spring 2008 driftline newsletter oregon shores conservation coalition

8/9/2019 Spring 2008 Driftline Newsletter Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

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APRIL 2008VOLUME 23, NUMBER 1

FISH AGENCY TAKES HELMON MARINE RESERVES

COASTAL TEAMS GIVEN NOMINATION PRIORITY

Oregon Shores is seekingsolutions for south coastrivers thanks to a matchinggrant from the Jubitz Fam-

ily Foundation. As one ofthe fruits of this grant, Ore-gon Shores and the Leagueof Women Voters are co-sponsoring a workshop inBrookings, at the Chetco Activity Center, onthe afternoon of Saturday, May 17th to reviewthe permitting process for gravel mining inrivers and to consider other related issues in-cluding threatened salmon runs and water qual-ity.

South coast riversreceiving focus fromOregon Shores in-clude the Coquille in

Coos County, whichborders BandonMarsh NationalWildlife Refuge; theChetco in Curry

County, which provides fishing opportunitiesand drinking water for residents of Brookingsand Harbor; and the Elk and Pistol which havesome of the most beautiful scenery and un-spoiled landscapes in the state.

(Continued on page 4)

OREGON SHORES CONSERVATION COALITION

OREGON SHORESSPRING NEWSLETTER

SOUTH COAST RIVERS EVENTTO FOCUSON GRAVEL MINING

On March 27th, Governor Ted Kulongoskidemonstrated his ability to both listen and leadby issuing Executive Order (EO) No. 08-07,Directing State Agencies to Protect Coastal Commu-nities in Siting Marine Reserves and Wave Energy

Projects.

The directive was unveiled during OregonsOcean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) Ma-rine Reserve Working Group meeting in New-port and arrives on the heels of a coastallistening tourconducted by the Governorschief of staff, Chip Terhune, as well as a seriesof eight public meetings hosted by SeaGrant inkey fishing ports as part of the OPAC outreacheffort on marine reserves.

The EO places Roy Elicker, director of OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), or

the directors designee, Ed Bowles, who isODFWs Fish Division Administrator, as theGovernors representative to OPAC. Bothwere in attendance at the OPAC meeting.

The EO also clarifies the Governors commit-

ment to a bottom-up approach based on sci-ence, giving priority considerationto sites com-ing from coastal community nominating teamsandclarifying that nominating and evaluation proc-esses will utilize the expertise of OPACs Sci-ence & Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).

The EO provides coastal communities withmore breathing room, as requested by portsand fishermen, but lays out a clear timeline for2008: July 1st to complete a nomination form;November 1st to submit a marine reservesbudget proposal to prepare the governor andhis agencies for 2009 legislative session fundingrequests; December 1st for OPACs use of acoarse filterto review public nominations; andend of the year for a more thorough nomina-tions review by agencies, using STAC andother scientific and technical expertise. Thenew schedule allows for agency rulemakingsometime after the next legislative session.

During the March 28th OPAC meeting, Coun-(Continued on page 4)

OREGON SHORES

BOARDOF DIRECTORS

Allison Asbjornsen, President

Bill Kabeiseman, Vice President

Anne Squier, Treasurer

Cathern Tufts, Secretary

Kitty Brigham

Bill June

Kris Olson

Steve Schell

H. Eric Watkins

INSIDETHISISSUE :

PRESIDENT S

MESSAGE

2

MEASURE 49

WHAT SNEXT?

2

COASTWATCH

LOOKS AHEAD

3

LNG OUTCRY 4

OREGON SHORES

ANNUAL REPORT

5-8

BOARD MEMBERS

& FRIENDS

9

OUR DONORS 10

CALENDAR 12

Photo:RobinHar

tmann

Photo:StanE

asley


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Dear Oregon Shores Members & Friends,

This morning I watched a great blue heron spearing mud in theNetarts estuary. The frogs are out. Spring has finally come tothe Oregon coast, which makes it an appropriate time to talkwith you about growth and renewal.

Growth isnt just for crocuses, reeds and tadpoles. OregonShores is growing in many directions, including our member-ship, and that brings us to the subject ofrenewal. It is time torenew your membership, unless you havedone so recently. All Oregon Shoresmemberships are for the calendar year, sothey all come due for renewal on January1st.

I want to offer a hearty thanks to thosewho got a jump on 2008 by paying their

dues at the end of last year and to thosewho have renewed over the past fewweeks. Id like to remind the rest of youto please renew now (youll find an envelope tucked into thisnewsletter). Help us regenerate our storehouse of energy tosupport all the great things we are doing this year.

We also are experiencing renewal on our board of directors.Several board members stepped down over the course of thepast year. It was an especially melancholy time to see EvelynMcConnaughey leave her board post in February, having servedsince the 1970s (although we will continue to consider her a

board member emeritus). But, we are feeling a surge of newstrength with the arrival of Kitty Brigham and Bill June, whoare profiled on page 9.

Growth, too, can be seen in our financial standing, which youcan read about in our first-ever annual report on pages 5-8 ofthis issue. We have expanded our resources as never before. Ittook a tremendous amount of hard work last year to cultivateour fiscal health, but we cant rest on our bright, spring-greenlaurels. We are only part way toward our goal of being able to

pay our staffers full-time (please realize that our hard-workingstaffers accomplish all they do on part-time pay), while adding abadly needed administrative assistant. We require your supportas never before to maintain this very hopeful growth spurt.

For the long-haul, there is another sign of growth: OregonShores has just established an endowment, to ensure the futureof conservation efforts on the coast for generations to come.

Oregon Shores programs are about growth and renewal, aswell. Oregon Shores Ocean Program

played a key role in creating OurOcean, a coalition leading the cam-paign to create marine reserves off ourshores. Marine reserves will providesafe refuges where the species andecosystems of Oregons nearshore

ocean can renew and rebuild them-selves as a sign of respect to futuregenerations.

CoastWatch continues to grow dramatically, and its volunteerswork to protect our intertidal areas, so they, too, can becomerestored and renewed. Our Land Use Program has experiencedits own growth with the creation of our South Coast RiversInitiative, focused on the link between sound land use practicesand healthy river ecosystems.

So, please take a minute to think about how you can supportOregon Shores efforts. Get involved in the marine reservescampaign, adopt a CoastWatch mile, participate in the gravelmining conference on May 17thin Brookings, or any of themany land protection activities that will define our futurecoastal landscape. And, please add some fresh spring green toour budget that makes all this possible. A surge of support nowwill keep us thriving all year long.

Best wishes for 2008,

Allison Asbjornsen

PAGE 2VOLUME 23, NUMBER 1

LETTERFROM OUR PRESIDENT

MEASURE 49 PASSESWITH 62 PERCENTOF VOTE WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Oregon Shores members heaved an enormous sigh of relief onNovember 6, 2007, when Measure 49 passed with 62 percentof the vote. The measure was put on the states ballot by the2007 Legislature as a fixto reign in unbridled developmentproposed by claimants under Measure 37. Measure 49 wentinto effect on December 6, and Measure 37 is now dead.

The transition to Measure 49, however, will be rocky in somecases, where landowners claim that they have vested rightsun-der Measure 37. A vested right is established when the claimant

has progressed too far into the actual building to be compelledto stop by the change in law. Under Measure 49, counties aremaking this vesting decision, rather than the state, becausecounties, generally, issue building permits and other local per-mits. However, counties must follow common law require-ments for vesting.

The Department of Land Conservation and Development


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While monitoring rocky shores will remain at the core of Coast-Watch training in 2008, the focus will broaden againas wit-ness the training event in Florence on March 4th, which in-cluded talks on beach dynamics and dune

ecology, along with a beach walk. Thisyear also will be marked by more partner-ships and collaboration than ever before.

CoastWatch has launched a partnershipwith the Oregon Coast Aquarium, whichhas adopted three CoastWatch miles thatstaffers and volunteers are helping tomonitor. The first fruit of this new part-nership has been a project with the aquar-ium's youth volunteer group to create a marine debris monitor-ing program for young people. This effort began last fall andwill continue as a pilot project through May. We are developinga routine, (or protocol), which will be tested by a new youthgroup later in 2008. Another goal in the partnership with theaquarium is to create a special display kiosk at the aquarium,which will explore shoreline science and concerns (marine de-bris, water quality) through the experience of aquarium mileadopters.

In another new partnership, CoastWatch will join forces withNorthwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) for the firsttime to co-sponsor a conference on August 16th and 17th at theHatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

Two other new collaborations for CoastWatch in 2008 include a

joint training program with the Perpetua Foundation on May

3rd at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and a co-sponsoredpublic celebration of State Parks Day on June 7th with Honey-man State Park at the north jetty of the Siuslaw where we will

be offering beachwalks, natural history

information and family activities. Addi-tionally, The Westwind StewardshipGroup, which is the new non-profit thathas purchased the land south of theSalmon River where Camp Westwind islocated, recently adopted that stretch ofshoreline and has begun discussions withCoastwatch about a joint educationalefforts that could augment their broad-

based environmental education program. CoastWatch also an-ticipates collaborating with the Friends of Haystack Rock in2008, as we have for many years.

Another special focus this year will be invasive species of theshoreline. While estuaries are choked with hundreds of non-native organisms, relatively few can survive on the rugged outercoastfew enough that it is possible for non-scientists to learntheir characteristics. We will begin offering workshops that willenable CoastWatchers to become scouts for scientists, learningto recognize these potentially damaging invaders and alertingresource managers who can eradicate them before they spread.

Plans for CoastWatch training and educational activities willcontinue to firm up this spring. For more information aboutfuture CoastWatch events, or about adopting a mile, contact

CoastWatch Director Phillip Johnson.

COASTWATCH CONCENTRATESON GAINING PARTNERSIN 2008

PAGE 3 OREGON SHORES

MEASURE 49 IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS

(DLCD) has issued a helpful memo outlining vesting require-ments. Basically, vesting only occurs if building has substantiallyprogressed . . . to laying of a foundation, at least. It isnot suffi-cient for vesting if the claimant has obtained only a Measure 37waiver or a local building permit, or has simply graded andcleared the site, even if utilities are in place.

Some counties have adopted vesting ordinances to bring orderto the determination which, generally, follow common lawrequirements for making vesting decisions. But claimants des-perate to proceed (usually in rural areas otherwise prohibited todevelopment) before Measure 49s limitations can stop themare forging ahead, trying to get vested so they can continue.Often, counties are helping them, and, in these cases, con-cerned citizens are appealing county decisions.

Clatsop County Planning Commission, for example, approvedthe land use application of James and Virginia Carlson, subse-

quent to a Measure 37 waiver, for a subdivision in forest landon a steep hillside. At a hearing held after Measure 49 went intoeffect, the planning commission not only approved the applica-tion but issued a decision that the Carlsons claim was alreadyvested! Further, the planning commission had no authority tomake a vesting decision. Even if it had, a mere land use applica-tion for development is never vested under state law. The plan-ning commissions outrageous action was immediately appealedto the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners by concernedneighbors and by Oregon Shores.

Statewide, DLCD has sent notices to Measure 37 claimants out-lining their choices under the new law: to have permission tobuild one to three houses; permission to build four to 10 housesifthey can prove economic loss caused by the land use laws; orto try and argue they are vested. Claimants have 90 days to re-spond, then DLCD will begin making its determinations. Ore-gon Shores is carefully monitoring this on the coast. For infor-mation contact Land Use Director Cameron La Follette.

(Continued from page 2)


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Oregon Shores is working with permitting agencies and graveloperators to determine if a science-based approach can be

adopted for South Coast rivers, similar to that pioneered inHumboldt County California by the CHERT process (County ofHumboldt Extractive Resources Team). That process calls for arivers gravel budgetto be determined by scientists and theamount of extraction to be set below the amount of gravel pro-duced by the river. In addition, Oregon Shores is producing acitizen handbook on gravel permitting to be available this spring.

This past summer, Oregon Shores submitted comments on per-mits to renew gravel mining on the Chetco and lower RogueRivers. In the end, Curry County renewed the permits at a re-duced level of extraction compared to past years.

In addition to gravel extraction, development is a constant threatto South Cost rivers. Oregon Shores worked with concernedlocal citizens in 2007 to stop a proposed RV park just north ofthe City of Bandonessentially, the creation of an entire new

town of 175 park modelRVs, which were, in reality, homesproposed to be located on the banks of the Coquille River nextto Bandon National Wildlife Refuge.

Oregon Shores and local residents appealed the Coos Countydecision, which was in favor of the proposal, to the Land UseBoard of Appeals. We were notified in January that we won onmany key points. Hank Westbrook, the property owner anddeveloper, has appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals,and Oregon Shores will continue fighting this highly inappropri-ate, urban-level development proposed for the banks of one ofour loveliest rivers.


SOUTH COAST RIVERS RECEIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION

OREGON CITIZENS, LEADERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST LNGOregon is wrestling with the controversy over liquefied naturalgas (LNG). Three proposals for LNG terminals are proposedfor coastal communities: one at Bradwood on the ColumbiaRiver, one on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, and thethird on the North Spit near Coos Bay. All three terminals re-quire building hundreds of miles of additional pipeline to trans-port gas into an existing pipeline network.

Oregon Shores is opposed to LNG terminals and associatedpipelines for reasons ranging from danger to estuaries, coastalshorelands, forestlands, farmlands and people to the rights of

property owners who do not want pipelines crossing their land.On Feb. 6th, hundreds of people from all over Oregon gath-ered on the steps of the Capitol in Salem to protest the LNGterminals and pipelines. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury an-nounced his opposition to LNG, as did Oregon House SpeakerJeff Merkley. Governor Kulongoski has since written a letter tothe Federal Energy Regulatory Commission insisting, that FERCstop its review of the three LNG facilities proposed in Oregon until

FERC conducts a comprehensive review of all alternatives for supplyingnatural gas to the region.Further, he asks that FERC include a,...full environmental review of the life cycle carbon costs and emissionof LNG compared to coal and to non-LNG sources of natural gas.

Finally, his letter states that he has, asked the Oregon AttorneyGeneral to examine whether Oregons state agencies have the legal au-

thority to refuse to grant authorizations for these facilities under stateand federal law until FERC conducts the comprehensive review that is

required and described in this letter.

Oregon Shores has been most directly involved in the Coos Bayproposal by Jordan Cove Energy. As Jordan Cove has soughtapproval for its facility through the state land use laws it hasbroken the proposal into two applications. Oregon Shores com-mented in opposition to the LNG terminal application as well as

the Gatewayapplication, because it contains the docking facilityfor the LNG tankers. Anti-LNG activists have appealed bothapprovals by the Coos County Commissioners. Oregon Shoresdonated legal time to local activists and is also a named party onthe Gateway appeal. Both appeals are pending before LUBA.

Though current legal activity has focused on the requirementsof the state land use laws, the more complex process will bedecision making by the FERC, which has ultimate siting author-ity. The FERCs required Draft Environmental Impact State-ment (DEIS) on the project may be released soon, and OregonShores will continue to assist local citizens efforts. For infor-mation contact Land Use Director Cameron La Follette.

OREGON SHORESPAGE 4

MARINE RESERVESFOR FUTURE REQUIRE ACTIONIN AUGHT EIGHT

cil members found some level of comfort with possibly castingpublic nominations as marine reserve study areasand sending apackage of study areas to the 2009 legislature to seek funding forsocio-economic and baseline ecological studies as a first step,with further review of the sites before designating as actual ma-rine reserves, recognizing that some sites may be ready for ap-proval before others in need of additional evaluation.

OPACs Marine Reserves Working Group is scheduled to meetagain on Monday, April 21st in Lincoln City and the full OPACon May 22nd, likely in Bandon. Please mark your calendars andplan to attend. Having Oregon Shores members participate onthe coastal nominating committees will be very important aswell, if a system of marine reserves is to go forward in 2008 toprotect key ecosystems for decades to come. For more informa-tion, contact Ocean Program Director Robin Hartmann.



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OREGON SHORES ANNUAL REPORT 2007

For Oregon Shores, 2007 was atime of significant growth andtransition. Some efforts werebrought to a successful conclu-sion, some new projects werelaunched, but in many ways thepast year was prologue to thepresent one. This annual reportoutlines the state of OregonShores as we entered 2008.

The past year was marked bynoteworthy improvement in theorganizations finances. Whileearly autumn of 2006 found thebudget at a relatively low ebb,

strong fund-raising efforts toward the end of that year were theprelude to a far stronger financial picture in 2007. OregonShores was able to not only increase the annual budget, butbuild up reserves. Also, Oregon Shores has received two gener-ous donations directed to endowment and has established anendowment fund with the Oregon Community Foundation. Seepage 8 for a fiscal summary and 9 for an endowment article.

All of Oregon Shores major programs were involved in theOregon Coastal Ocean and Intertidal Conservation Project,which came to a conclusion in the spring of 2007. That projecteducated hundreds of Oregonians about the links between in-tertidal areas and the ocean, while building the ranks ofOcean

Advocatesworking within our Ocean Program for better marineconservation. Ocean Program Director Robin Hartmann spentthe past year laying the groundwork for the campaign to createmarine reserves off Oregons coast, now in full flower. (See

page 7 for more on our oceanconservation work).

The Land Use Programs

greatest transition camethanks to Oregons voters.During much of 2007, LandUse Program Director Cam-eron La Follette was occu-pied with holding actions upand down the coast, success-fully delaying a number ofhighly inappropriate develop-ment projects spawned byMeasure 37. With passage of

the corrective Measure 49, most

of those projects no longer threaten, and we can turn to morepositive efforts, such as the South Coast Rivers Land Use Initia-tive, launched in spring of 2007 and carrying forward this year.(See page 6 for a survey of our land use work).

CoastWatch continued to expand our pool of volunteers whileproviding more training activities and educational events. Inlate 2007, the program took the first steps in a promising newcollaboration with the Oregon Coast Aquarium (see page 3).

The past year was also a time of transition on the board. Wesaid farewell and thanks to board members Nan Evans, Cath-erine Wiley and Evelyn McConnaughey (who will remain as an

emeritusmember of the board), while greeting new membersKitty Brigham of Seal Rock and Bill June of Portland andGearhart. Please read on for a review of Oregon Shores Year2007and join us in making further strides in 2008.

VOLUME 23, NUMBER 1 PAGE 5

The CoastWatch program, now in its 14th year, engages volun-teers who monitor one-mile stretches of Oregons shoreline.These mile adoptersare asked to walk their miles a minimum ofonce per quarter, watching for everything from natural events(beached marine mammals, erosion) to immediate problems

(oil on the beach, violations of beach regulations) to long-termconcerns (such as land-use decisions). In addition to filing theirreports, the mile adopters are asked to report problems imme-diately to resource agencies, local government or other appro-priate authorities and to follow up to make sure action is taken.

By the end of 2007, CoastWatch ranks included 1,260 mileadopters,and the program had staged 18 training sessions andpublic events, reaching more citizens than ever before.

The first months of 2007 were taken up with the final activitiesof the Oregon Coastal Ocean and Intertidal Conservation Pro-

ject (OCOICP). This grant-funded effort, which involved all ofOregon Shores major programs but was a particular focus ofCoastWatch, aimed to build skills among CoastWatchers moni-toring rocky shores, increase public awareness of both intertidaland marine resources and draw strong connections in the public

mind between protecting tidepools and preserving the near-shore ocean. Many of the public talks presented as part of theproject featured Nancy Steinbergs specially commissioned slidetalk, Connections. By the conclusion of OCOICP, nearly 900Oregonians had attended presentations on the links betweenrocky shores and the sea.

CoastWatch continued with the emphasis on rocky shores,winding up with a training conference in Florence in Decemberthat drew an audience of about 130 over two days. Some


COASTWATCH FOCUSEDON ROCKY SHORES, REACHING OUTIN 2007

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CoastWatchers volunteered to assist State Parkswith a visitor use survey that took place at threelocationsStrawberry Hill, Seal Rock and DevilsPunchbowl over the summer. This was in-tended as a pilot project, although plans of theOregon State Parks and Recreation Department(OPRD) for continuing the effort werent definiteat the beginning of 2008. The department also ap-proached CoastWatch about future collaboration ina rocky shore hostvolunteer project. We expresseda definite willingness and await a decision by OPRD to committo the effort.

One source of the programs growth lay in dramatic improve-

ments to the website, thanks to the work of webmaster LloydMaxfield. We began receiving quarterly reports online for thefirst time early in the year, displaying the results so that mileadopters (and other visitors to the site) could track observationson any mile. This led to a surge of activity, particularly amongmile adopters who had not regularly reported in the past.Lloyd added a range of features. Near the end of 2007, theformerly separate CoastWatch site was folded into the OregonShores website, which you can visit at www.oregonshores.org.

A promising new development in 2007 was thebeginnings of a partnership with the Oregon CoastAquarium, located in Newport, which adoptedthree CoastWatch miles. Aquarium staffers andvolunteers are helping to watch these miles. Thefirst fruit of this collaboration was a special pilotproject with the aquariums youth volunteergroup, directed by Renee Rensmeyer (who hap-pens to be a CoastWatcher herself). The youthgroups Green Teambegan working with Reneeand CoastWatch Director Phillip Johnson on amarine debris monitoring project late in 2007.

CoastWatch held a couple of training sessions on invasive spe-cies during the year, beginning to lay the groundwork for whatis expected to become a stronger focus of training and monitor-

ing in 2008 and beyond. Dozens of CoastWatchers were alsoactive in the beached bird survey (in which CoastWatch part-ners with the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team--COASST--based at the University of Washington), the MarineMammal Stranding Network and OPRDs shoreline alterationstructure permitting process. After a year of strengthening itsfoundation and building its volunteer base, CoastWatch is posi-tioned for wider outreach and more effective shoreline moni-toring this year.


COASTWATCH GROWS, MOVES FORWARDIN 2007

COASTAL LAND USE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE, ACTIVEIN 2007

Oregon Shores Land Use Program concen-trates on several related objectives: 1) work-ing with and helping coastal residents oppos-ing development or other troublesome pro-posals that impact coastal resources; 2) moni-toring land use activities on the coast, includ-ing Measure 37 and Measure 49 developmentclaims; 3) providing (through our CoastalLaw Project) low-cost or free legal resourcesin a limited number of cases for legal appeals of developmentapprovals by coastal counties or cities.

Oregon Shores land use program is the only non-governmentalconservation organization focusing specifically and solely onOregons 362-mile coastline. Land Use Program Director Cam-eron La Follette answers phone calls from concerned residents,provides resources, participates in local hearings with testimonyand joins with concerned residents in appeals to the Land UseBoard of Appeals (LUBA). Oregon Shores is one of three part-ners in the Coastal Law Project (CLP), the other two beingCrag Law Center and Goal One Coalition. Crag provides legalrepresentation to Oregon Shores and local residents in cases wehave appealed to LUBA. Goal One Coalition helps local resi-

dents, and Oregon Shores writes solidtestimony to local governing bodies thatfocuses on the legal standards that mustbe met if a development proposal is towithstand court scrutiny.

Accomplishments in 2007 include:

Monitoring all Measure 37 claims inthe coastal counties, and, after the pas-

sage of Measure 49, monitoring the shift over to the newlaw to ensure that no illegitimate development takes place.

Filing a claim in Circuit Court with Kalmiopsis AudubonSociety against Measure 37 approvals granted by the Stateof Oregon for a number of claims on farm and forestland inCoos and Curry Counties.

Working with local residents in Curry County on the prob-lem of instream gravel mining on salmon-bearing streams,especially the Chetco and Rogue Rivers, and advocating forscience-based determination of extraction amounts onthese sensitive rivers.


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Appealing, with local residents, a decision of

the Coos County Commission to allow anurban-level, 179-unit RV park on the banks ofthe Coquille River, adjacent to the BandonMarsh National Wildlife Refuge, outside ofany town. The appeal was heard by the LandUse Board of Appeals. Oregon Shores and itslocal allies won on most major points in anopinion LUBA handed down in January 2008.

Providing legal help to a coalition of localresidents of the Coos Bay area in their fight against a pro-posed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on the NorthSpit. Oregon Shores participated in the local land use hear-ings before the Coos County Commissions hearings officerand is party to one of the two subsequent appeals of thecommissioners approvals.

Appealing to LUBA, with local residents, a proposed shiftof the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in tiny Waldport to

allow for a gigantic planned unit develop-ment project which would not only havedoubled the size of the town (to 4,000), but

also turned it into a resort center alien tothe existing community.

Monitoring the many-layered approvalsnecessary from Tillamook County and theDepartment of Environmental Quality(DEQ) on the second phase of the Nan-tucket Shores development near pristineSand Lake estuary. The second phase would

add 50 homes to the currently tiny develop-ment, which would both endanger a nearby slide area andput pressure on the Sand Lake area for future developmentas a resort destination.

Working with local residents of the City of Wheeler intheir opposition to a development of property just outsideWheeler that also includes Botts Marsh, an important saltmarsh in the Nehalem River estuary on which the ownerhas long wanted to build a marina.


LAND USE PROGRAM ASSISTS CITIZENS

OCEAN PROGRAM ACTIVEON MARINE RESERVES, WAVE ENERGY

Oregon Shores Ocean Program addressesthat area of Oregon located West of theBeachand has established the following sixgoals: 1) Empower citizens to use laws, sci-ence and communication tools to help pro-tect the ocean; 2) build momentum with anocean coalition; 3) establish a system of ma-rine reserves to protect ocean ecosystemsfor future generations; 4) seek ways to im-plement the recommendations from two seminal ocean reports the Pew Ocean Report and the report from the US Commis-sion on Ocean Policy; 5) bring attention to the need for citi-zens and policy makers to consider the land-sea-air connection;and 6) provide deliberative review of ocean development pro-

posals to assure potential ecological impacts are identified, stud-ied, and minimized or avoided.

Much of the Ocean Programs focus in 2007 was on wave en-ergy development and marine reserves, both central to thestates ocean policy efforts over the course of the year.

Work of the Ocean Program director included providing a con-servation voice on Oregons Ocean Policy Advisory Council(OPAC), which advises the governor and agencies on oceanpolicy. The council met five times in 2007 in Port Orfordin January, Reedsport in April, Tillamook in July, Pacific City

in September and Gold Beach in Novem-ber. The Marine Reserves Working

Group of the OPAC met two additionaltimesin Corvallis in June and again inSalem in October. This highly delibera-tive body (read two steps forward, one stepback) delivered a draft marine reservesnomination form and policy guidancedocument by years end, which provides

a framework for a public outreach and nomination process in2008.

Oregon Shores also was active within the Oregon Ocean coali-tion during 2007 to advance awareness of marine reserves as an

important tool for protecting key ocean habitats and biodiver-sity. Oregon Shores provided testimony for a March hearing onmarine reserves before the Joint Emergency Preparedness andOcean Policy Committee. The hearing was followed by ascreening of Greenfire Productions Common Groundfilm onmarine reserves at Willamette University, which was attendedby over 400 people. Oregon Shores assisted the coalition withadditional screenings of Common Groundincluding in April atthe University of Oregon, which was followed by a panel dis-cussion of experts on the topic of reserves. Oregon Shores as-


OREGON SHORESPAGE 7

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Three dedicated coastal conservationists have passed away inrecent months, including two long-serving Oregon Shoresboard members.

Former Cannon Beach Mayor Lucille Houston, who servedon our board for most of the 1990s, died in August (as welearned belatedly). A former teacher, she began a second careerin real estate when she moved to Cannon Beach, working withbest friend Janet Rekate (an Oregon Shores board member).

Lucille was a member of the citys sewer board when the plan-ning and installation of the citys current system took place, aswell as an ardent recycling advocate. In addition to her serviceon the Oregon Shores board, where among other things she ledthe team that drafted our Goals and Objectivesstatement, shewas active with 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Haystack RockAwareness Program.

February brought the death of an even longer-serving OregonShores board member, Peter Frank, who held a seat for more

than two decades, through 2003. A professor of marine biologyat the University of Oregon from 1958 until his retirement, hetaught at the universitys Oregon Institute of Marine Biology inCharleston for many years. Peter specialized in studying limpetsand other intertidal organisms, but took a broad view of thehealth of the entire coastal region and ocean. For most of the90s, he edited Oregon Shores newsletter and handled the de-tails of its publication. He also found time for the other greatloves of his life, rhododendrons and the violin. We note grate-fully that Peter Franks family chose to request that memorialgifts in his name go to Oregon Shores.

Finally, Marshall Cronyn passed away at the end of 2007after an automobile accident. He and his late wife Betty wereearly mile-adopters in the CoastWatch program and steady,long time supporters of Oregon Shores. Marsh served for a

number of years on the Tillamook CoastWatch committee.

All will be missed.

COAST LOSES THREE LONG-TIME ADVOCATES

THANK YOU TO OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS, WELCOMETO NEW

A significant changing of the guard has taken place on the Ore-gon Shores board in recent months. After more than 30 years ofservice, Evelyn McConnaughey recently stepped downfrom the board. Refusing to say farewell, we will continue toregard her as a board member emeritus. Also leaving the boardrecently was Nan Evansshe resigned in order to focus muchof her efforts on marine protected areas and marine reserves, in

her role as The Nature Conservancys Oregon government af-fairs director. Finally, Catherine Wiley resigned earlier in2007, having helped Oregon Shores establish a stronger pres-ence in Curry County. Oregon Shores thanks each of these vol-unteers for their precious time and service to our mission.

These losses have been balanced by two strong additions to theboard. Seal Rock resident Kitty Brighambrings highly rele-vant experience to Oregon Shores, having served as the execu-tive director of two non-profit organizations during her career,

including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Colorado. Her lastposition before retiring to the Oregon coast was with AssistiveTechnology Partners, under the University of Colorado HealthSciences Center and Colorado Department of Education, forwhom she administered a loan bank of cutting-edge technologyequipment for people with disabilities.

Also joining the board recently is Bill June, a retired vice-president of Portland General Electric. He is a graduate of theHarvard Business School. Bill divides his time between hishomes in Portland and on the coast.

Over the past 25 years, Bill has served on the board of the Ore-gon American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Mt. HoodCable Regulatory Commission and the Oregon Health Council.A dedicated outdoorsman, he enjoys river running, skiing, hik-ing and throwing tennis balls into the surf off Gearhart beach for ourchocolate labs to retrieve.

OREGON SHORESPAGE 9

AT 37, OREGON SHORESHASONLYJUSTBEGUN

As one of the seasoned conservation-oriented organizations inOregon, Oregon Shores has always intended to be around forthe long haul, protecting our coastal legacy and handing it on tonew generations of coastal stewards. Thanks to a generous giftfrom board member-emeritus Evelyn McConnaughey and abequest from former board member Janet Rekate, OregonShores has taken a significant step toward ensuring that perma-nence. This month the organization established an endowmentfund with the Oregon Community Foundation. While the fundis relatively small at this time, it represents the stability the or-

ganization has demonstrated over 37 years and will be an im-portant adjunct to our work in coming years.

A legacy gift to Oregon Shores, either for current operations ortoward the endowment, will help to keep the organizationstrong and the voice for coastal conservation steady. If youwould like to consider remembering the coast and OregonShores in your will, or make any other form of legacy gift, con-tact Oregon Shores President Allison Asbjornsen.


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Like any non-profit organiza-tion, Oregon Shores relies forits budget on the generosity of

those who care enough aboutthe work to help fund it. Ourthanks go first to the morethan 750 of you who are dues-paying members (and while

were on the subject, dont forget that 2008 renewals for allmemberships came due January 1st). Many of you have takenthe next step, and contributed over and above dues. We havereceived gifts of $5, and of five figures, and are grateful for all.More than 200 of you contributed during the first eight months

of the year, and were honoredin our last newsletter. Thoselisted below as Our Generous

Donorsare those who havehelped to support our workfrom September through De-cember of 2007. In addition,we list all of those who pro-vided a foundation for our budget during 2007 by making giftsat the Directors Circle or Oswald West Society level. Manythanks to all those listed below, and to those who gave earlierthis year, from Oregon Shores board and staff and from allthose who care about the Oregon coast.

Oswald West Society

($1,000-plus)AnonymousJane BeckwithMichael and Mary CaprioAnne Osborn CoopersmithGeraldine and Robert HaynesArthur and Gertrude HetheringtonJerry and Kristayani JonesCynthia LordEvelyn McConnaugheyKris OlsonSteve and Georgia SchellAnne Squier

Cathern TuftsPaul and Lory UtzJohn Vitas and Pat TowleEric and Ann WatkinsHoward WatkinsCatherine Wiley

Directors Circle($500-plus)

Allison Asbjornsen andForrest Dickerson

Willotta AsbjornsenDaniel Anderson and Joy StrandDorothy and Frank Anderson

John and Darcy BosshardtJack BroomeGerry and Nancy BrownMarshall CronynJohanna CummingsChristine DeMoll and Bill JamesRobert FoleyDennis HigginsBarbara Hilyer and John DaggettRon Hogeland and Nancy ArcherBill and Susanne KabeisemanKalmiopsis Audubon Society

Herbert and Patricia Monie

Phyllis ParkerMaria and John PhippsCharles SerlisCraig and Anne SwinfordTrillium Natural Foods

Our Generous DonorsElizabeth AndersonJoann and Philip AnseloneShannon BaconMarvin BakerJim and Nancye BallardScott and Martha BaloghMike and Nana Bauer LLCCharles Beasley and

Melinda OSullivanGeorge BensonLarry and Gail BergevinWilliam and Elouise Binns, Jr.Philip Blanton and Susan ToneNik Blosser and Deborah KafouryBrian BoothJeanette BrinkerCharles and Nancy BublThomas BuellAngela CalkinsRichard and Lois Cameron

Susan CameronDale and Jeanne CannonAnne CaplesBill Chadwick and Teresa AtwillJohn ChurchillLeonard and Else CobbCraig Cornu and Anne DonnellyDanny and Janna CrabbJohn and Mary Lou DailyT.B. and Deirdre DameAlex DerrIrma Dresie

Richard and Clara Dresslar

Douglas DurrettNancy EdwardsHarriett EgyCarl and Millie EhrmanNan EvansBarbara Bacon FolawnDavid FordRobert and Carla ForemanMarnie and Doug FrankPeter and Marian FrankMartha FraundorfBob and Liz FrenkelPhil Freshman

Marie GarganoGerald and Shellie GibbsWilliam and Lyn GordonMichael Graybill and Jan HodderKeith and Pat HarcourtKatharine and Goodwin HardingRosario HauglandBonnie Henderson and

Charles ZennacheWilliam and Paula HoehnCharles HolcombBarbara HollerLori HollingsworthArthur and Martha Holmberg

Bill and Barbara HortonJoanne and Fred HugiRobert JensenGordon JoachimWilliam JohnsonPenelope and Jack KaczmarekGary Kish and Sharon HarmonPaul KomarNancy KosterlitzBrent LerwillByron LippertLee and Ann Littlewood

PAGE 10 OREGON SHORES

GENEROUS DONORS ENABLE OREGON SHORESTO FLOURISH


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Porter and Corinne LombardAlfred Lord and Connie MurrayRichard and Elizabeth LyonsB.J. McCabeRichard McCutchenJohn and Vernie McGowanNeil MaineWilliam and Jennifer MartinakRoger MeyerRuby MillerJan MitchellCarol MooreJoe MooreMolly and Bill MorganAllen NeuringerJoseph and Charlotte NoddinRobert and Carolyn OllikainenJeffry and Elizabeth Olson

Cam ParryBetty and William PendarvisPaul Poresky and Gail MuellerFlorence Prescott and Linda TarrWalter and Nina RaimondoNancy RangilaElizabeth ReadelREIEugene storeG.R. and Carol Reule

Marty RheaDavid Rogers and Julie PohlPatricia RomanovErich and Alice RotherLarry and Ielean RouseErica Rubin and Tom SwansonMichael and Wendy RussoBruce and Connie Ryan

Michael and Yvette St. John

Gertie SchrammTim Sercombe and Jane Van BoskirkGeneva ShadleyHoward and Alice ShapiroPatricia SimsDave and Janet SnazukJohn SoltersRoger and Anita StrausJohn and Carol Steele

Albert and Lynda SteinerJames and Valerie SturgillDick TroutJane TrunkeyClaire TuckerJoseph and Charlotte UrisDan Van Calcar and Diane HenkelsPaul and Norma Van NattaPaul and Adrienne VasterlingJohn Waddill and Susan SmithJohn and Florence WegnerPatricia WelchMitchell WilliamsBernard and Carol WolffEstelle WomackRichard and OskieYasanaWayne Zurflueh

FoundationsBullitt FoundationJubitz Family FoundationKCS Pacific FoundationLamb-Baldwin FoundationLazar FoundationREISo Hum FoundationSpirit Mt. Community Foundation

THANK YOUTO OUR DONORS

PAGE 11VOLUME 23, NUMBER 1

WAVE ENERGY PROJECTS LIMITEDTO PILOTS UNTIL OREGON AMENDS SEA PLAN

Governor Ted Kulongoski and heads of Oregons agencies hav-ing regulatory authority in the ocean, signed an agreement inlate March with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC) intended to limit wave energy development withinOregons Territorial Sea to small scale pilot projectsuntil Ore-gon amends its ocean and coastal plans to address the possiblesiting of wave energy facilities.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) comes in responseto a recent Ocean Power Technology (OPT) proposal to FERCto advance to a large-scale commercial wave energy projectnear Coos Bay without first implementing a test project, as thecompany had previously stated as its intention. In the proposal,

the company indicated its plans to seek a license to build out to200 buoys in stages over several years, instead of taking a moreconservative approach by first seeking a license for a pilot pro-ject, as it is doing at its proposed Reedsport site where the com-pany will need to gain a license amendment, involving a delib-erative review process, before any build out to commercialscale.

Oregon Shores Ocean Program Director Robin Hartmann hasbeen serving on an oversight panel for the proposed OPTReedsport 10-buoy test project where requirements are being

set for studies and monitoring as well as for a stringent adaptivemanagementprocess to allow for future changes in the opera-tions of the project in response to study and monitoring results,including any potential effects on whales, salmon or sand move-ment.

Hartmann also chairs Oregons Ocean Policy Advisory Council(OPAC) Wave Energy Working Group, where focus in recentmonths has been on developing a plan for studying the cumula-tive social, economic and ecological effects of multiple waveenergy development projects that might be built within Ore-gons Territorial Sea. The goal of the cumulative effect study isto help Oregon gather and analyze existing and new informa-

tion about the ocean, out to 12 miles, to help the state effectdecisions about the size, layout and location of projects, protec-tion of sensitive and key fishing areas, and any studies and moni-toring of sites that should be required by the state.

The cumulative effects study plan was approved on March 28thby the full OPAC and will advance to the Governor and stateagencies with a recommendation to seek funding from the Ore-gon Wave Energy Trust and other sources to implement thestudy to help the state prepare for the future.


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NonprofitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PaidNewport, ORPermit No. 48

DATESTO REMEMBER:

Monday, April 21, Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) Marine ReserveWorking Group meeting, Lincoln City, City Hall Chambers.

Thursday, April 24, Our Ocean Coalition special event on marine protectedareas, Portland, Lucky Lab Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3, CoastWatch and Cape Perpetua Foundation joint volunteertraining event, featuring marine ecologist Cynthia Trowbridge on tidepoolecology, Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (south of Yachats), 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17, Oregon Shores and League of Women Voters joint con-

ference: Gravel Mining in Rivers: Understanding the Permit Process,

Brookings, Chetco Activity Center, 550 Chetco Ln, 2:00 p.m.5:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 22, full OPAC meeting, probably in Bandon.

Friday, May 23, OPAC Wave Energy Working Group meeting, Bandon.

Saturday, May 31, CoastWatch training conference, Southwestern OregonCommunity College, Coos Bay.

Saturday, June 7, CoastWatch and Honeyman State Park celebration of StateParks Day, on north jetty of the Siuslaw from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 16-17, CoastWatch and Northwest Aquatic and Ma-rine Educators joint conference on shoreline natural history and interpreta-tion, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, approx. 2:30 4:00 p.m.

For up-to-date start times and event detail visit www.oregonshores.org

CONTACT US:

Program STAFFCAMERON LA FOLLETTE, LAND USE DIRECTOR

[email protected]

(503) 391-0210

PHILLIP JOHNSON, COASTWATCH [email protected]

(503) 238-4450

ROBIN HARTMANN, OCEAN DIRECTOR,

NEWSLETTER [email protected]

(541) 672-3694

Key VolunteersALLISON ASBJORNSEN, PRESIDENT

[email protected](503) 801-1643

LLOYD MAXFIELD, [email protected]

(541) 344-3322

P.O. BOX 1344DEPOE BAY, OREGON 97341

OREGON SHORES

CONSERVATION COALITION

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