Illinois River, West Fork at Forks State Park

Cave Junction, Oregon

This site was last sampled by Rogue Riverkeeper on 8/31/22. During 2022, according to Rogue Riverkeeper's sampling this site met the OR standard for water contact safety 5 out of 5 times. This first sampling event of the season was 7/7/22.
There has been recent concern regarding the water quality at this location. Rogue Riverkeeper samples for E. coli, which is the Oregon standard for water contact safety and is an indicator of fecal contamination, a common source of disease. Rogue Riverkeeper has sampled at this location several times this summer and this location has not been close to violating the Oregon water contact standard at any time this summer. There are other substances found in water that can make people sick that Rogue Riverkeeper does not sample and analyze for. Always use your own best judgment when considering safety. To stay updated on Rogue Riverkeeper's water monitoring and other work, go to our website www.rogueriverkeeper.org and sign up for Rogue Riverkeeper's email news at the bottom of the home page, or follow Rogue Riverkeeper on Instagram or Facebook.

Forks State Park is located just south of the town of Cave Junction, OR and accessed by the Frontage Road off of Hwy. 199. The Frontage Rd. turn off to the park is clearly signed on the west side of Hwy. 199, a few hundred yards south of the Hwy. 199 bridge crossing the East Fork of the Illinois River. This park is a convenient stop if one is heading to or from the Oregon coast or the giant redwoods on Hwy. 199. Located at the confluence of the east and west forks of the Illinois River, the park offers picnic tables and restrooms (vault toilet) and large shade trees next to a long calm section of the river. There is a short walking trail near the picnic area and a 9-hole disc golf course. Picnic shelter reservable for up to 50 people.

The Illinois Valley is a unique geologic area and home to several species of rare plants and provides many sites to access public land such as the Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside, and the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside. There are numerous locations to swim in the area at public lands access points along the Illinois River.

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time

  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on August 31st, 2022. Rogue Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 1st, 2022 at 7:12 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
Monitoring Frequency

Illinois River, West Fork at Forks State Park is sampled bi-weekly from July 7th to September 15th.

Source Information

Water samples are collected by Rogue Riverkeeper volunteers and our Water Quality intern tests them in our lab which meets the OR Dept. of Environmental Quality data standards. Results are then posted to this page so you will know when it is safe (or unsafe) to swim!

Oregon state criteria for whether a water sample meets the water quality standard for contact is an E. coli result of 406 MPN/100mL per sample or less. Water samples are collected, then sealed and incubated over a 24-hour period at 35+/- degrees Celsius. The results are considered valid for 7 days.

Results based on the Oregon water quality criteria of 406 MPN/100mL are organized as follows:

GREEN = a single sample is below the Oregon water quality criteria for water contact

RED = a single sample exceeds the Oregon water quality criteria.. People and pets should not be recreating in sites labeled red as bacteria levels are considered unsafe for human contact.

GREY = a site with no current data available.

Always use your best judgement when recreating in or near waterways. Pay attention to odd smells, colors, water quality, etc and report anything that looks out of the ordinary.
Be safe, have fun, and thank you for protecting the Rogue!

Read more
Water Quality Graph

Illinois River, West Fork at Forks State Park

Cave Junction, Oregon

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on August 31st, 2022. Rogue Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 1st, 2022 at 7:12 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  

This site was last sampled by Rogue Riverkeeper on 8/31/22. During 2022, according to Rogue Riverkeeper's sampling this site met the OR standard for water contact safety 5 out of 5 times. This first sampling event of the season was 7/7/22.
There has been recent concern regarding the water quality at this location. Rogue Riverkeeper samples for E. coli, which is the Oregon standard for water contact safety and is an indicator of fecal contamination, a common source of disease. Rogue Riverkeeper has sampled at this location several times this summer and this location has not been close to violating the Oregon water contact standard at any time this summer. There are other substances found in water that can make people sick that Rogue Riverkeeper does not sample and analyze for. Always use your own best judgment when considering safety. To stay updated on Rogue Riverkeeper's water monitoring and other work, go to our website www.rogueriverkeeper.org and sign up for Rogue Riverkeeper's email news at the bottom of the home page, or follow Rogue Riverkeeper on Instagram or Facebook.

Forks State Park is located just south of the town of Cave Junction, OR and accessed by the Frontage Road off of Hwy. 199. The Frontage Rd. turn off to the park is clearly signed on the west side of Hwy. 199, a few hundred yards south of the Hwy. 199 bridge crossing the East Fork of the Illinois River. This park is a convenient stop if one is heading to or from the Oregon coast or the giant redwoods on Hwy. 199. Located at the confluence of the east and west forks of the Illinois River, the park offers picnic tables and restrooms (vault toilet) and large shade trees next to a long calm section of the river. There is a short walking trail near the picnic area and a 9-hole disc golf course. Picnic shelter reservable for up to 50 people.

The Illinois Valley is a unique geologic area and home to several species of rare plants and provides many sites to access public land such as the Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside, and the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside. There are numerous locations to swim in the area at public lands access points along the Illinois River.

Monitoring Frequency

Illinois River, West Fork at Forks State Park is sampled bi-weekly from July 7th to September 15th.

Source Information

Water samples are collected by Rogue Riverkeeper volunteers and our Water Quality intern tests them in our lab which meets the OR Dept. of Environmental Quality data standards. Results are then posted to this page so you will know when it is safe (or unsafe) to swim!

Oregon state criteria for whether a water sample meets the water quality standard for contact is an E. coli result of 406 MPN/100mL per sample or less. Water samples are collected, then sealed and incubated over a 24-hour period at 35+/- degrees Celsius. The results are considered valid for 7 days.

Results based on the Oregon water quality criteria of 406 MPN/100mL are organized as follows:

GREEN = a single sample is below the Oregon water quality criteria for water contact

RED = a single sample exceeds the Oregon water quality criteria.. People and pets should not be recreating in sites labeled red as bacteria levels are considered unsafe for human contact.

GREY = a site with no current data available.

Always use your best judgement when recreating in or near waterways. Pay attention to odd smells, colors, water quality, etc and report anything that looks out of the ordinary.
Be safe, have fun, and thank you for protecting the Rogue!

Read more
Water Quality Graph

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