Shoreline and Land Management
We employ Oregon’s land use planning and other regulatory laws to achieve maximum protection of our public shoreline and the environment of our coastal region.
Safeguarding Access and Ecosystems
Areas of Interest
Oregon Shores began with the shores—as a watchdog group for Oregon’s public beaches, headlands, and rocky intertidal areas. While we do much more now, protecting our shoreline remains a core priority. We address issues including shoreline armoring, beach habitat for wildlife and plants, State Parks’ regulations for managing the shore, drone and vehicle use, and encouraging responsible visitor behavior.
Shoreline Armoring
Protecting the integrity of our public beaches
Shoreline Policies and Regulation
Advocating for management policies that protect coastal resources
Public Beach Access
Ensuring everyone can access our coast
Beach Behavior
Explore beaches and tidepools respectfully
Land Use and Other Regulatory Issues
Advocating for policies to protect coastal environments
Land Use Volunteers
Safeguarding and preserving our coast through active land use monitoring
Shoreline Armoring
Shoreline armoring, such as riprap revetments and seawalls, protects property at the expense of our public shoreline; these hardened structures can starve beaches of their sand supply and increase erosion. Oregon Shores carefully scrutinizes every application for shoreline armoring, demanding that they meet the strictest standards for eligibility and opposing emergency permits for otherwise ineligible properties. We urge that Oregon step back from piecemeal decisions about shoreline alteration to hold a statewide discussion about the future of our beaches in the era of sea level rise.
Shoreline Policies and Regulation
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD–aka State Parks) has primary responsibility for the rules and regulations that govern activities on the shoreline, but other agencies have roles as well. We advocate for policies that preserve shoreline resources and for people who want to visit the shoreline to observe its ecosystems and natural rhythms in peace and quiet. We address everything from beach driving, to harvesting, to habitat protection.
Current issue:
Public Beach Access
Oregon’s famed Beach Bill reserves the entire ocean shore for the public. However, it doesn’t guarantee access to the shore. Oregon Shores has been fighting any effort to block access to the beach for 50 years.
Beach Behavior
Oregon has 362 miles of unique coastline to enjoy and explore. Whether you are celebrating on the beach, hiking a trail, or exploring a tidepool, practicing good beach etiquette will ensure the beauty of the coast lasts for generations.
Land Use and Other Regulatory Issues
Oregon Shores works with Oregon’s statewide land use planning department on everything from coastwide policies to small urban growth boundary expansions that threaten habitat. We also work on water quality, endangered species, dredge-and-fill, and other regulatory issues.
Land Use Volunteers
We are building a network of volunteers who keep watch over land use and other regulatory activity in a city or county, serving as an early
warning sytem that will make Oregon Shores more effective in countering
conservation threats.
