Officials await test results on bacteria levels at Monte Rio Beach on Russian River

July 10--New test results expected this afternoon will determine if Sonoma County health officials can safely reopen Monte Rio Beach.

But until further notice, the beach remains closed to swimming, wading, tubing and other activity that would put beach-goers in direct contact with the water.

The publicly owned beach has been closed since Thursday, when two rounds of water testing detected elevated levels of total coliform and E. coli bacteria -- markers that indicate the possible presence of human or mammal feces, thought the testing is not refined enough to determine exact sources, health officials said.

Bacteria levels peaked in water samples taken Wednesday, in the wake of what appeared to be record July Fourth crowds. The busy Independence Day weekend included fireworks and the annual Big Rocky Games, a two-day event that draws hundreds of revelers and may, in some way, have led to contamination.

The Wednesday samples showed total coliform at 11,199 organisms per 100 milliliters of water, compared to a state standard of 10,000 per 100 ml., the county health department said.

E. Coli measured 833 organisms per 100 ml. The state threshold is 235.

Samples taken at the river on Thursday showed bacterial levels had declined to 10,462 total coliform organisms per 100 ml -- very close to the state standard, but still too high to warrant reopening the water when the results became available Friday, health officials said.

E. coli levels had dropped to 110 organisms, which is safely within the accepted levels.

The results from additional samples collected Sunday are due back today, department spokesman Scott Alonso said.

The Monte Rio Beach is run by the Russian River Recreation & Parks District.

Updates on the status of the beach are available at sonomacounty.ca.gov/Health/Environmental-Health/Water-Quality/Fresh-Water-Quality/.

Information about Russian River beaches, in English and Spanish, also is available by calling the Sonoma County Beach Hotline (707) 565-6552.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.

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