2011 ODFW Cell Counts
The ODFW (Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife), a MOCHA partner, routinely monitors ten sites along the Oregon coast for the presence of the potentially toxic phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia and Alexandrium. The location of each sampling site is shown in the Oregon map to the right, and below are two graphs of current ODFW data for each site: one displays measured cell densities of Pseudo-nitzschia and Alexandrium, and the other shows temperature and salinity values at the time of sample collection. Updates occur approximately bi-weekly throughout the year, except winter months when sampling is less frequent.
Current Oregon Coast Cell Count Status, as of Oct. 3, 2011:
A coast wide decrease of Pseudo-nitzschia cells was observed this week. The most dramatic decreases were at Gold Beach which went from 484,000 cells/L on 9/20 to 26,000 cells/L and all of the Clatsop Beaches which went from 200,000-300,000 cells/L to no detectable cells.
Along the central coast cell counts of the smallest sub-type of Pseudo-nitzschia decreased to 74,000 and 33,000 cells/L respectively at Agate Beach and Bob Creek Wayside.
Coos Bay area samples were all well below 5,000 cells/L. of Pseudo-nitzschia.
Overall diatom numbers were down with the exception of Clatsop Beach which had some high density areas of Asterionellopsis socialis giving off the appearance of a brown oily sheen in the surfzone.
See graphs below for site-specific details.
Along the central coast cell counts of the smallest sub-type of Pseudo-nitzschia decreased to 74,000 and 33,000 cells/L respectively at Agate Beach and Bob Creek Wayside.
Coos Bay area samples were all well below 5,000 cells/L. of Pseudo-nitzschia.
Overall diatom numbers were down with the exception of Clatsop Beach which had some high density areas of Asterionellopsis socialis giving off the appearance of a brown oily sheen in the surfzone.
See graphs below for site-specific details.
Either use the Oregon map to click on the name of the sampling site you'd like to view, or scroll through the graphs below, which are ordered from northernmost (Ft. Stevens Park) to southernmost (Gold Beach) sampling site.
For previous years' data, please follow these links: 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Blue and red dashed lines indicate alert levels for large species of Pseudo-nitzschia (50,000 cells per liter) and Alexandrium (5,000 cells per liter), respectively. Click any graph to view a larger version.
ODFW Sampling Locations
Click on location name below to see corresponding ODFW count data.
