PROTECTING THE COOS BAY ESTUARY FROM FUTURE THREATS
Coos Bay Estuary
Coos Bay is a highly developed yet ecologically vital estuary facing many potential threats in the decades to come. The time is now to plan for the future of the Coos Estuary to protect its remaining cultural and natural resources and build resilience in the face of climate change.
About the Bay
The Coos Estuary has been dramatically altered since the mid 1800s to accommodate development and industry. Prior to modern estuary management policies, wetlands were drained and filled, tidal flow was dyked, rivers were diverted, and channels were dredged and deepened. Cumulatively, these modifications altered the hydrology, water quality, and ecosystem integrity of the bay. Right now is an opportunity to change course, and prioritize restoration and ecosystem resilience moving forward.
The Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP) is expected to be comprehensively updated for the first time in over 40 years, and the public will have the opportunity to help shape the outcome of the plan. This update is necessary to prepare the community for future challenges and new industries being proposed for the area, such as floating offshore wind.
Working for Change
The CBEMP was partially updated from 2019-2023 and adopted in January of 2024, as a first phase in a larger initiative to modernize the plan. This initial update included digitizing the plan and updating resource inventories and maps to include newer data. The CBEMP update was a multi-jurisdictional process, including Coos County and the cities of North Bend and Coos Bay, which share management of the estuary. Part of the Phase 1 update included aligning three separate versions of the plan into one document and determining a process for future co-management of the plan.
Moving the Needle
Oregon Shores worked closely with Rogue Climate during the Phase 1 update to advocate for greater transparency and public participation in the planning process, and recommended that the plan include a mechanism for Tribal consultation on future plan updates-in recognition of Tribal sovereignty. Together, we developed a Comment Guide to help the public understand the plan updates and provide meaningful input, and mobilized greater public participation in public hearings. Thank you to everyone who stood up for the Bay!
Our advocacy efforts during the Phase 1 update influenced the formation of a Coos Estuary Citizen Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee, who will guide future plan amendments, including the more comprehensive Phase 2 update.
Coos County is now recruiting community members to serve on these committees! If you are interested in engaging deeper in community planning and estuary stewardship, we encourage you to apply today.
Planning for the Future
We look forward to a more comprehensive, full revision of the plan in Phase 2, where issues like climate change, habitat loss, water quality, and endangered species must be addressed to protect the estuary’s invaluable natural resources and ecological integrity. We are working hard to ensure this plan update is community-led and includes thorough opportunities for public engagement. We are also looking for opportunities to expand capacity and funding for local governments to finish the job.
We hope you will join us in protecting the Coos estuary. If you want to get involved or are seeking more information about the Coos Estuary Advisory Committees, contact us.