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Campaign Kickoff Event: The Fate of Beverly Beach and Highway 101
When their beach is at risk, Newport shows up! On the evening of November 13th, nearly 100 people filled the room at Brewers on the Bay to discuss the fate of Highway 101 and Beverly Beach.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is going to seek a Goal 18 exception to put one or more massive rip rap revetments in the stretch of highway 101 between Moolack and Beverly Beach. The structure footprint alone would take up most of the sandy beach space here with cascading negative impacts from erosion. These plans would cause permanent beach loss and take away valuable resources from the public.
That’s why about 100 community members congregated to start a discussion about what’s at stake. People highlighted the importance of this area for surf breaks, for fossil hunting and geology education, beach walks, and for the Oregon Coast Trail. Concerns were voiced about not only what riprap would take from the community but also that this sets a bad precedent for climate resilience. Additionally, folks did not support our state agency sinking time and money into something that doesn’t actually solve the problem. This road is also threatened by unstable ground and erosion from stormwater runoff, two major issues that rip rap will not protect against. So ultimately, we could lose our beach and still have the road fail with ODOT’s current plan.
Alternatives. The mission of this event was to get the conversation started not to propose a silver bullet solution. However, relocating 3.3 miles of road inland is an option that would offer the highest level of protection and design life and leave the beach intact. It would cost the least amount of money over time compared to riprap and other structural solutions and an inland route could save lives when the Big One hits.
The people of Newport want answers from ODOT. Many questions revolved around the impacts of the rip rap, feasibility and logistics of relocation, and what the Goal 18 process entails and when it will begin. Why isn’t ODOT talking to the community? Will Beverly Beach be the new Gleneden? Is the recreational and scientific value of fossils measured and included in ODOT’s reports? Where will the funding for this project come from? The latter question was answered later in the discussion, “ODOT needs to understand that this is our land. We’re taxpayers and our money funds their projects.” Not to mention that the beach is held in trust for us, the public, by the federal government and the State of Oregon!
This event was the official kickoff to Oregon Beaches Forever’s Save Beverly Beach Campaign. Because the community members in attendance have spoken: Save Beverly Beach!
Check out this short film on the event created by local filmmaker Casey Felton!