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

Shoreline and 804 Trail at Yachats.\Photo by Rena Martin.
September 14, 2017

Bequest Will Provide Long-term Benefit to Oregon Shores

Shoreline and 804 Trail at Yachats.\Photo by Rena Martin. We were saddened by the loss of long-time Oregon Shores supporter Jerry Jones, who passed away at the end of 2016, but are glad to announce that he will remain a supporter for many years to come through a bequest he left for coastal conservation. The Jerry G. Jones Trust has funded a $100,000 permanent...Read more
Jill Josselyn, at her mountain cabin.
September 7, 2017

In Memoriam: Board Member Jill Josselyn

Jill Josselyn, at her mountain cabin. We are greatly saddened to report the death of long-time Oregon Shores board member Jill Josselyn on Aug. 27. Jill served on the Oregon Shores board for a decade, stepping down early this year due to her declining health. Cancer which she had seemingly defeated and had long been in remission returned with a vengeance and...Read more
Snowy Plover exclusion area. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.
September 7, 2017

Snowy Plover Restrictions Still in Effect

Snowy Plover exclusion area. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service. Beachgoers are urged to help recovery efforts of the threatened Western Snowy Plover by respecting nesting areas and beach restrictions. These regulations went into effect for the year on March 15, and while most of the nesting season is over, the regulations remain in force through Sept. 15...Read more
Phillip Johnson's view when the idea for CoastWatch came to him.\Photo by Dennis White.
September 3, 2017

Sitka Center History Includes CoastWatch

Phillip Johnson's view when the idea for CoastWatch came to him.\Photo by Dennis White. Since 1970, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, on Cascade Head near Otis, has served as a refuge for artists and conservation thinkers and an incubator for creative concepts. The Center has just published a book, As Natural as the World Will Allow , authored by Sharon...Read more
The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson.
August 31, 2017

Bacteria Findings Show Need for Water Quality Monitoring

The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health Association Public Health Division , began its annual, regular evaluation...Read more
Sea Change
August 30, 2017

Celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day

Courtesy of the Ocean Conservancy SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 is International Coastal Cleanup Day. Ocean trash is a serious pollution issue that affects the health of wildlife, people, and local economies. Trash on our shores and in the water increases the destruction and degradation of wildlife, water quality, and and ecosystems. In partnership with volunteer...Read more
Siletz Bay.
August 24, 2017

National Estuaries Week Arrives in September

Siletz Bay at high tide. | Photo by Meg Reed National Estuaries Week is a nationwide event supported by Restore America’s Estuaries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, the Association of National Estuary Programs, and countless other associations and...Read more
Poster for the failed Oregon Beach Fund campaign.\Photo courtesy of Surfrider.
July 22, 2017

Beach-Related Bills Fail in Beach Bill Anniversary Year

Poster for the failed Oregon Beach Fund campaign.\Photo courtesy of Surfrider. The 50th anniversary of Oregon’s Beach Bill seemed like an appropriate occasion for the Oregon Legislature to honor and extend this legacy. The legislators failed. Oregon Shores, Surfrider and other coastal conservation groups strongly supported Senate Bill 745, which would have...Read more
Cleaning up debris on the rocky shore.\Photo by Sara Schreiber.
July 22, 2017

CoastWatch Has Key Roles in Marine Debris Action Plan

Cleaning up debris on the rocky shore.\Photo by Sara Schreiber. CoastWatchers have been actively cleaning beaches of marine debris since the program was founded more than 20 years ago, and CoastWatch has had an organized marine debris project for the past six. In the wake of the 2011 Japanese tsunami, Oregon Shores (through CoastWatch) joined with four partners...Read more
Sea pickles off the coast of Oregon.
July 21, 2017

Sightings: ‘Sea Pickles’ Wash Ashore in the Pacific Northwest

Pyrosomes off the west coast of America. | Photo from University of Oregon Mysterious translucent creatures are washing ashore along the western shores of North America. Known as “sea pickles” -- the scientific name is pyrosomes -- these creatures are made up of a colony of individual zooids. A zooid is a tiny multicellular organism that makes up part of a...Read more