Department of Health Services.
Swim warnings remained posted this week in front of the Monte
Rio Beach kiddie area where enterococcus counts were too high four
times in June.
Monte Rio e. coli counts were also high enough in June to
warrant posting warnings, according to the county Web site where
the test results are posted.
During the summer public health officials take routine weekly
tests at six public beaches from Healdsburg to Monte Rio, including
Camp Rose Beach, Healdsburg Memorial Beach, Steelhead Beach and
Forestville Access Beach (also known as Mom’s Beach).
This summer bacteria levels are also being examined at
additional sites, including the Russian River near Cloverdale,
Cloverdale River Park, the Geyserville Highway 128 bridge, the
Alexander Valley Road bridge, and at Sunset Beach on River
Road.
“In 41 years we’ve never been posted,” said Johnson’s Beach
owner Clare Harris last week as families filed in for a day on the
beach and mothers and children waded in the cool green River.
