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--> --> A lack of water early this fall has turned Neil Creek south of Ashland into a mere trickle which was discovered to be contaminated with E.coli. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA Creek bacteria spares Lithia Park By Vickie Aldous and Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings For the first time in a few years, it looks like Ashland Creek in Lithia Park will escape closure due to high levels of bacteria. "Most years we don't have a problem, but it really depends on the water temperature and the flows," Ashland Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Steve Gies said this morning. "We've had pretty decent flows this year." Waders were warned to stay out of the creek in the summer of 2001 due to fecal chloroform bacteria contamination, which can cause illness. But despite warning signs up and down the creek and at the public wading area near the Lithia Park playground, people dipped their toes in the water. "We've had that problem in the past," Gies said. "It's nice we don't have to put the signs up this year." A good snowpack from the previous winter has left area creeks with substantially higher flows through the summer than in past drought years. However, Butler and Neil Creeks in Ashland, along with numerous other streams in Jackson County, have still tested positive for high levels of bacteria. Recent tests show the creeks have E. coli levels that exceed county and state water quality standards, according to Rogue Valley Council of Governments staff. The type of E. coli tested is an indicator species different from the type that can be deadly to humans, staff said. The creeks frequently test positive during warm months, when low water levels and higher temperatures spur bacterial growth. The bacteria levels are likely to decline when fall and winter rains swell area creeks, staff said. "We want anybody playing in the creeks to use common sense," said Greg Stabach, RVCOG hydrologist. "Don't ingest the water or allow contact with open wounds." Swallowing contaminated water could lead to illness, and water on wounds could lead to infection. Young children should be supervised closely when playing in the water to ensure they do not mouth or swallow water, staff said. In addition to the Ashland area creeks, Bear Creek from Talent through Central Point; Wagner Creek in Talent; Payne and Coleman Creeks in Phoenix; Lazy, Larson and Lone Pine Creeks in Medford; and Griffin and Jackson Creeks in Central Point tested positive for high bacteria levels. While an alert has been issued for the creeks that tested positive, staff noted that contact with any body of water - including rivers, lakes and swimming pools - carries some level of risk. Testing does not cover all creeks in Jackson County. Possible causes of high bacteria levels include natural contamination from wildlife, leaking septic systems, livestock and pet waste, illegal dumping from portable toilets or recreational vehicles, or any other activity that causes discharge of fecal material into creeks or storm drains, staff said. Failing septic systems should be reported to Jackson County Roads, Parks and Planning Services at 774-6900. Other sources of pollution should be reported to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at 776-6010. Health related questions should be directed to Gary Stevens with Jackson County Health and Human Services at 774-8206. For more information, call Stabach or Allison Dew at RVCOG at 664-6676, ext. 219 or 212. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing