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 Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit, by Jim Hauge.
January 30, 2016

Hearings Held on Plans for New State Park

sand_lake_eagle_by_jim_hauge.jpg 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 City...Read more
January 29, 2016

Rockaway Planning Commission Hears Another Appeal of Riprap Decision

rockaway_house.jpg 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 shoreline to protect his rental house from erosion. Oregon Shores, along...Read more
Photo of Eagle perched on Sand Lake spit, by Jim Hauge.
January 5, 2016

Update on Hearings for New State Park Announced

sand_lake_eagle_by_jim_hauge.jpg 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 the...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

lng-no_pipeline_sign.png 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...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

rockaway_house.jpg 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 erosion. He was turned down by the Oregon Parks and Recreation...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_artists_conception.jpg 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...Read more
Photo of rocky shore near Cannon Beach by Mark Stalcup.
December 14, 2015

Oregon Will Revisit State’s Rocky Shores in 2016

rocky_shores_near_cannon_beach_mark_stalcup.jpg Responding to a proposal put forward by Oregon Shores at its December 3 meeting, the state's Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) created a new working group tasked with revisiting Oregon's policies regarding rocky shore protection. Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores' Ocean Policy Advocate,...Read more
Photo of Robin Hartmann.
December 14, 2015

OPAC Settles on New Ocean Policy Priorities

hartmanrobinonstump2.jpg Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) met in Tillamook on December 3 and reached consensus on selecting three “new” ocean policy areas to focus on over the next two years: marine debris, ocean acidification, and coastal resilience. In addition, OPAC members will continue their ongoing work to implement Oregon’s...Read more
Photo of King Tide flooding at Netarts Bay, by Tracey Schmidt.
December 5, 2015

King Tide Project Surges Again

king_tide_netarts_bay_shoreline_tracey_schmidt_edit2.jpg The second round of this year's King Tide project took place last week with the high tide sequence from November 24-27. The first round took place in October, and photos have been posted. But there is still plenty of opportunity to participate. Get out your cameras and...Read more
Photo of students examining scientific speciments, courtesy of Ocean Inquiry.
November 22, 2015

Plan Now for ‘Sharing the Coast’ in 2016

ocean_inquiry_voyage.jpg CoastWatch collaborates each year with the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) in sponsoring the annual Sharing the Coast Conference, which offers a wealth of information to those monitoring the coast (CoastWatchers) and those teaching about it and interpreting it for visitors (NAME members, who may well be...Read more