Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2017)
April 21, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 7A EPA tightens water quality standards to surface waters include wastewater treatment plants, on-site septic systems, domes- tic and wild animal manure, and storm runoff, according to the EPA. In July 2015, a sewage leak led to a high spike in bacteria readings in the Ecola Creek Watershed. In general, Cannon Beach has a history of high bacteria test results, especially after rain washes waterways out, said Ryan Cruse, field co- ordinator for Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force. By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Beachgoers on the North Coast could possibly see an increase in the number of beach advisories issued this summer. Each summer, selected beaches are monitored for bacteria by the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program. But an increase in bacteria readings on the beach won’t necessar- ily be the cause for the rise in advisories. Rather, a change in national standards may lead to more local alerts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently tightened the marine recre- ational water quality standard used to determine if bacteria levels are unsafe for water contact, according to the Or- egon Health Authority. Since the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program started in 2004, standards for measur- ing bacteria, known as BAV — beach action value — has been 158 mpn, or most prob- able number, a testing method used to estimate the number of colony forming units of bacteria in water samples. Starting this summer, that value will drop significant- ly to 70 mpn, Oregon Public Health Division Program Co- ordinator Tara Chetock said. Chetock said the beach monitoring program lowered the value after EPA studies on a fund that relies heavily on hotel and rental room tax revenue. “During the recession, the general fund was treading water,” he said. “It fluctuates, which you don’t want when you are in the middle of a project.” The rate increase is a way to prove to lenders the city has a way to pay its operational and capital costs when apply- ing for a revenue bond, Gras- sick said. He said this approach would mean revenue paid from the rates would be guar- anteed to go to public works related projects rather than paying down interest passed on to residents in the shape of property tax on debt from a general bond. C ONSTRUCTION “Helping shape the character of Cannon Beach since 1973” Residential • Commercial • Remodeling New Construction • Storm Damage Repair Full Service Custom Cabinet Shop 503.436.2235 Generally clean CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/FILE PHOTO The Cannon Beach Public Works Department posted signs to notify beachgoers of a sewage spill in July 2015. The city was fined $1,800 as a result. showed stricter standards can help reduce illness as a result of accidental ingestion of bac- teria contaminated water. “It’s important to note that when the EPA is looking at water quality standards, they are also looking at places like Miami and California where the water is warmer and more people are in the water all time,” Chetock said. “The standard was established con- sidering all beaches.” In general, Chetock said, Oregon beaches are not where people are getting sick, but the change was made in the interest of public health. Too cold Most periods of the year, water on the North Coast is usually too cold for swim- mers. According to Surfrider Foundation, an environmen- tal nonprofit that tracks water bacteria, there have been no recent self-reported illnesses on the North Coast. The Oregon Health Au- thority’s Beach Monitoring Program is inviting public comment through May 8 on a list of beaches it is propos- ing to monitor this summer, which currently lists Seaside, Tolovana and Cannon Beach as suggestions. The three beaches have been tested mul- tiple times and rank highly on the list due to the large num- ber of users in the summer, Chetock said. Sources of contamination While Surfrider cannot is- sue advisories like the beach management program, Cruse said based on their data Can- non Beach has maintained generally clean readings since 2015. With the change in EPA regulations however, Cruse said he could see the number of advisories increasing as well as the amount of testing required. “If the OBMP is ending up with more advisories, they will have to be doing a lot more testing than in the past because they will need to go back and test as soon as they can after an advisory to eval- uate whether or not it needs to be kept,” Cruse said. He also noted that Surfrider is concerned with national lev- el budget cuts within the EPA, and what affect that will have on research and public health. “If funding goes away, there will be a lot less infor- mation out there to address these issues,” Cruse said. Water rates hike put on back burner Water from Page 1A BUSINESS DIRECTORY It would also eliminate com- petition between public works and other services in town that pull from the general fund. But each year the city doesn’t approve a rate increase, the further behind public works gets on infrastructure projects, he said. “This plan is the meat and potatoes of public works,” he said. “We’re engineers. We like to build stuff.” If adopted, high priority projects chosen would be in- cluded in the 2017-18 budget and be constructed over the course of five to seven years. Bertellotti said the rates need to be explained in a way the average resident in Can- non Beach “can understand how much they are paying and what it is for.” Les Wierson, another member of the committee, also suggested proposing a tax levy to fund the number of high priority projects listed in the plan. “I’m not sure it’s worth spending this amount at an ac- celerated rate. This looks like we are replacing an entire sys- tem, and I don’t think we need to do that,” Wierson said. Both Wierson and Ber- tellotti advocated for finding opportunities to rehab projects rather than full replacements. Grassick said that the mas- ter plan is a living document, and that priority projects would be evaluated every two years or so. “You can kick the can down the road, but the issues will still be there,” Grassick said. www.coasterconstruction.com • CCB# 150126 H EATING & C OOLING Expert Service, Repairs & Installation Residential & Commercial Gas, Oil & Electric Furnaces Ductless Systems • Fireplaces Locally Owned & Operated Water Heaters • Heat Pumps & AC Commercial Refrigeration Cannon Beach, Oregon 503-440-6975 CCB#199205 North Coast beach advisories could rise after stricter testing coastheating@gmail.com P AINTING Randy Anderson Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB# 89453 36 Years Experience Anderson Painting (503) 738-9989 • Cell (503) 440-2411 • Fax (503) 738-9337 PO Box 140 Seaside, Oregon 97138 www.andersonpainting.biz “Custom Finishing” L ANDSCAPING Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix Soil Amendments YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF (no Scotch Broom) 503-717-1454 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Laurelwood Farm C ONSTRUCTION B oB M c E wan c onstruction , inc . E xcavation • u ndErground u tiitiEs r oad w ork • F ill M atErial s itE P rEParation • r ock Alternatives Public works committee members hope to explore alter- natives to how the water rate is structured, including different ways to classify businesses and residents. owned and operated by M ike and C eline M C e wan 503-738-3569 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302 Experience Family Dining in a Relaxed & Friendly Environment F LOORING CCB# 205283 239 N. Hemlock • Cannon Beach • 503.436.0208 y ou ou r r w ep alk ut o at n io n Serving Seafood, Pizza, Sandwiches, Espressos, Beer, Wine, Ice Cream and our Homemade Desserts We have a fabulous patio where you can enjoy the weather and your meal. Flooring 156 N. Hemlock • Cannon Beach 503.436.9551 M INI -S TORAGE Owned and Operated by the Cleary Family SPACE AVAILABLE SERVING LUNCH & DINNER CANNON BEACH MINI-STORAGE powered by Tuesday’s Open at 4pm Units Available 5’ x 10’ • 10’ x 10’ Contact Shawna at 503-436-2235 Delightful Beer Garden • Ocean View Deck Pool Tables • Darts Full Bar ( including Bill’s Tavern brews ) but that’s not all... Smoked Pork Ribs • Steak • Seafood and much, much more! Located in SOUTH Cannon Beach 3301 S. Hemlock St. • Tolovana Park 503.436.1130 • Minors Welcome Carpet Cleaning 3470 Hwy 101 Suite 102 • Gearhart, Oregon 503.739.7577 • carpetcornergearhart.com “TO-GO” Orders Welcome OPEN AT 11:30 Installation music fi rst BUSINESS DIRECTORY