Little Butte Creek at Harnish Wayside, Eagle Point

Eagle Point, Oregon

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This site frequently fails to meet water quality standards for bacterial contamination.

Harnish Wayside Park and Interpretive Center is located along Little Butte Creek at the intersection of Highway 62 and South Royal Avenue / Nick Young Road and is owned and operated by the City of Eagle Point. http://www.cityofeaglepoint.org/index.aspx?NID=233

The Interpretive Center offers a historical mural view of the growth of Eagle Point and information rooms. An Area Attractions room provides directions and offers information about Eagle Point and the Upper Rogue portion of Jackson County. The interpretive center is open year round, Friday Saturday and Sunday. Hours of operation in summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) - Monday - Thursday 10 am until 4 pm and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:00 am until 8:00 pm.

The Little Butte Creek room speaks to the importance of Little Butte Creek in the area ecosystem. From the natural riparian environment of the creek to the fish and animal life that call the creek home, Little Butte Creek is both a feature in the natural setting of Eagle Point and important to the region’s natural environment. Portions of Little Butte Creek are also combined with other water from the Rogue River to be used as drinking water for thousands of residents in the region. The Robert Duff Water Treatment Plant, run by the Medford Water Commission, processes Little Butte Creek water and other Rogue River water during the spring, summer, and early fall each year for our collective municipal water uses. The Little Butte Creek Monitoring Station, located in the park measures water quality and quantity with real time updates every 15 minutes.

Wayside Park has turf and picnic areas next to the creek with wildlife, natural riparian settings, picnic tables, benches, grills, and a pet area.

WATER QUALITY

Met water quality standards less than 60% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . Rogue Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

Report Pollution

MONITORING FREQUENCY

SOURCE INFORMATION

The criteria in the state of Oregon determining whether a single sample meets water quality standards for water contact is an E. coli result of 406 MPN/100mL for a single sample standard or an E. coli result of 126 MPN/100mL using the geometric mean of 5 samples in a 90 day period. The Swim Guide ratings are given using single sample criteria and the geometric mean. The result from a sample is considered valid for one week. That is, if a sample collected on the 7th met the water quality standard, that result can generally be used to consider the waterbody safe for water contact until the 14th. Swim Guide monitoring data uses both "A" level and "B" level samples. "A" level samples are used only by DEQ and are classified as an "A" level when the sample is incubated over a 24-hour period at 35 +/- 1 degree Celsius. "B" level samples are incubated over a 24-hour period at 35 +/- 2 degrees Celcius.

A site is marked GREEN: when a single sample is below or meets the Oregon water quality criteria for water contact.

A site is marked RED: when a single sample exceeds the Oregon water quality criteria for water contact.

A site is marked GREY: when there is no current data available.

A site can be designated "Special Status" if there is a toxic algae bloom observed by the monitor. Some species of blue-green algae can be toxic. These toxic algae can cause illness in people, pets and other animals that have contact with the algae. If a site is designated "Special Status" for a toxic algae bloom, it means that the water quality technician visibly observed a toxic algae bloom at the site at the time the sample was collected, but there could be other locations along the water body that have more or less toxic algae. If the site is not designated "Special Status" it does not mean there is absolutely no risk from toxic algae at the site. Be observant of the site where you are swimming and use your own judgment.

If you see pollution, please report it and note the exact location and other details. If you see a spill of chemicals, oil, or paint, call 911. Then, call the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) Hotline: (800) 452-0311. OERS will be able to get a response on weekends or off hours. Then, please report the issue to Rogue Riverkeeper by clicking the “Report Pollution” button at the bottom of this page.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH