Oregon Shores is working on better protection for eelgrass habitat in Oregon estuaries. This presentation was recorded on Thursday, May 27, 2021.The material presented in this webinar applies anywhere, but the particular focus is on the Coos Bay estuary and its important eelgrass beds. (This work has been supported in part by the City of Coos Bay and the Pew Charitable Trusts.) Speaking on eelgrass natural history and why it is ecologically important is Mike Graybill, retired from a long career as a marine scientist and educator, all of which was spent on the southern Oregon coast and much of which was as manager of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), a 5,500-acre coastal protected area near Coos Bay. During his tenure South Slough NERR expanded and diversified while retaining a strong community focus. He now routinely advises others on coastal wetland and watershed restoration. Describing planning and protection for eelgrass, and how citizens can be involved, is Anuradha Sawkar, the principal author of our paper. Anu is an attorney with Oregon Shores’ Coastal Law Project, a partnership with the Crag Law Center and is Crag’s Coastal Law Project Legal Fellow. She joined Crag Law Center’s staff in January, 2019, and immediately plunged into representing Oregon Shores on a wide range of issues, notably in the many regulatory processes involved in our opposition to the proposed Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit. The need to preserve eelgrass protections has been a key factor in our ability to block Jordan Cove, an effort in which Anu has been instrumental.

  • Estuaries
  • Land
  • Ocean