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

Photo of women recording beached bird data on the beach.

Beached Bird Training Available to South Coast

Conducting the beached bird survey. Photo courtesy of COASST. Those of you at the southern end of the Oregon shore who would like to learn about the beached bird survey can gain an opportunity by traveling a bit further south. A training will take place across the border on Sunday, Oct. 25, noon-5 p.m., at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds Board Room, 421 Hwy...Read more
Oregon's nearshore ocean from Ecola State Park. Photo by Bruce Swenson.

ODFW Nearshore Conservation Strategy Prompts Oregon Shores Comments

In late July, Oregon Shores submitted a five-page letter of comment on the draft 2015 – 2025 Nearshore Conservation Strategy prepared by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Bob Bailey, Oregon Shores Ocean Committee Chair, also presented testimony to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at...Read more

Next Round of Hearings for New State Park Announced

The second round of public meetings concerning the new state park to be developed on the Sand Lake spit has been announced. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is working on a plan for the former “Beltz Farm” property, acquired for the public and slated to become a largely natural state park. On Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, the advisory committee meets 1-4 p.m. at the Kiawanda Community Center...Read more
Pistol River meets the sea. Photo by Mureen Walker.

South Coast Mining Opponents Await Next Phase

The public comment period concerning mining proposals aimed at the headwaters of south coast rivers has ended. Now we wait for the next phase. Public meetings held Sept. 9-10 in Gold Beach and Grants Pass by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, attended by more than 400 people, were a watershed moment in public demand for protection of the south coast’s near-pristine rivers. Of...Read more
Photo of the North Spit at Coos Bay and the Jordan Cove Site. Photo by Alex Derr.

Decision Delayed on Jordan Cove Appeal

Citing a wide range of errors and oversights, Oregon Shores appealed Coos County’s administrative approval of the proposed Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility on the North Spit. The public hearing on our appeal took place May 29, we subsequently filed our rebuttal arguments to the developer's counter-claims, and we awaited the decision. And waited. And waited. We have now learned...Read more
Photo of King Tide at Yaquina River.

King Tide Project Preparing to Document Year’s Highest Water

A King Tide swamps the Yaquina River. Photo by John Bauer. Prepare to get out the cameras and visit the coast during the 2015 King Tide Events. This year the project focuses on three sets of extreme tides: Oct. 27-29, Nov.24-27, and Dec. 23-25. For the sixth year, CoastWatch is sponsoring the annual King Tide project. This is the Oregon branch of an...Read more
Underwater photo of fish and reef.

Ecological Monitoring Plan for Reserves Released

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has released the latest version of the department’s Marine Reserves Ecological Monitoring Plan . This document provides information for the general public, and for ODFW’s marine reserves “partners” (including Oregon Shores and the Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership), about the ecological monitoring efforts occurring in Oregon's five marine...Read more
Photo of Cape Falcon marine reserve.

Key Marine Reserves Position Open at ODFW

Do you know someone who would be effective in helping to educate the public about marine reserves, or in organizing research on Oregon’s current reserves? Are you such a person yourself? The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is hiring for a position that has an important bearing on the success of our marine reserves. The deadline for applications is Oct. 13. The Marine Reserves...Read more
Photo of eagle at Sand Lake.

Plans for New State Park at Sand Lake Begin to Take Shape

One of our Land Use Program’s proudest moments came on the day last year when State Parks completed purchase of the “Beltz Farm” property which occupies the spit enclosing the Sand Lake estuary just north of Tierra del Mar. Our only role in the acquisition of the land for the public was to advocate for it. However, a decade earlier the property might have been turned into a golf resort,...Read more
Photo of proposed LNG plant site on Skipanon Peninsula.

FERC Hearings on Oregon LNG Plans Move to Vernonia

Opponents of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) plant proposed for the Skipanon Peninsula plan rallied on September 21 between two hearings on the plan by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. More hearings are scheduled (see below and in the Events listings). Speakers’ slots are only three minutes long, so detailed testimony isn’t possible. Personal statements...Read more