Talk on Land-Sea Connection

Paul Engelmeyer.

Learn about Oregon’s complex marine food web when Paul Engelmeyer, a long-time coastal conservation advocate, speaks about conservation issues and strategies and the Land-Sea Connection. Engelmeyer will give his “Grab the Bull (Kelp) by the Horns” presentation at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (2400 Hwy 101, three miles south of Yachats) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, as part of the Cape Perpetua Fall Speaker Series.

The event is free, but a Northwest Forest Pass, Oregon Coast Passport, federal recreation pass, or $5 day-use fee is required within the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and at some trailheads and day use sites. Parking and seating are limited, so plan accordingly.

Engelmeyer will talk about efforts to protect forage fish—the prey base for seabirds—as well as the unique habitat requirements for the Endangered Species Act-listed Marbled Murrelet. Landscape conservation efforts and partnerships will be discussed

The presentation will include information about the Wetlands Conservancy parcels in Alsea Bay, Beaver Creek and Yaquina Bay (which Engelmeyer has managed) as well as the designated Globally Significant Central Coast Marbled Murrelet Important Bird Area (IBA), which extends over 100,000 acres from north of Yachats basin to south of Heceta Head. He will also share information on the Marine IBA effort which includes partners from Baja to Barrow, Alaska. His discussion will include information on the food web and coho salmon recovery issues.

Engelmeyer will be drawing upon his years of experience managing the Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary (located near Yachats) for Portland Audubon Society and his service on Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC), which has developed a system of marine reserves and protected areas for Oregon’s coast. He has decades of experience working in partnership to achieve conservation goals, including the Siuslaw Forest Stewardship groups, which received the 2010 Two Chief’s Partnership Award. This award is presented annually to a handful of projects by the Chiefs of the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to recognize exemplary efforts working across both public and private lands to promote conservation and forest stewardship.

For more information on these events, contact the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center at (541) 547-3289, capeperpetuacommunications@gmail.com.