Although Bear Creek isn鈥檛 a popular swimming spot, people who play or wade in the water are advised to take precautions.
Greg Stabach is the program manager for the Natural Resources Department with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to panic people saying, 鈥極h my God, if you touch the water you鈥檙e going to get really sick鈥� because that鈥檚 not true," says Stabach. "You just need to be really careful if you come in contact with the water. In particular you don鈥檛 want to ingest the water. If you have an open wound you really don鈥檛 want to go in, you want to wash your hands after, you know just be very careful.鈥�
The Rogue Valley Council of Governments tests stream and river water quality once a month. They put out advisory notices in the summer when people are more likely to swim in streams and rivers.
Officials say that although there isn't a clear answer where the bacteria is coming from, there are a few likely culprits. Warm temperatures in the watershed influence bacteria growth and lower flows make the bacteria more concentrated. Also, increased irrigation can lead to more agricultural runoff into the streams.
It鈥檚 up to local health departments and local communities to post signs or close the streams. The streams must test below state bacteria standards for two months before they are taken off the warning list.