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

February 13, 2020

Time to Share the Coast Again

Entrance to Coos Bay; Marine Life Center is beside Charleston harbor to the right.\Photo courtesy of ODFW. The 11th annual Sharing the Coast Conference is coming up March 13-15. This time around the conference, a collaboration between CoastWatch and the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME), will be held in Coos Bay, at Southwestern Oregon Community...Read more
Fleeing a king tide at Gleneden Beach.|Photo by Linda Reid.
February 11, 2020

King Tides Project Wraps Up for the Winter

King tide washes against riprap north of Yachats.\Photo by Gail Pardi. We have now completed the annual King Tides Project for winter, 2019-2020. The three sets of extreme high tides we documented took place Nov. 25-27, Jan. 10-12, and Feb. 8-10. There was also a "bonus Christmas round" Dec. 24-26. The King Tides Project always focuses formally on the three...Read more
February 8, 2020

Public Comment Period Opens for Rocky Habitat Plan

Otter Rock tidepools at low tide.\Photo by Laurel Hillmann. More than two years ago, Oregon Shores successfully urged the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) to begin a review of Oregon’s policies protecting rocky intertidal habitat on the coast. As we argued, these policies hadn’t been reviewed since the 1990s, and the plan that had been adopted then...Read more
January 27, 2020

Jordan Cove Battle Enters New Phase

Jordan Cove and the North Spit.\Photo by Rena Olson. Events have moved rapidly in the first weeks of 2020 in the long battle against the LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal proposed by the Jordan Cove Energy Project for Coos Bay’s North Spit, and the associated Pacific Connector pipeline that would stretch 229 miles across southern Oregon. For well over a...Read more
December 1, 2019

Custom Oregon Shores Coast Map Now on Sale

Oregon Shores offers a specially designed map of the Oregon coast, focusing on conservation and public access. We collaborated with Raven Maps to create this custom, high-quality map of the entire Oregon coastal region. The project was initiated to honor the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill in 2017, and was initially offered for $125. But as a Christmas treat, for those who would like to...Read more
September 20, 2019

Oregon Shores Board Election Results Are In

Al Solomon is an old and new Oregon Shores board member. The annual online election for the Oregon Shores board of directors has concluded. All candidates were elected—indeed, all were elected unanimously We’re glad to welcome two “new” board members, although one is a familiar presence. Al Solomon rejoins the board after a four-year hiatus, having served two...Read more
September 6, 2019

Beach Water Quality Monitoring Continues to Reveal Pollution

Frolicking in ocean waters--check to make sure they aren't polluted.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health...Read more
August 14, 2019

New Environmental Steward Program Boosts CoastWatching

Marine debris surveying will be one way of earning a certificate.\Photo by Jesse Jones. Oregon Shores and CoastWatch announce a new partnership with Clatsop Community College, the Environmental Steward Certificate program. The goals of the new initiative are to boost the skills of CoastWatchers and provide mile adopters with the opportunity to take classes and...Read more
July 9, 2019

State Considering Plan to Address Ocean Acidification

Oregon's ocean off Netarts, Cape Lookout in the background.\Photo by Dale Harmer. Mandated by the 2017 Oregon Legislature, the state is in the process of developing a plan to address the growing problem of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), a body composed of scientists and agency...Read more
July 3, 2019

FERC Comment Deadline Passes, Response Awaited

The full Jordan Cove Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Don't worry--you don't have to respond to every statement! The public comment period to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Jordan Cove Energy Project’s proposed LNG (liquefied natural gas) project on Coos Bay’s North Spit...Read more