Harbors Articles

Coos Bay from Millicoma Marsh.

Local Governments Consider Coos Bay Plan

coos_bay_from_millicoma_marsh_alexa_carleton.jpg Phase 1 of the process for updating the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP) has gone through an unexpectedly extended period of review and public comment. All three local governments that share governance of the estuar--Coos County, and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend--are...Read more
Ship dumping ballast water.

Rule Amendments Proposed for Ballast Water

Ship dumping ballast water.\Photo courtesy of National Invasive Species Information Center. Ballast water carried by ships into the estuaries where ports are located can have serious environmental impacts. If not carefully handled, it can introduce invasive species and pollutants to the estuary. Many years ago, Oregon Shores played a leading role in advocating...Read more
Seaside from the air

Public Input Sought on Coastal Management Program

Seaside from the air.\Photo by Briana Goodwin, with support from Lighthawk. The Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) is a key player in planning and managing Oregon’s coastal resources. Oregon Shores interacts continually with the OCMP in pursuing many aspects of our work. It is housed with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), but in...Read more
Coos Bay's North Spit

Legislation Threatening Estuaries Becomes Law

Coos Bay's North Spit, where the proposed container port would be located.\Photo by Alex Derr. News flash: HB 3382, despite strong opposition from Oregon Shores and the entire conservation community, was passed by the Oregon Legislature and sent to Gov. Kotek for her signature. The version passed had been amended to somewhat limit the damage it would do, but it...Read more
Yaquina Bay estuary's King Slough.

Final Yaquina Bay Estuary Plan Draft Awaited

Yaquina Bay estuary's King Slough.\Photo by Rena Olson. The process of updating the Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan (YBEMP) has now passed the public comment stage; the comment period ended July 14. We now await the final draft of the plan update that will be submitted to local governments for adoption. The final draft from the consulting planners,...Read more
Yaquina River at Toledo.

Estuary Management Plans on Fast Track

Yaquina River at Toledo.\Photo by John Bauer. Oregon’s estuary management plans (EMPs) are decades old. We’re in the early stages of what will be a years-long effort, prompted by the Oregon Coastal Management Program, to update and revise the plans that guide management of these essential habitats and resource areas. EMPs are drafted and adopted by local...Read more

Feds Uphold State’s Jordan Cove Denial

Proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal, artist's conception.\Image courtesy of Jordan Cove Energy Project. Oregon Shores has been fighting the effort to site an LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit for well over a decade. There have been many twists and turns to the saga. But the latest development is extremely important for...Read more

Jordan Cove Battles Underway

Jordan Cove (middle ground to the left) from the air.\Photo by Rena Olson. The long, long struggle to prevent development of an LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit may be moving into its final year. But Oregon Shores, along with numerous allies in the no-LNG coalition, has been battling LNG schemes aimed at the Coos Bay estuary...Read more
Photo of two orca whales off the coast of Oregon.

World Oceans Day is June 8th

Video of world_oceans_day_youtube_2017 World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a cleaner, healthier future. This year, on June 8th, individuals from across the globe will particpate in numerous ocean and water conservation events focusing on finding solutions to plastic pollution. There are multiple reasons why the oceans are important: They provide us food...Read more
Photo of North Spit wetlands near Jordan Cove site. (No photo credit.)

Jordan Cove LNG Battle Will Continue

North Spit wetlands near Jordan Cove site. (No photo credit.) Less than a week after the Jordan Cove Energy Project’s proposed LNG (liquefied natural gas) project appeared dead, having received a final denial from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the hopes of opponents, including Oregon Shores, were dashed. Jordan Cove announced that it would...Read more