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

Sand Lake shoreline in new Sitka Sedge State Park. Photo by Jim Hauge.
March 28, 2016

Final Round of Hearings on New State Park Announced

Sand Lake shoreline in new Sitka Sedge State Park. Photo by Jim Hauge. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is closing in on a master plan for the coast’s newest state park. A third and final set of public hearings on the draft master plan for Sitka Sedge State Park, at Sand Lake north of Pacific City, is coming up in May. Oregon Shores,...Read more
Photo of Coos Bay's North Spit -- note North Bend airport runway in the distance, pointed at where the LNG tanks would have been built, by Alex Derr.
March 14, 2016

FERC Denies Permit for Jordan Cove LNG Export Facility at Coos Bay, but Promoters will Keep Trying

Coos Bay's North Spit, with North Bend airport runway in the distance, pointed at where the LNG tanks would have been built. Photo by Alex Derr. In a stunning development, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which very seldom turns down any energy facility permit application, has denied a permit for the Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) export...Read more
Photo of Rocky shores at Boiler Bay, by Kirt Edblom.
March 2, 2016

Land Use Agency Will Consider Rocky Shores Initiative

Rocky shores at Boiler Bay. Photo by Kirt Edblom. In December, Oregon Shores successfully proposed to the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) that it is high time that Oregon revisit its management policies regarding our rocky shore areas. A new OPAC working group was created, chaired by Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores’ Ocean Policy Advocate, to review...Read more
February 11, 2016

Register Now for ‘Sharing the Coast’ in 2016

An intriguing line-up of speakers, a host of compelling workshops, some fascinating field trips and plenty of opportunity to socialize with fellow coast-lovers await you at this year’s 8 th annual Sharing the Coast Conference. CoastWatch collaborates each year with the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) in sponsoring this annual event, which offers a wealth of information to those...Read more
Photo of Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit, by Jim Hauge.
January 30, 2016

Hearings Held on Plans for New State Park

Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit. Photo by Jim Hauge. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (aka "State Parks") is working on a plan for what will be known as the Sitka Sedge State Park on the former “Beltz Farm” property, acquired for the public and slated to become a largely natural state park. Two public hearings were held during January, one in Pacific...Read more
January 29, 2016

Rockaway Planning Commission Hears Another Appeal of Riprap Decision

Rental house threatened by erosion in Rockaway, after recent storms. Photo by Scott Gilbert. The controversial proposal for a major riprap installation in Rockaway came back into public view on Tuesday, Jan. 26, when the city’s planning commission held its second public hearing on the issue. Developer Tai Dang applied last year for permission to armor the...Read more
Photo of Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit, by Jim Hauge.
January 5, 2016

Update on Hearings for New State Park Announced

Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit. Photo by Jim Hauge. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has updated its plans for a second round of public meetings concerning the new state park to be developed on the Sand Lake spit. State Parks is working on a plan for what will be known as the Sitka Sedge State Park on the former “Beltz Farm” property, acquired for...Read more
Photo of "No Pipeline" banner in front of coastal forest.
January 2, 2016

Opponents Hope to Block Dredge-and Fill Permit for Jordan Cove

One potential Achilles’ heel for the LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal proposed for Coos Bay’s North Spit is the need for dredge-and-fill permits from the state. The project, including its associated pipeline, will have a massive impact on the Coos Bay estuary, due to dredging for both the terminal itself and the pipeline crossing the bay. Oregon...Read more
Photo of Rental house threatened by erosion in Rockaway, by Scott Gilbert.
December 28, 2015

Rockaway Planning Commission Hears Appeal of Riprap Decision

Rental house threatened by erosion in Rockaway, after recent storms. Photo by Scott Gilbert. A controversial proposal for a major riprap installation in Rockaway came back into public view Jan. 12 when the city's planning commission held a public hearing. Developer Tai Dang applied last year for permission to armor the shoreline to protect his rental house from...Read more
Jordan Cove LNG terminal, artist's conception.
December 19, 2015

Decision Awaited on Jordan Cove LNG Land Use Approvals

Jordan Cove LNG terminal, artist's conception. A Coos County hearings officer received testimony on an application for land use approvals from the Jordan Cove Energy Project on Friday, December 18. Oregon Shores had already filed its pre-hearing testimony, opposing the application. For the hearing itself, we filed additional comments. Now we wait for the...Read more