2025 Baker River E Coli Report
Greetings from the water quality team of the Baker River Watershed Association!
Attached are the most recent E coli test results of samples collected along the Baker River this week. Plymouth, Warren and Rumney levels are all within safe limits. Please note that low water levels can concentrate pollution sources and change drainage flow patterns, so water quality may change if the current dry spell continues even with no additional pressures on the river. During the sampling period, some parts of the river were unusually stagnant. Exploratory testing of the Stinson Lake outlet showed zero E. coli and so I do not think it is a site of concern this summer.
On Aug 5, Wentworth had 2 sites with levels over the ’safe beach” threshold of 88 counts/100 ml (Paige Park and Saunders Hill). These were resampled on Aug 7 and analyzed at the DES State Lab. Those results indicate only one site remains dangerously high: Saunders Hill Rd. (BKR-06A). In my opinion, this site should be posted as unsafe for swimming and wading until repeat testing yields levels below 88.