Oregon Driftline

Oregon Shores Nonprofit

Conservation Coalition Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
P.O. Box 33 Newport, OR
Seal Rock, OR 97376 Permit No. 48 Newsletter of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition
Volume 24, Number 2 Fall 2009

Oregon’s First Marine Reserves on the Horizon

O regon’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

Visit Us On the Web! marine reserves off Oregon’s coast for nearly a decade.
We were one of the founding members of Oregon
OregonShores.org Ocean, the coalition that launched the current campaign Surf near proposed Otter Rock marine reserve
for marine reserves and segued into Our Ocean, the
larger coalition that brought us to this point. Robin
Hartmann, Oregon Shores’ Ocean Program director,
Oregon Shores Contact Us Save the Date! serves on both the steering committee of Our Ocean Johnson Takes Reins As
Board of Directors and the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council. The
Phillip Johnson, Executive Director new, official process for creating marine reserves Oregon Shores’ New “ED”
and CoastWatch Director Oregon Shores’ annual Coast
P
marks an important step in realizing one of our long- hillip Johnson stepped into the role of Oregon
Allison Asbjornsen, Phillip@OregonShores.org Conference will take place term priorities. Urging the process along toward
President Shores’ Executive Director in September.
(503) 238-4450 development of an ecologically valuable network of
reserves will remain a key focus of our work.
Kitty Brigham,
Program Staff
Saturday, May 8, 2010 The new “ED” is a familiar face. Johnson is the long-
time director of our CoastWatch volunteer program,
Treasurer In October, state agencies held a series of public and served for 14 years on Oregon Shores’ board. He
Cameron La Follette, Land Use Director hearings on the administrative rules required to will also continue to direct CoastWatch.
Cathern Tufts, Cameron@OregonShores.org Hales Center for the Performing Arts
establish sites at Otter Rock, near Depoe Bay, and at
Secretary (503) 391-0210 Southwestern Oregon Community College
Redfish Rocks near Port Orford. The comment period Johnson founded CoastWatch in 1993, and has built
has closed for two agencies, which will lead to the State it into a 1,300-volunteer program. In recent years, he
JD Brown Robin Hartmann, Ocean Director We’re already working on plans
Land Board adopting the Department of State Lands’ has also headed Oregon Shores’ individual donor fund-
Robin@OregonShores.org for a conference that will mix fascinating
rules at its December 8 meeting and the Oregon Parks raising efforts.
Dwight Caswell (541) 672-3694 information on coastal natural history and
and Recreation Commission adopting the Oregon
science with information that will help
Department of Parks and Recreation rules at its January A former newspaper reporter and editor and freelance
Bill Kabeiseman Key Volunteers you get involved in climate change action,
28, 2010 meeting. The Oregon Department of Fish and writer specializing in conservation topics, Johnson joined
ocean conservation and CoastWatch
Wildlife (ODFW) will continue to accept comments the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition board in 1991,
Cam Parry Allison Asbjornsen, President monitoring. Watch for information about
until December 11, on which date the Oregon Fish and and made the transition to staff member four years ago.
Allison@OregonShores.org a special cruise on Coos Bay. Details will
Wildlife Commission will adopt the ODFW rules. If
Steve Schell (503) 801-1643 be coming your way, but for now, mark
you would like to add your comments to support to As executive director, Johnson will oversee Oregon
your 2010 calendar and make it your
those of Oregon Shores, our organization’s letter to the Shores’ three major programs—Ocean and Land
Pat Wolter Lloyd Maxfield, Webmaster priority to join us.
agencies can be viewed at www.oregonshores.org on Use, in addition to CoastWatch—while leading the
Lloyd@OregonShores.org
the Ocean Program webpage. organization’s planning and fund-raising efforts.
(541) 344-3322 Continued on Page 10
Page 2 Oregon Driftline
A Letter From Our President
W ith the return of the rain I’m moving from the Sponsors. Please see
beach and the garden to my desk (and tracking in the enclosed letter.
sand along with me). Staring out the window, I muse We look forward to
that autumn usually symbolizes endings, sinking back gaining new sources of
into the roots, entering the darkness of winter…and yet support, while letting
for Oregon Shores this year, it is a time of rebirth and the world know about
new beginnings. those businesses that
stand up for coastal
I am heartened to be able to welcome Phillip Johnson as conservation!
our new executive director. Of course, it is rather odd
to welcome someone you’ve worked with for more than Finally, in the midst
a decade, and who has devoted his talents to Oregon of this transition, I
Shores in one way or another for nearly 19 years. As want to honor people
you are probably all aware, Phillip was (and remains) who have been very
our long-time CoastWatch director, and before joining important to Oregon
the staff served on our board for 14 years. Nevertheless, Shores, who have
he brings with him new ideas and approaches (or at least recently stepped down from their posts: Bette Silver, our
ideas he has developed over the years which he finally registrar for many years, and board members Anne Squier
gets a chance to put into practice). (who served as treasurer), Kris Olson and Bill June. We
owe them sincere thanks as we build on their work by
With Phillip’s leadership, the Oregon Shores board moving ahead. We also have a new board member, Dwight
is in the midst of creating our most thorough, far- Caswell (see profile, page 11).
reaching strategic plan ever. You’ll be hearing about
These may be dark days, both on the calendar and in the
our ambitious ideas for advancing our work on ocean
world. But I’m seeing a rebirth of passion for Mother
management, marine reserves and land use planning,
Earth all around, and relishing our new beginnings for
and our increasing focus on climate change and how we
Oregon Shores. All in all, as I gaze from my desk, I’m
can do our part to limit it while adapting intelligently to
feeling quite springlike.
the inevitable impacts.
Hopefully yours,
I am also delighted to announce our new business
membership plan. We now have special categories for
Business Members, Business Mile Stewards and Business
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.
Page11 Oregon Driftline
Farewells and Welcomes in the
Oregon Shores Community
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.
Vote In Special Election Could
Affect Resource Protection
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.
Page 10 Oregon Driftline
Executive Director, continued from page 3
up 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.
Tillamook, continued from page 9
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
Marine Reseves, continued from page 1
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.
Page 3 Oregon Driftline
A Memo from the Executive Director
T
o 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
development
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
Continued on page 10
Page 4 Oregon Driftline
Oregon Gains Foothold with Marine Spatial Planning Efforts
S ince 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.
OPT PowerBuoy converter.
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.
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
Y
aquina 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
T he 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
Page 8 Oregon Driftline
Land Use Program Seeks to Protect Rivers and Estuaries
O regon 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
B eginning 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
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
continued on next page
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
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.
Oregon Shores Job Listings
Here’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
Page 6 Oregon Driftline Page 7 Oregon Driftline

Supporters Give us the Means to Preserve the Coast Thea Hangaard

Harbor Community Action
Linda McNulty
Bill and Maxine McWhorter
John Solters
Sarita Southgate

O invested money, as well as time and concern, in our plans Committee Marilyn McWilliams The Standard
regon Shores’ accomplishments depend on the
Katharine and Goodwin Harding Jane Meyer Pete Stauffer
work of the board and many dozens of volunteers, to conserve resources, protect natural communities and Barbara Harrison Ruby Miller John Stead
and on a staff that works above and beyond the call respond proactively to climate change. These are our Chris Hawthorne James Mohundro Robert and Emily Steele
of duty. Still, defending the coast requires funding as donors this year through October. Some have given $5, John Haxton Bill and Molly Morgan Julie Steiner
well. No amount of volunteering will cover the costs and some have given $5,000, but we couldn’t begin to Georgia Heid Maizy Myers Lynda and Albert Steiner
of postage and printing, transportation and telephone, succeed without all of these valued supporters. Thanks Bonnie Henderson and Charles Rakha Naseem Debra Sterling
conference costs and staff time. For that we depend on to all of those whose names appear on this list. Zennache Wade and Corinne Newbegin Sharon Streeter
Randall and Jeanne Henderson Sue and Norman Noble Ed and Judy Swenson
our generous donors. Barbara Hilyer and John Daggett Mary Belle O’Brien Vivi Tallman
In the long run, we can’t succeed without you. If your Dorothy Hofferber Patricia Odell Jan Tetreaault
The names you see below belong to those who have name doesn’t appear on the list, please consider adding Lori Hollingsworth Robert and Carolyn Ollikainen Brent Thompson
it before 2009 runs out. Mary Ann Holser Pauline Olsen Liane Thompson
Colleen Horner Liz and Don Oswalt Seth and Suzanne Thompson
Oswald West Society ($1,000-plus) Donors Elaine Cramer Tresa Horney Anna and Dolores Parisi Marilyn and Charles Throssel
Doug and Mariann Croucher Mike Hryekewicz Edgar and Phyllis Peara Mark and Robin Tilton
Anonymous Vic Affolter John and Lou Daily William and Barbara Hutchison Betty and William Pendarvis Lysbeth Toribio
Anonymous Michelle Alexander Bill Dalton Gordon Joachim and Narda Tolentino Cathy Pitkin Dick Trout
Karl Anuta Susan Allen Cliff and Sherril Daniels Gary and Esther Jacobson Julie Pohl Jane Trunkey
Dorothy Diel and Myrna Sims Charles Anderson Jean and Patrick DeCato Elizabeth Javens Angela Pozzi L.C. and Dawn Vonderlin
Jerry Jones Martin Anderson Al Dohner and Marty Rhea Elizabeth Jelineo Doug Purcell and Lani Warner Helen Warbington
Kris Olson Stuart and Jill Asbjornsen Richard and Kathy D’Onofrio George and Phyliss Johanson Walter and Nina Raimondo Allan Wells and Joan Andersen-Wells
Anne Squier Willotta Asbjornsen Carol Doty Gary Johnson and Lisa Jaffe Judson Randall Dave Wells
Sylvia and Thomas Tuttle Mary Auvil Joy Dresie Phillip Johnson Lisa Readel Carol White
Paul and Lory Utz Diane Bailiff Woody Dukes and Deb Comini William Johnson Fran Recht Jean White
Eric and Ann Watkins Carol Bakkensen Tom Duncan and Sue Skinner Bill June Mark and Karen Reed V. Fay Whiting
Howard Watkins Jim and Nancye Ballard Don and Vivian Dunkle Kalmiopsis Audubon Society G.R. and Carol Reule Catherine Wiley
Philip Barbour and Virginia Watral Ann Eaton Murray Kaufman Phyllis Reynolds Mitchell Williams and Nancy Hegg
Mike and Nana Bauer LLC Barrett and Sandy Edgar Mary Kentula and Donald Armstrong Douglas Rich Gene and Linda Williamson
Director’s Circle ($500-plus) Caroline Bauman Carl and Millie Ehrman Charles and Reida Kimmel Pat Romanov Kenneth Williamson
Range Bayer Sven and Paula Eldring Kingsbury/Burg Family Fund Donald and Nancy Rommes Beth Windsor
Robert and Kerstin Adams Trine Beach John and Jane Emrick John and Ruth Kistler Ed and Lorraine Rossiter Hanspeter Witschi
Daniel Anderson and Joy Strand Chuck Beasley and Melinda Tom English and Penny Stansberry Ran and Lainie Koch Larry Rouse and Ielean Cox-Rouse Estelle Womack
Frank and Dorothy Anderson O’Sullivan Jordan Epstein Bill and Carolyn Kolzow Dick and Jean Roy
Allison Asbjornsen Paula Bechtold Joseph Erceg Louis Kroeck and Kathie Bruscia Erica Rubin and Tom Swanson
Jane Beckwith Larry and Mary Ann Beggs Robert Faber Dave Lacey Mike and Wendy Russo
Bob Berman and Cindy Lippincott Brian and Sharon Beinlich Tamra Faris Liz LaRoque Wayne and Catherine Salvo
Kitty Brigham Benedictine Sisters Marjorie Feldman Alberta Lee Stephanie Sanford and Kenneth Help Us Keep You
Duncan and Melany Berry Mary Lehman Williamson
Jack Broome
Dee and Dickson Brown Bob Black
Jamie Fereday and Margaret Ryan
Caroline Fitchett Mary Lou Letsom David and Pamela Schmidt Informed
Gerry and Nancy Brown Brian Booth Bob and Linda Fleming Byron Lippert Jan Schorey
JD Brown and Deirdre Donovan Elaine Bossert Barbara Bacon Folawn Lee Littlewood and Ann Parker Gerti Schramm We lack e-mail addresses for
Bob and Diana Gerding Bill Bretscher and Betsy McLaren Harry Freiberg III Bob and Shirley Loeffel Colinda Schroeder hundreds of Oregon Shores members.
Larry and Jan Grove William and Marilyn Buskirk Bob and Liz Frenkel Jane Lubchenco and Bruce Menge Mark Seligman We would like to be able to reach you
Dennis Higgins Angela Calkins Phil Freshman Neal Maine Barbara and Don Seymour
with our periodic e-newsletters, and
Ron Hogeland and Nancy Archer Nancy Carpenter Marie Gargano Ian and Yvonne Maitland Dave and Julie Shafer
Kathy Casson Joan and Al Geiser Diane and Jon Maloney Harry Shaich with occasional alerts on matters of
Cynthia Lord
Dick and Betty Lyons Betty Cate Jerry Gibson Courtney Manrod John Sherman critical concern. If you have e-mail,
John and Maria Phipps Weld and Elma Champneys Jay Goodwin James Allen Marshall Ron and Mary Sherriffs but aren’t on our list (or recently
James and Barbara Pitblado Bill Chadwick and Teresa Atwill Mike Graybill and Jan Hodder William and Jennifer Martinak Corinne Sherton and Dennis Martin changed addresses without notifying
Steve and Georgia Schell Andy and Lynn Christensen Barbara Gross Lloyd Maxfield Steve and Krista Shipsey us), please send us a message at
Judy Schwartz-Sorrel Leonard and Else Cobb Fran and Rich Gustav Harry and Donnette McAdams Donna Silver
orshores@teleport.com, so that we
Trillium Natural Foods Neal Coenen Terry Hager Eve McConnaughey James Smith
Eileen Coffey Dick McCutchen Joann Smith can do a better job of providing you
Patricia and Chester Wolter Lexie Hallahan
Anne Osborn Coopersmith Tom and Eileen Hallee Bill McGuire Mark Smith with timely information.
John Corbett Bill and Elaine Hallmark Craig McMicken Dave and Janet Snazuk