Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council has been conducting water quality monitoring of our coastal streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and ocean since 2002. Data have been largely collected by volunteers with training and coordination by SDCWC Water Quality Staff.
SDCWC has merged with MidCoast Watersheds Council in Newport, OR. Inquiries for the north Lincoln County area should now be directed to their staff. Please visit http://www.midcoastwatersheds.org/
SDCWC conducted surface water monitoring of ocean outfalls from Roads End to Nelscott as a first of its kind look at these smaller ocean tributaries. In addition, we conducted critical water quality monitoring of Panther Creek and the Salmon River following the devastating Echo Mountain Fires of 2020. Past studies have included instantaneous and continuous dissolved oxygen and temperature monitoring, conductivity, pH, stream discharge, turbidity and bacteria source tracking. Watersheds where we have worked include the Salmon River, Rowdy Creek, Bear Creek, Deer Creek, Logan Creek, Thompson Creek, Rock Creek, Devils Lake, Agnes Creek, Baldy Creek, Schooner Creek, Drift Creek, and the Siletz River. Data collected serve as a baseline to measure against water quality standards (leading in some cases to the EPA 303(d) listing of impaired waters), and to gauge the need for and progress made in restoration and remediation.
SDCWC has merged with MidCoast Watersheds Council in Newport, OR. Inquiries for the north Lincoln County area should now be directed to their staff. Please visit http://www.midcoastwatersheds.org/
SDCWC conducted surface water monitoring of ocean outfalls from Roads End to Nelscott as a first of its kind look at these smaller ocean tributaries. In addition, we conducted critical water quality monitoring of Panther Creek and the Salmon River following the devastating Echo Mountain Fires of 2020. Past studies have included instantaneous and continuous dissolved oxygen and temperature monitoring, conductivity, pH, stream discharge, turbidity and bacteria source tracking. Watersheds where we have worked include the Salmon River, Rowdy Creek, Bear Creek, Deer Creek, Logan Creek, Thompson Creek, Rock Creek, Devils Lake, Agnes Creek, Baldy Creek, Schooner Creek, Drift Creek, and the Siletz River. Data collected serve as a baseline to measure against water quality standards (leading in some cases to the EPA 303(d) listing of impaired waters), and to gauge the need for and progress made in restoration and remediation.
Baldy Creek discharging into the Pacific Ocean following storm event.
Monitoring Parameters
- pH
- Temperature
- Dissolved Oxygen
- Conductivity
- Turbidity
- E. coli - Freshwater systems
- Enterococcus - Saltwater systems
Water Quality Data
Current and historic bacteria water quality data for many of our sites are available online and through the free phone app ~ SWIM GUIDE. Site are shown as a pass/fail against the state and federal standards and serve as a indicator of watershed health. SWIM GUIDE online or Download App |
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Water Quality Monitoring Partners
- Career Tech High School - Student Internships, Coastal Drone Academy, and Lab Equipment Sharing
- Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians - Field and Lab Equipment Grant Funding
- Neighbors for Kids - Lab Space and Student / Community Science
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality - Field and Lab Equipment, Lab Supplies
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board - Monitoring Grant Funding
- Surfrider Foundation - Lab Equipment Sharing
- Swim Guide - Water Quality Data Sharing
- Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council Volunteers - Sampling and Analysis, Data management
Data, Past Studies, and Resources
- Ambient Water Quality Monitoring System (Oregon DEQ)
- Salmon River Gauging Station (Oregon Water Resources Department)
- Katen & Robertson. 2017. Comparison of Salmon River, Schooner and Drift Creeks Dissolved Oxygen Measurements 2017.
- Robertson & Katen. 2018. The exploration of fluorometric analysis of optical brighteners as a delineation tool of bacteria loading of coastal streams from rural-residential development in Lincoln County, Oregon.
Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council has merged with MidCoast Watersheds Council in Newport, OR. Inquiries for the north Lincoln County area should now be directed to their staff. Please visit http://www.midcoastwatersheds.org/
