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

Capturing a visit to Otter Rock.

Oregon Shores Hiring for Communications Position

Capturing a visit to Otter Rock.\Photo by Alex Derr. We’re seeking a person who loves the coast and loves to communicate about it to fill a newly created, half-time position, that of Communications Coordinator. Some of our communications work, such as social media posting and newsletter production, has been done in the past by a contract employee. We have...Read more

CoastWatchers Aid in Beachgrass Search

Comparison of beachgrass species including new hybrid. The search continues for the new hybrid beachgrass that may be spreading on the Oregon coast. CoastWatch volunteers are helping researchers at Oregon State University map the range of the new hybrid, the offspring of two invasive beachgrass species. To sharpen the observational skills of volunteers, an...Read more
Old growth forest at Colebrook Quarry site

Questions Raised about Curry County Quarry Plan

Old growth forest at Colebrook Quarry site.\Photo by Rich Nawa. Oregon Shores has joined other conservation groups in raising serious questions about a proposed new rock quarry in the Hunter Creek watershed in Curry County. We have...Read more
Photo of Western Snowy Plover with chick by Mick Thompson.

CoastWatchers Monitor Snowy Plover Nesting Sites

Sign marks snowy plover protected area.\Photo courtesy of OPRD. Nesting season has begun for the threatened Western Snowy Plover, the only resident shorebird that nests on the Oregon coast. Signs are going up, warning beachgoers about the presence of plovers. CoastWatchers can help by carefully observing restrictions on beach use to protect the nesting birds,...Read more
Beached bird training. Photo courtesy of COASST.

Citizen Science Projects Need Volunteers

Beached bird training. Photo courtesy of COASST. CoastWatch has long helped volunteers connect with citizen science projects, such as the beached bird survey in which many mile adopters participate. We continue to expand the range of these projects as the field grows, working with scientists and other conservation groups who lead many interesting citizen...Read more

CoastWatch Joins Hunt for Hybrid Beachgrass

Rebecca Mostow in the field. Much of the terrain of the Oregon's sandy shoreline we see today has been shaped by two dominant, invasive beachgrass species. They build the tall, stable dunes that parallel sandy beaches, providing some protection for infrastructure but causing the decline of native animal and plant species. A team from Oregon State University...Read more

Board Election Returns Members for New Terms

A collage of newly elected board members. Clockwise from upper left: Ed Joyce, Paul Sherman, Graham Klag, Kristin Bayans. Our annual, online board election took place in December. The results did not come as a surprise, since all candidates were running unopposed. Four Oregon Shores board members were elected to new terms, beginning Jan. 1. Kristin Bayans was...Read more

Landowners Rush Ahead with Riprap in Advance of Appeal

Destruction of the shoreline at Pine Beach due to shoreline armoring project.\Photo by Randy Stevenson. Oregon Shores is battling what we consider to be a grossly inappropriate shoreline armoring project in Tillamook County. Joined by the Surfrider Foundation, we are appealing a decision by the county commissioners to allow an “exception” to statewide planning...Read more
Mile 147.\Photo by Lyndell Wilken.

Mile-by-Mile Competition Concludes

Mile 147.\Photo by Lyndell Wilken. By way of honoring our 50 th anniversary and laying the groundwork for the next 50 years, we launched a special fund-raising campaign, pegged to our signature CoastWatch program. We have a special place on our website devoted to this campaign: ...Read more
Jordan Cove

Jordan Cove Victory—At Least for Now

Jordan Cove, at left in the photo, won't be the site of an LNG terminal.\Photo by Rena Olson, with support from Lighthawk. Exciting news for anyone concerned about land use, estuaries, and climate change: The Jordan Cove Energy Project has abandoned its effort to build an LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit. On Wednesday, Nov...Read more