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Valley creeks contain unsafe effluent levels Creeks in the Bear Creek Basin are unsafe to play in because of too-high levels of fecal coliform bacteria, according to the Rogue Valley Council of Governments' Water Resources Department. Not all Jackson County creeks are affected. The following creeks were determined in routine water testing to have bacteria levels that exceed state and county health standards: Butler Creek, Ashland Bear Creek, from Talent downstream through Central Point Coleman Creek, Phoenix Payne Creek, Phoenix interchange Lone Pine Creek, Table Rock Road in Medford Jackson Creek, Central Point Griffin Creek, Central Point People are asked to avoid contact with these waterways. Contact, and direct or indirect ingestion, can cause serious illness. Some possible causes of the test results include leaking septic systems, livestock wastes, illegal dumping from portable toilets or RVs, or any other activity that results in the discharge of fecal matter directly into creeks or storm drains. These activities are illegal. Report any suspicious activity to Gary Stevens, Jackson County Health and Human Services, 776-7316; Bill Meyers or Caitlin Quinby, Rogue Valley Council of Governments, 664-6674; or Brad Prior, Department of Environmental Quality, 776-6010. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA