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

March 10, 2020

Conference Falls Victim to Virus

Beachwalkers.\Photo by Kirt Edblom. With great regret, we are announcing that the Sharing the Coast Conference that was coming up this weekend (March 13-15) has been cancelled. Over the last week, CoastWatch and the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME), our partners in sponsoring the annual conference, have been closely watching the situation around...Read more
March 5, 2020

'Sharing the Coast' Time Soon to Arrive

Horsfall Beach near Coos Bay; European beachgrass (foreground) will be a topic at the conference.\Photo by Dina Pavlis. The 11 th annual Sharing the Coast Conference is coming up March 13-15. This time around the conference, a collaboration between CoastWatch and the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME), will be held in Coos Bay, at Southwestern...Read more
February 25, 2020

State Denies Jordan Cove’s ‘Consistency’

Jordan Cove (to the left of photo) and Coos Bay\photo by Rena Olson The long battle over the proposed Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) export facility entered a new phase recently, with the state’s denial of the project as being inconsistent with Oregon’s coastal management policies. A scheduled decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC...Read more
February 21, 2020

Rockaway Beach Riprap Appeal Fails

The Tai Dang house in Rockaway Beach, showing the eroded dune where he is placing the riprap.\Photo by Phillip Johnson. Oregon Shores has lost its final, last-ditch stand in a years-long struggle to prevent the riprapping of a structure in Rockaway Beach that never should have been built. The owner was allowed last year to install temporary riprap; his...Read more
January 27, 2020

Jordan Cove Battle Enters New Phase

Jordan Cove and the North Spit.\Photo by Rena Olson. Events have moved rapidly in the first weeks of 2020 in the long battle against the LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal proposed by the Jordan Cove Energy Project for Coos Bay’s North Spit, and the associated Pacific Connector pipeline that would stretch 229 miles across southern Oregon. For well over a...Read more
December 1, 2019

Custom Oregon Shores Coast Map Now on Sale

Oregon Shores offers a specially designed map of the Oregon coast, focusing on conservation and public access. We collaborated with Raven Maps to create this custom, high-quality map of the entire Oregon coastal region. The project was initiated to honor the 50 th anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill in 2017, and was initially offered for $125. But as a Christmas treat, for those who would like...Read more
September 20, 2019

Oregon Shores Board Election Results Are In

The annual online election for the Oregon Shores board of directors has concluded. All candidates were elected—indeed, all were elected unanimously We’re glad to welcome two “new” board members, although one is a familiar presence. Al Solomon rejoins the board after a four-year hiatus, having served two earlier terms. Dr. Solomon is retired from a career as a plant ecologist and paeloecologist...Read more
September 6, 2019

Beach Water Quality Monitoring Continues to Reveal Pollution

Frolicking in ocean waters--check to make sure they aren't polluted.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health...Read more
August 14, 2019

New Environmental Steward Program Boosts CoastWatching

Marine debris surveying will be one way of earning a certificate.\Photo by Jesse Jones. Oregon Shores and CoastWatch announce a new partnership with Clatsop Community College, the Environmental Steward Certificate program. The goals of the new initiative are to boost the skills of CoastWatchers and provide mile adopters with the opportunity to take classes and...Read more
July 9, 2019

State Adopts Plan to Address Ocean Acidification

Oregon's ocean off Netarts, Cape Lookout in the background.\Photo by Dale Harmer. Mandated by the 2017 Oregon Legislature, the state developed a plan to address the growing problem of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), a body composed of scientists and agency leaders, with...Read more