Newsletter of the oregoN shores CoNservatioN CoalitioN

Volume 24, Number 2 Fall 2009

oregoN DriftliNe

oregoN shores

BoarD of DireCtors

Allison Asbjornsen, President

Kitty Brigham, Treasurer

Cathern Tufts,Secretary

JD Brown

Dwight Caswell

Bill Kabeiseman

Cam Parry

Steve Schell

Pat Wolter

CoNtaCt Us

PhilliP JohNsoN, exeCUtive DireCtor

aND CoastwatCh DireCtor

PhilliP@oregoNshores.org

(503) 238-4450

Program staff

CameroN la follette, laND Use DireCtor

CameroN@oregoNshores.org

(503) 391-0210

roBiN hartmaNN, oCeaN DireCtor

roBiN@oregoNshores.org

(541) 672-3694

Key volUNteers

allisoN asBJorNseN, PresiDeNt

allisoN@oregoNshores.org

(503) 801-1643

lloyD maxfielD, weBmaster

lloyD@oregoNshores.org

(541) 344-3322

Oregon’s new marine reserve statute, signed into law on July 28, 2009, provides no rest for weary

advocates of ocean conservation. Rather, it lays out an expeditious timeline and clear process to designate the state’s first two marine reserves by January, 2010, and to evaluate and ready four additional sites for advancement to reserve status during the 2011 legislative session.

Oregon Shores has pushed for creation of a system of marine reserves off Oregon’s coast for nearly a decade. We were one of the founding members of Oregon Ocean, the coalition that launched the current campaign for marine reserves and segued into Our Ocean, the larger coalition that brought us to this point. Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores’ Ocean Program director, serves on both the steering committee of Our Ocean and the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council. The new, official process for creating marine reserves marks an important step in realizing one of our long-term priorities. Urging the process along toward development of an ecologically valuable network of reserves will remain a key focus of our work.

In October, state agencies held a series of public hearings on the administrative rules required to establish sites at Otter Rock, near Depoe Bay, and at Redfish Rocks near Port Orford. The comment period has closed for two agencies, which will lead to the State Land Board adopting the Department of State Lands’ rules at its December 8 meeting and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission adopting the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation rules at its January 28, 2010 meeting. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will continue to accept comments until December 11, on which date the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will adopt the ODFW rules. If you would like to add your comments to support to those of Oregon Shores, our organization’s letter to the agencies can be viewed at www.oregonshores.org on the Ocean Program webpage.

Surf near proposed Otter Rock marine reserve

JohNsoN Takes reiNs as oregoN shores’ New “eD”

saVe The DaTe!

Oregon Shores’ annual Coast Conference will take place

saTurDay, may 8, 2010

Hales Center for the Performing Arts Southwestern Oregon Community College

We’re already working on plans for a conference that will mix fascinating information on coastal natural history and

science with information that will help you get involved in climate change action,

ocean conservation and CoastWatch monitoring. Watch for information about a special cruise on Coos Bay. Details will

be coming your way, but for now, mark your 2010 calendar and make it your

priority to join us.

oregoN’s FirsT mariNe reserVes oN The horizoN

Phillip Johnson stepped into the role of Oregon Shores’ Executive Director in September.

The new “ED” is a familiar face. Johnson is the long-time director of our CoastWatch volunteer program, and served for 14 years on Oregon Shores’ board. He will also continue to direct CoastWatch.

Johnson founded CoastWatch in 1993, and has built it into a 1,300-volunteer program. In recent years, he has also headed Oregon Shores’ individual donor fund-raising efforts.

A former newspaper reporter and editor and freelance writer specializing in conservation topics, Johnson joined the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition board in 1991, and made the transition to staff member four years ago.

As executive director, Johnson will oversee Oregon Shores’ three major programs—Ocean and Land Use, in addition to CoastWatch—while leading the organization’s planning and fund-raising efforts.

oregoN shores

CoNservatioN CoalitioN

P.o. Box 33seal roCK, or 97376

NonprofitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PaidNewport, ORPermit No. 48

Visit Us On the Web!OregonShores.org

Continued on Page 10

With the return of the rain I’m moving from the beach and the garden to my desk (and tracking in

sand along with me). Staring out the window, I muse that autumn usually symbolizes endings, sinking back into the roots, entering the darkness of winter…and yet for Oregon Shores this year, it is a time of rebirth and new beginnings.

I am heartened to be able to welcome Phillip Johnson as our new executive director. Of course, it is rather odd to welcome someone you’ve worked with for more than a decade, and who has devoted his talents to Oregon Shores in one way or another for nearly 19 years. As you are probably all aware, Phillip was (and remains) our long-time CoastWatch director, and before joining the staff served on our board for 14 years. Nevertheless, he brings with him new ideas and approaches (or at least ideas he has developed over the years which he finally gets a chance to put into practice).

With Phillip’s leadership, the Oregon Shores board is in the midst of creating our most thorough, far-reaching strategic plan ever. You’ll be hearing about our ambitious ideas for advancing our work on ocean management, marine reserves and land use planning, and our increasing focus on climate change and how we can do our part to limit it while adapting intelligently to the inevitable impacts.

I am also delighted to announce our new business membership plan. We now have special categories for Business Members, Business Mile Stewards and Business

Page 2 oregoN DriftliNe Page11 oregoN DriftliNe

a letter from oUr PresiDeNt

Oregon Shores’ work depends on volunteers, and first and foremost are those volunteers who serve on the board. We would like to take a moment to thank a number of individuals who have volunteered their valuable time to serve the interests of coastal conservation—and another moment to greet some new board members who have taken up the banner.

Board members Anne Squier, Kris Olson and Bill June have stepped down from the board. Anne served as treasurer, and gave the organization long hours in that capacity, and Kris spent many years as a member and chair of our Planning and Development Committee. Many thanks to all of them for their service to Oregon Shores and the coast.

Thanks also to our long-time registrar, Bette Silver, whose long tenure as the person who fielded our correspondence, memberships, donations and requests, handling our records and sending the information where it needed to go, came to an end this year.

And finally, thanks to graphic designer Mel Ulven of the Ulven Design Group, who donated his time to create our new logo and stationery.

Say hello to our new board member, Dwight Caswell of Astoria, a self-employed photographer, writer and web site developer. In a varied career, he has been a community education instructor (both in Chicago and in several California communities), a pastor (in Kenwood, Calif.), a Sonoma County winemaker and a fisheries technician with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. He is a graduate of Stanford University and received his doctorate from the University of Chicago.

For seven years Dwight served as board president of the Sonoma County Farmlands Group. He was also on the board of the Western Sonoma County Rural Alliance and the California Alliance of Family Farmers. He helped write the general plan for Sonoma County, and on the county’s original Hazardous Materials Management Commission. We welcome Dwight Caswell aboard as we tackle the many challenges and opportunities we face.

Farewells aND welcomes iN The oregoN shores commuNiTySponsors. Please see

the enclosed letter. We look forward to gaining new sources of support, while letting the world know about those businesses that stand up for coastal conservation!

Finally, in the midst of this transition, I want to honor people who have been very important to Oregon Shores, who have recently stepped down from their posts: Bette Silver, our registrar for many years, and board members Anne Squier (who served as treasurer), Kris Olson and Bill June. We owe them sincere thanks as we build on their work by moving ahead. We also have a new board member, Dwight Caswell (see profile, page 11).

These may be dark days, both on the calendar and in the world. But I’m seeing a rebirth of passion for Mother Earth all around, and relishing our new beginnings for Oregon Shores. All in all, as I gaze from my desk, I’m feeling quite springlike.

Hopefully yours,

Allison Asbjornsen

coNTribuTe oNliNe,carry iT ForwarD

We have a new online donation feature, and we’re making this offer—AN ONLINE gift of $100 or more will be rewarded with a spiffy new Oregon Shores totebag. This sand-colored canvas bag is 100% cotton. It is emblazoned with the new Oregon Shores logo. You’ll not only be benefiting the earth by reducing packaging but promoting coastal conservation at the same time. The sturdy 10.5”X13”X4.5” tote has two 24” handles, perfect for carrying groceries, beach gear, or beachcombing finds. To contribute, go to our website at oregonshores.org and click on the “Donate, Membership” button on the left-hand menu.

Those who care about coastal conservation have a special stake in Oregon’s January 26, 2010 Special Election. The fate of natural resource agency funding will likely depend on whether Ballot Measures 66 and 67 pass.

If approved, these measures would uphold key budget balancing actions adopted by the Oregon Legislature during the 2009 legislative session, including targeted revenue increases on big, largely out-of-state corporations and the wealthiest Oregonians.

“If an organization has a project it cares deeply about that passed this last session, they should be encouraging their members to vote yes on Measure 66 and 67,” states Kristen Leonard, lobbyist for Our Ocean, a coalition working to establish a system of marine reserves of which Oregon Shores is a member. “In times when the economy is down, natural resource protection efforts are extremely vulnerable to being set aside to provide urgent funding for other services.“

“There are many projects that are important to Oregon Shores which passed last session, and which would be at risk without approval of measures 66 and 67,” notes Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores’ Ocean Program director. Legislation to establish Oregon’s first marine reserves received $1 million for the implementation and evaluation of sites recommended by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC). The Oregon Wave Energy Trust received vital funding for ecological baseline studies of birds, whales and crab that must be done before wave energy development occurs. Long-sought funding to map Oregon’s seafloor to identify sensitive ecological areas and to help communities plan for tsunami response is at risk.

A one-month special session of the legislature is set to occur beginning February 1, regardless of the vote on measures 66 and 67. If the measures fail, the 2010 session could be preoccupied by further budget and program cuts instead of focusing on resolving problems and producing positive actions, particularly for the environment.

For more information on the potential impacts, visit www.OregonShores.org or contact Robin Hartmann at robin@OregonShores.org, (541) 817-2275.

VoTe iN special elecTioN coulD aFFecT resource proTecTioN

Page 3 oregoN DriftliNePage 10 oregoN DriftliNe

To build a vigorous, cohesive organization that is not only an effective defender of the Oregon coast

in addressing current issues, but has the means and the broad-based grassroots support necessary to play a proactive role in pushing for fundamental change toward a more sustainable way of inhabiting the Oregon coastal region.

That is my ambitious, five-year goal, as I work with the Oregon Shores board and staff to craft a bold strategic plan that will shape our future and, we hope, that of our coastal region. It will only be a few high-minded words on paper unless Oregon Shores members, and thousands of new members in coming years, throw themselves energetically into pursuing this vision. So, here at the outset of my tenure as executive director, I’m turning to the readers of this newsletter to say that everything depends on your support.

I’ve heard the environmental movement compared to a winning pitcher on a losing baseball team. We have a solid record when we are in the midst of the action. Species are rescued from extinction, key habitat areas are protected, pollutants are abolished and rivers restored. Humankind and the biosphere would be in a far worse position had we not been laboring for the public interest in recent decades.

And yet the “team”—not just humanity, but our species within the biosphere—continues to lose what is most precious, despite conservationists’ many victories. For every pollutant source blocked, dozens are created; for every park established, thousands of acres are clearcut or strip-mined; for every species preserved, countless more hover on the brink of disappearing.

So it is on the Oregon coast. As you travel the length of our coastline, you pass dozens of beautiful places that remain untouched or at least relatively undeveloped thanks to the work of conservationists, usually led by the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. Many developments that did take place were built more responsibly thanks to our influence. With our advocacy, some of the coast’s key habitat areas and favorite recreational spots have been protected as parks and refuges. The spread of riprap has been moderated, some egregious polluters have been brought to law and public access to the shoreline has been successfully maintained.

Yet which of us doesn’t groan at the sprawling d e v e l o p m e n t we still see, the beaches posted with advisories due to pollution, the natural bluffs lost to shoreline armoring, the painful quarrel over declining fish stocks and the plague of plastics in the ocean.

If I were to sum up my vision for Oregon Shores and the coast in one phrase, as I begin my tenure as executive director, it would be this: Let us create a winning strategy for the coast as a whole. Let’s look beyond individual victories in this resource struggle or that land use issue. In the short-term, we need to fight these rearguard battles to minimize damage—but let us work all the while toward a future in which things change for the better, in which we are guided by a deeper stewardship ethic toward restoring ecosystems and reconfiguring our way of life to fit more sustainably into the coastal region.

“Winning,” in this context, is a tricky concept. Since the team in question is humankind and the biosphere—or at least Oregon’s portion thereof—it means including everyone, not defeating anyone. And for the most part, the victories I have in mind won’t take place in one lifetime. At most, we can be the starting pitcher, so to speak.

This isn’t really a five-year goal; it is more like a five-decade vision. It will involve campaigning not only to create a comprehensive network of marine reserves, but to link coastal communities to those reserves. It will mean not just blocking inappropriate development, but working to restore watersheds and estuaries. It will require seeking out and abating the myriad terrestrial sources of ocean pollution, and going beyond picking

a memo From The execuTiVe DirecTorup litter on the shoreline to eliminating plastic debris before it reaches the water.

Nothing more strongly demands such a long-term, winning strategy than climate change and its likely impacts. As sea level rises, storms intensify and flooding becomes more common, there will be a strong tendency to destroy natural habitats and put lives at risk in a desperate effort to protect development in its present form. We could find ourselves continually battling construction intended to resist the waves and currents. Let us instead accept the threat as a spur to creativity, re-imagining the way we inhabit the coastal region, pulling back gracefully and finding new ways to work with the dynamic coastal environment.

If I were to serve as Oregon Shores’ executive director for 20 years and succeed beyond my wildest dreams, we still wouldn’t have accomplished more than a fraction of the goal I have set forth. What I do hope to accomplish is to build an organization that can seriously undertake the challenge of working toward such a long-term vision of a restored coastal region.

But to bring this back to the place I started, these are only my ideas, only words on paper, unless they win the support of Oregon Shores members and CoastWatchers, to begin with, and eventually thousands of people who love the Oregon coast. If you share some part of this vision, please give us your active support, now and in the years and decades to come.

Continued on page 10

Marine Reseves, continued from page 1

that Tillamook County could not rescind it. However, the Port has not received any further financing plans from Bunkers Group. Any new financing plan may not include FEMA money, nor any backing by the Port’s taxing authority. In addition, Bunkers so far has failed to secure necessary state and federal permits.

Oregon Shores considers this project a completely inappropriate pipe dream, out of harmony with Tillamook County’s prized dairy industry and pastureland needs. The midst of working dairy pastures is no place for a destination resort, especially one nowhere near the ocean, two miles from the city of Tillamook, without any obvious clientele to patronize it. We have commented in opposition to the proposal, and will continue to monitor the situation and engage at any opportunity. Cranberry bog at Seven Devils

Tillamook, continued from page 9

Concurrently, ODFW is leading an effort to form “diverse and balanced” community teams for all the sites, but with special emphasis on Cape Falcon, Cascade Head and Cape Perpetua, composed of “stakeholders” in a manner that is clearly defined in the new statute. The agency accepted applications for the teams through November 20, and Oregon Shores has worked to encourage and assist conservationists in applying. The teams will begin meeting in December and are to “collaborate and develop recommendations for potential marine reserves” by summer, 2010, with a review by Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council and an ODFW report to the legislature due by the fall.

When the community teams convene at all six sites in December, this will mark a new start for engaging our collective coastal conservation voice. The ODFW has indicated that dates, times and locations for each meeting will be posted in advance at www.oregonmarinereserves.net and each team meeting will include a public comment period. Further, ODFW will be accepting public comment throughout the process at its website, which it will continually share with the community teams and others.

So, when you are making your resolutions for the New Year, consider making a commitment to actively participate in the effort to establish a system of marine reserves for Oregon’s ocean future. Oregon Shores will be working with our coalition partners at Our Ocean to build support for strong proposals to move forward through this public process. Whether you live on the coast or inland, your voice is needed. If you resolve to help in 2010, you can be part of the success in expanding the network of marine reserves we hope to see in 2011--and with all the work that needs to be done, you may lose a few of those holiday pounds in the process! Contact Robin Hartmann, robin@oregonshores.org or (541) 817-2275 to sign up to help.

Executive Director, continued from page 3

Since the first wave energy developers began to stake claim to sites within Oregon’s nearshore

ocean in 2007, Oregon has been scurrying to capture a leadership role in how and where such hydrokinetic projects should be located, while protecting important ecological areas and existing ocean uses.

Oregon made significant progress toward that goal on November 5 when the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) adopted a new rule to amend Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan by incorporating a Part Five to address wave energy siting requirements. The approval follows a year and a half of deliberation by two committees in which Oregon Shores’ Ocean Program Director Robin Hartmann has played an active role -- the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s Territorial Sea Plan Advisory Committee, (TSPAC) and the Ocean Policy Advisory Council’s Territorial Sea Plan Working Group (TSPWG).

What makes the Territorial Sea Plan amendment so important is this: Though the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the authority for approving licenses for hydrokinetic projects with the Territorial Sea, FERC is required under Section 10 (a)(1) of the Federal Power Act to consider “comprehensive plans” that are in place and to give equal consideration to protection of fish, wildlife, habitat and other beneficial uses.

The committees’ work doesn’t end with approval of the rule. A key component of the new Part Five will be an appendix of maps to help guide the siting of ocean energy facilities. The committees will reconvene next year when additional data-gathering efforts have sufficiently advanced so that a set of maps can be formally appended to the sea plan. To bring Oregon to that point, a number of efforts are underway along Oregon’s coast.

Page 4 oregoN DriftliNe

oregoN gaiNs FooTholD wiTh mariNe spaTial plaNNiNg eFForTs

First, Oregon is creating the most detailed maps of Oregon’s seafloor ever generated. With an allocation of $1.3 million from the New Carissa settlement, the 2009 Oregon Legislature helped match another $4 million in federal funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. With a resolution of a half-meter or better, the maps will cover about 34% of Oregon’s Territorial Sea and 75% of its rock reefs, recording every bump, depression, reef and boulder on the seafloor from a depth of 10 meters out to three miles. Oregon Shores has advocated for both state and federal funding of this effort since 2006.

A second project underway is the mapping of “fishing effort” being spearheaded by Ecotrust. Working with the Southern Oregon Ocean Resources Coalition (SOORC) during the spring months of 2009, Ecotrust collected port-specific data on commercial and recreational fisheries in southern Oregon, interviewing 119 fishermen: 70 commercial fishermen, nine charter fishermen and 40 sport fishermen. Ecotrust’s field team plans to interview fishermen in all remaining ports in Oregon through June, 2010. The result will be a series of maps that shows what areas are most important for commercial and sport fishing.

And last but not least, Oregon’s marine reserve process continues to run on a parallel path with the marine spatial planning efforts in Oregon. Over the past two years, in partnership with others in the Our Ocean coalition, Oregon Shores has helped to make use of existing spatial information about Oregon’s marine ecosystems to identify and map key ecological sites to be included in a system of marine reserves along Oregon’s coast. Having those sites identified, mapped, evaluated and designated is vital for protecting Oregon’s ocean from development pressures for future generations.OPT PowerBuoy converter.

Page 9 oregoN DriftliNe

area, two of which used to be salmon streams. Though the streams were not designated as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act, they are nevertheless essential habitat, and the Corps must consult with National Marine Fisheries Service under the ESA.

ORC is a long way from being able to actually strip mine in the Charleston area. But the company is slowly pursuing the complex, detailed permits it must have for this project to begin. Oregon Shores is very concerned about the leaching of heavy metals (especially hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen) into the waters of the state, both surface and groundwater. Deep pits such as those created by this type of mining may well interfere with perched aquifers. It rains a lot in coastal Coos County, which adds stormwater leaching to the potential problems.

Oregon Shores is keeping a sharp eye on the permit process as it unfolds. We provided comments to the Army Corps of Engineers, DEQ and the Department of State Lands (DSL) when permit drafts were available for public comment in 2008. We also work closely with Bandon Woodlands Community Association (BWCA), a group of local concerned residents in the Bandon area.

yaqUiNa Bay

Yaquina Bay is the jewel of the central coast, frequented by Willamette Valley residents as

well as those living on the coast. It is a biologically rich estuary, home to threatened or rare species including salmon and eulachon. But Yaquina Bay is also home to two old, leaking WW-II era ships that need to be removed. The Port of Newport has its hands full with building a new dock to house the NOAA Pacific fleet, and also gearing up for the “Terminal Project.” This project has been Oregon Shores’ great concern, because the two concrete ships that were sunk in 1948 to form the base of the port’s cargo dock are decrepit and, after 60 years in Yaquina Bay, unstable. The Pasley is in worse shape than the Hennebique, having leaked oil into the bay in 1996.

Unfortunately, the port did not receive federal funds to help remove the ships, and is now designing a new Joint Permit Application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove the ships and rebuild

the docks with its own funds from the 2006 bond measure passed by Port District voters. The port spent $2 million on an earlier proposal that would not have removed either ship. But now the Port has hired an independent contract manager to oversee the Terminal Project, and is likely to remove both ships, one after the other. A key aspect of the proposal is to rebuild a dock for the distant-water fishing fleet, whose current dock is in very bad shape.

Oregon Shores would like to see the remainder of the new dock be a mid-size, multi-use dock that can be of service for various other needs that might come up in the future. When the port submits its next Joint Permit Application to the Corps of Engineers and DSL sometime in 2010, Oregon Shores will comment in detail and urge selection of the “full removal” alternative, and rebuilding of appropriate docks.

tillamooK resort “PiPe Dream” ill-sUiteD to resoUrCe-BaseD eCoNomy

The Port of Tillamook has visions of a very different future from the current one of dairy farming

and low-key, local industries based on the resource economy. The port teamed up with Arizona developer Richard Carr and his company, Bunkers Group, to propose a multi-million-dollar resort on some 772 acres in the port’s industrial park. The resort would have a convention center, golf course, restaurant, hotel, pub and equestrian center.

To finance this massive undertaking, the Port of Tillamook originally pledged $20 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money earmarked for alternate projects in Tillamook County. But under public pressure the port rescinded that commitment. The port also discovered that it could not constitutionally pledge its taxing authority for Build America bonds to finance the scheme. Tillamook County had extended the underlying Conditional Use Permit (CUP) several times; it is now eight years old! Finally the county rescinded it, and the Port of Tillamook and Bunkers appealed the decision. On Nov. 12, the Tillamook County planning commission upheld the Conditional Use Permit, holding

continued on next page

Sea Grant and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Newport’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. More than 30 CoastWatchers and other volunteers received an intensive introduction to the invasive species problem, and training in recognizing some of the key species. Plans are underway for another such workshop.

CoastWatch Director Phillip Johnson is at work on a calendar of training activities for 2010. However, he recently added the additional role of Oregon Shores executive director (see article on the front page of this newsletter, and his memo to members on Page 3). His attention is necessarily somewhat divided as of late.

This makes it all the more important that CoastWatchers pitch in to help stage events and train new CoastWatchers in their communities. The program has loosely organized “support groups” in some coastal counties; the goal is to have such a local steering committee in each coastal county. Support groups can work with the CoastWatch director to handle local training presentations and beachwalks, welcome new mile adopters with one-on-one introductory walks on their miles, recruit new volunteers where needed and generally help to keep local CoastWatchers connected and informed.

If interested in helping to strengthen CoastWatch in your area, contact Phillip Johnson at (503) 238-4450, orshores@teleport.com.

Page 5 oregoN DriftliNe

coasTwaTch Focuses oN iNVasiVes, mariNe Debris

VoluNTeers soughT For

couNTy supporT groups

C oastWatch has been placing special emphasis on invasive species recently. Since our “mile adopters”

keep a close eye on segments of the shoreline, they are well-placed to serve as an early warning system, tracking the spread of non-native species that may invade and undermine our coastal ecosystems. The name of the game when it comes to invasives is “early detection/rapid response.” The best chance to prevent a new invader from gaining a permanent foothold here is to detect and report its arrival in the early stages. With some training in recognizing potential invasive species of the beaches, dunes and intertidal areas, CoastWatchers could play a vital role in “ED/RR.”

A special event just added to the CoastWatch calendar will combine the serious subject of invasives with a good time. Our many Metro-area mile adopters and Oregon Shores members are invited to Portland’s Lucky Lab brewery (915 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.) on Thursday, Jan 21, beginning at 6 p.m., for a combination social gathering and presentation on invasive species and the coast.

The speaker will be Paul Heimowitz, the aquatic invasive species coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region. In that role, he helps develop regional and national policies and programs to enhance prevention, early detection, and control of biological invasions in freshwater and marine habitats. His slide talk will discuss invaders, from green crabs to New Zealand mudsnails to European beachgrass, which are already here, as well as some of the species whose arrival is feared. He will explore the ecology of marine invasions, the pathways through which non-native species arrive, and strategies for protecting our coast and ocean.

The evening will include plenty of time to grab a beer and some pub food, and socialize with fellow mile adopters and coast-lovers. The event is free, although the beer and comestibles are no-host.

CoastWatch sharpened the focus on invasive species with a workshop in July, produced jointly with Oregon

oregoN shores Job lisTiNgshere’s where To plug iN

Finance committee: Volunteers with bookkeeping, accounting or money management backgrounds.

CoastWatch calendar editor: Involves regularly searching for information about events of interest to CoastWatchers.

CoastWatch support group member: No special skills needed.

Grant-writer/researcher: A volunteer with fund-raising experience is needed to join Oregon Shores’ Planning and Development Committee.

Merchandise manager: Oregon Shores would like to get more active in selling T-shirts, sweatshirts, totebags and other items.

If interested in any of these positions, or in volunteering for Oregon Shores in any other way, contact Executive Director Phillip Johnson, (503) 238-4450, orshores@teleport.com

Oregon Shores’ Land Use Program and program director Cameron La Follette have focused intently

on rivers and water quality on the coast in recent years. Our South Coast Rivers Land Use Initiative has played a leading role in addressing the impacts created by gravel mining in the Chetco and Rogue rivers and in working with local residents to assure responsible planning for the Harbor Hills area south of Brookings, among other issues. While we handle a wide range of land use concerns on the coast, our strategy is to give priority as much as possible to proposed and ongoing actions that will have major impacts on water quality in our rivers and estuaries, and eventually in the nearshore ocean. Here’s a rundown of our work on recent and ongoing problems.

the rogUe river

Beginning our tour with the rivers and waters of Curry County, the first focus is on the Rogue River,

and the conflict between gravel mining and salmon habitat. The Rogue is one of the most famous salmon-fishing rivers in the United States. But its salmon runs are in peril, thanks largely to instream gravel mining by Tidewater Contractors. Tidewater has an existing mining site at Wedderburn, near Gold Beach, in the river’s upper estuary. Illegal mining at that site in 2005 and thereafter has pumped a lot of sediment into the estuary, so much that it is possible to walk across the upper estuary at low tide without getting one’s knees wet!

The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries raised Tidewater’s bond to $77,000 after the company mined illegally, without a permit. Nevertheless, Tidewater has filed with Curry County both for permits to continue mining at the site, and for permission to mine a 52-acre gravel bar on the south side of the river, almost directly across the stream and just below Gold Beach’s water intake. Oregon Shores fought both attempts by Tidewater in 2008, and won. Tidewater returned in 2009 with similar proposals. Oregon Shores is fighting them again.

The Board of County Commissioners just approved Tidewater’s assertion that the Wedderburn site is zoned to allow mining. Oregon Shores disagrees. Meantime, a consortium of concerned individuals is coming together to begin the process of restoring the Rogue’s upper estuary, a citizen initiative which Oregon Shores

laND use program seeks To proTecT riVers aND esTuaries

will actively support. This will be a long process, likely requiring a river study and involvement by federal natural resource agencies.

DesTiNaTioN resorTs A second potential problem for south coast rivers is destination resorts. Curry County must, under state law, adopt an ordinance regulating destination resorts, and also adopt a map showing all lands in the county where destination resorts may be sited. The county has begun this process with a draft ordinance and map.

The principal reason that Curry County is beginning this state-required process is that a small destination resort is proposed by the Crook family for lands they own adjacent to the eponymous Crook Point Unit of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Once the resort mapping process is complete, the Crook family will likely submit an application for a resort to the county. Oregon Shores and 1000 Friends of Oregon held two workshops on Oct. 10, one in Gold Beach and one in Brookings, with a combined attendance of well over 100 people, to introduce county residents to this process and discuss some of the problems with the destination resorts law, which has led to large rural subdivisions in central Oregon. Curry County’s first hearing on the draft ordinance and map will take place December 3 in Gold Beach. Oregon Shores will provide comments and participate closely in the process.

Chromite miNiNg

M oving up the coast, the waters of the State of Oregon face a potential threat from Oregon

Resources Corporation (ORC), which proposes to mine chromite south of Charleston, in the Seven Devils area of Coos County. Chromite sands mining is strip mining--each mine would be up to 20 acres wide and 60 feet deep. The company needs permits from an array of agencies, but central to their ultimate success will be permits under the Clean Water Act, which will be issued by Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps must take into account the three streams in the proposed mining

Page 8 oregoN DriftliNe

continued on next page

Page 6 oregoN DriftliNe

supporTers giVe us The meaNs To preserVe The coasT

Oregon Shores’ accomplishments depend on the work of the board and many dozens of volunteers,

and on a staff that works above and beyond the call of duty. Still, defending the coast requires funding as well. No amount of volunteering will cover the costs of postage and printing, transportation and telephone, conference costs and staff time. For that we depend on our generous donors.

The names you see below belong to those who have

invested money, as well as time and concern, in our plans to conserve resources, protect natural communities and respond proactively to climate change. These are our donors this year through October. Some have given $5, and some have given $5,000, but we couldn’t begin to succeed without all of these valued supporters. Thanks to all of those whose names appear on this list.

In the long run, we can’t succeed without you. If your name doesn’t appear on the list, please consider adding it before 2009 runs out.

Oswald West Society ($1,000-plus)

AnonymousAnonymousKarl AnutaDorothy Diel and Myrna SimsJerry JonesKris OlsonAnne SquierSylvia and Thomas TuttlePaul and Lory UtzEric and Ann WatkinsHoward Watkins

Director’s Circle ($500-plus)

Robert and Kerstin AdamsDaniel Anderson and Joy StrandFrank and Dorothy AndersonAllison AsbjornsenJane BeckwithBob Berman and Cindy LippincottKitty BrighamJack BroomeDee and Dickson BrownGerry and Nancy BrownJD Brown and Deirdre DonovanBob and Diana GerdingLarry and Jan GroveDennis HigginsRon Hogeland and Nancy ArcherCynthia LordDick and Betty LyonsJohn and Maria PhippsJames and Barbara PitbladoSteve and Georgia SchellJudy Schwartz-SorrelTrillium Natural FoodsPatricia and Chester Wolter

Donors

Vic AffolterMichelle AlexanderSusan AllenCharles AndersonMartin AndersonStuart and Jill AsbjornsenWillotta AsbjornsenMary AuvilDiane BailiffCarol BakkensenJim and Nancye BallardPhilip Barbour and Virginia WatralMike and Nana Bauer LLCCaroline BaumanRange BayerTrine BeachChuck Beasley and Melinda O’SullivanPaula BechtoldLarry and Mary Ann BeggsBrian and Sharon BeinlichBenedictine SistersDuncan and Melany BerryBob BlackBrian BoothElaine BossertBill Bretscher and Betsy McLarenWilliam and Marilyn BuskirkAngela CalkinsNancy CarpenterKathy CassonBetty CateWeld and Elma ChampneysBill Chadwick and Teresa AtwillAndy and Lynn ChristensenLeonard and Else CobbNeal CoenenEileen CoffeyAnne Osborn CoopersmithJohn Corbett

Elaine CramerDoug and Mariann CroucherJohn and Lou DailyBill DaltonCliff and Sherril DanielsJean and Patrick DeCatoAl Dohner and Marty RheaRichard and Kathy D’OnofrioCarol DotyJoy DresieWoody Dukes and Deb CominiTom Duncan and Sue SkinnerDon and Vivian DunkleAnn EatonBarrett and Sandy EdgarCarl and Millie EhrmanSven and Paula EldringJohn and Jane EmrickTom English and Penny StansberryJordan EpsteinJoseph ErcegRobert FaberTamra FarisMarjorie FeldmanJamie Fereday and Margaret RyanCaroline FitchettBob and Linda FlemingBarbara Bacon FolawnHarry Freiberg IIIBob and Liz FrenkelPhil FreshmanMarie GarganoJoan and Al GeiserJerry GibsonJay GoodwinMike Graybill and Jan HodderBarbara GrossFran and Rich GustavTerry HagerLexie HallahanTom and Eileen HalleeBill and Elaine Hallmark

Page 7 oregoN DriftliNe

Thea HangaardHarbor Community Action CommitteeKatharine and Goodwin HardingBarbara HarrisonChris HawthorneJohn HaxtonGeorgia HeidBonnie Henderson and Charles ZennacheRandall and Jeanne HendersonBarbara Hilyer and John DaggettDorothy HofferberLori HollingsworthMary Ann HolserColleen HornerTresa HorneyMike HryekewiczWilliam and Barbara HutchisonGordon Joachim and Narda Tolentino Gary and Esther JacobsonElizabeth JavensElizabeth JelineoGeorge and Phyliss JohansonGary Johnson and Lisa JaffePhillip JohnsonWilliam JohnsonBill JuneKalmiopsis Audubon SocietyMurray KaufmanMary Kentula and Donald ArmstrongCharles and Reida KimmelKingsbury/Burg Family FundJohn and Ruth KistlerRan and Lainie KochBill and Carolyn KolzowLouis Kroeck and Kathie BrusciaDave LaceyLiz LaRoqueAlberta LeeMary LehmanMary Lou LetsomByron LippertLee Littlewood and Ann ParkerBob and Shirley LoeffelJane Lubchenco and Bruce MengeNeal MaineIan and Yvonne MaitlandDiane and Jon MaloneyCourtney ManrodJames Allen MarshallWilliam and Jennifer MartinakLloyd MaxfieldHarry and Donnette McAdamsEve McConnaugheyDick McCutchenBill McGuireCraig McMicken

Linda McNultyBill and Maxine McWhorterMarilyn McWilliamsJane MeyerRuby MillerJames MohundroBill and Molly MorganMaizy Myers Rakha NaseemWade and Corinne NewbeginSue and Norman NobleMary Belle O’BrienPatricia OdellRobert and Carolyn OllikainenPauline OlsenLiz and Don OswaltAnna and Dolores ParisiEdgar and Phyllis PearaBetty and William PendarvisCathy PitkinJulie PohlAngela PozziDoug Purcell and Lani WarnerWalter and Nina RaimondoJudson RandallLisa ReadelFran RechtMark and Karen ReedG.R. and Carol ReulePhyllis ReynoldsDouglas RichPat RomanovDonald and Nancy RommesEd and Lorraine RossiterLarry Rouse and Ielean Cox-RouseDick and Jean RoyErica Rubin and Tom SwansonMike and Wendy RussoWayne and Catherine SalvoStephanie Sanford and Kenneth WilliamsonDavid and Pamela SchmidtJan SchoreyGerti SchrammColinda SchroederMark SeligmanBarbara and Don SeymourDave and Julie ShaferHarry ShaichJohn ShermanRon and Mary SherriffsCorinne Sherton and Dennis MartinSteve and Krista ShipseyDonna SilverJames SmithJoann SmithMark SmithDave and Janet Snazuk

John SoltersSarita SouthgateThe StandardPete StaufferJohn SteadRobert and Emily SteeleJulie SteinerLynda and Albert SteinerDebra SterlingSharon StreeterEd and Judy SwensonVivi TallmanJan TetreaaultBrent ThompsonLiane ThompsonSeth and Suzanne ThompsonMarilyn and Charles ThrosselMark and Robin TiltonLysbeth ToribioDick TroutJane TrunkeyL.C. and Dawn VonderlinHelen WarbingtonAllan Wells and Joan Andersen-WellsDave WellsCarol WhiteJean WhiteV. Fay WhitingCatherine WileyMitchell Williams and Nancy HeggGene and Linda WilliamsonKenneth WilliamsonBeth WindsorHanspeter WitschiEstelle Womack

help us keep you iNFormeD

We lack e-mail addresses for hundreds of Oregon Shores members. We would like to be able to reach you with our periodic e-newsletters, and with occasional alerts on matters of critical concern. If you have e-mail, but aren’t on our list (or recently changed addresses without notifying us), please send us a message at orshores@teleport.com, so that we can do a better job of providing you with timely information.