Coastal Conservation News Archive

A complete archive of our past news articles, beginning in Fall 2016; older articles from our previous website are available in the historical archive

Jordan Cove
December 2, 2021

Jordan Cove Victory—At Least for Now

Jordan Cove, at left in the photo, won't be the site of an LNG terminal.\Photo by Rena Olson, with support from Lighthawk. Exciting news for anyone concerned about land use, estuaries, and climate change: The Jordan Cove Energy Project has abandoned its effort to build an LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit. On Wednesday, Nov...Read more
November 22, 2021

Jordan Cove Denied Key Dredging Permits

Coos Bay estuary, with site of proposed LNG terminal in the cove at center-left.\Photo by Rena Olson, with support from Lighthawk. Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) handed two major victories on May 4 to Oregon Shores and other opponents of the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal, which Canadian multinational Pembina is seeking to build on Coos Bay’s...Read more
November 11, 2021

Oregon Shores Appeals Tillamook County Approval of Riprap

Houses at Pine Beach for which riprap is being sought.\Photo by Chris Berrie. Oregon Shores has appealed a decision by Tillamook County that would allow a major shoreline armoring project to take place through an “exception” to statewide land use law. Surfrider Foundation has joined us in the appeal. On Friday, Nov. 5, we filed a “Notice of Intent to Appeal” a...Read more
October 8, 2021

King Tides Project Rises Again

King tide assaults the Hwy 101 seawall at Waldport.\Photo by Roy Lowe. The King Tides Project is on the cusp its 12th year. This citizen science effort, organized by CoastWatch and the Oregon Coastal Management Program, last winter drew the submission of more than 400 photos, documenting the highest reach of the year's highest tides. We're on the verge of the...Read more
Tidepool life at Indian Point.\Photo by Ingrid Lam.
September 27, 2021

Student Essay Explores Kelp and Climate

Tidepool life at Indian Point.\Photo by Ingrid Lam. Last November, our CoastWatch program sponsored a talk by Steve Rumrill of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), who discussed the importance of protecting rocky coastal habitats in light of the decline of species such as kelp, abalone, and sea stars. His talk was entitled “Calamity in the Kelp:...Read more
Purple urchins.\Photo by Alex Derr.
September 10, 2021

Climate Vulnerability Assessment Proposed for Fisheries

Purple urchins.\Photo by Alex Derr. Oregon Shores sponsored an online talk on Sept. 8 by Mark Carr on “Preparing for a Changing Ocean.” The presentation was part of a series of talks by experts from around the country that we have sponsored during our 50 th anniversary year, as we look ahead to the next 50 years of coastal conservation. Dr. Carr’s talk prompted...Read more
September 4, 2021

Comment on Whale Entanglement

Gray whale at Depoe Bay.\Photo by Rena Olson. Whale entanglement in fishing gear is a global problem. It is a problem off the U.S. West Coast, including Oregon. Fishery gear entanglement is a direct human cause of harm and mortality to cetaceans. Oregon Dungeness crab fishing gear has been found to be a major source of entanglements. Most such entanglements go...Read more
September 1, 2021

Speak Out on Forest Plans and Water Quality

Clearcut in the Siuslaw River watershed.\Photo by Rena Olson, with support from Lighthawk. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is accepting comments about both its Forest Management Plan (FMP) and its Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Our colleagues with the North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection are asking for the public’s help in calling for...Read more
August 29, 2021

South Coast Colleagues Seek a Treasurer

Bandon shoreline.\Photo by Steve Garrett. Bandon’s Shoreline Education for Awareness (SEA), a group with which CoastWatch collaborates (and has adopted a CoastWatch mile), is seeking a volunteer who shares their conservation commitment to serve as treasurer on their board. Responsibilities include establishing the yearly budget, supervision of the bookkeeper to...Read more
August 24, 2021

Join Volunteer Coordinator for a Beachwalk

Jesse Jones (center) meets with members of Shoreline Education for Awareness, which has adopted Mile 101, on an earlier visit.\Photo by Steve Garrett. CoastWatch Volunteer Coordinator Jesse Jones is about to tour the coast, with the goal meeting with CoastWatchers (and those interested in CoastWatch) at various locations. She will lead beachwalks on numerous...Read more