Beaches Articles

July 12, 2020

CoastWatch Joins Hunt for Hybrid Beachgrass

Rebecca Mostow in the field. Much of the terrain of the Oregon's sandy shoreline we see today has been shaped by two dominant, invasive beachgrass species. They build the tall, stable dunes that parallel sandy beaches, providing some protection for infrastructure but causing the decline of native animal and plant species. A team from Oregon State University...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
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
Snowy Plover chicks.\Photo by Adam Kotaich.
March 16, 2018

Snowy Plover Nesting Period Ends

snowy_plover_chicks_adam_kotaich.jpg Beachgoers assist the ongoing effort to restore healthy populations of the threatened Western Snowy Plover to Oregon’s beaches by respecting nesting areas and beach restrictions during nesting season, March 15 through Sept. 15. Signs and ropes that identify sensitive western snowy plover nesting areas have...Read more
Tidepool instruction at Haystack Rock.\Photo by Melissa Keyser/HRAP.
February 15, 2018

Share the Coast for Fun and Stewardship

hrap_tidepool_instruction_hrap.jpg The annual Sharing the Coast Conference, coming up March 2-4 in Cannon Beach this year, presents an extraordinary harvest of coastal natural history and shoreline science. Mingle with fellow coast-lovers, revel in talks, panel discussions, and field trips, and, of course, strive for supremacy in the coast and...Read more
Image of top portion of Oregon coast map, showing title.
December 9, 2017

New Oregon Coast Conservation Map Available

As part of our 2017 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill, Oregon Shores collaborated with Raven Maps to produce a new large-format, high resolution map of the Oregon coast, emphasizing public lands. The map is now available for order , in time to serve as a beautiful holiday gift for your coast-loving friends and relatives. The new map highlights...Read more
The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson.
August 31, 2017

Bacteria Findings Show Need for Water Quality Monitoring

The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health Association Public Health Division , began its annual, regular evaluation...Read more
Sea Change
August 30, 2017

Celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day

coastal_clean_up_stats SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 is International Coastal Cleanup Day. Ocean trash is a serious pollution issue that affects the health of wildlife, people, and local economies. Trash on our shores and in the water increases the destruction and degradation of wildlife, water quality, and and ecosystems. In partnership with volunteer organizations...Read more
Sea pickles off the coast of Oregon.
July 21, 2017

Sightings: ‘Sea Pickles’ Wash Ashore in the Pacific Northwest

Pyrosomes off the west coast of America. | Photo from University of Oregon Mysterious translucent creatures are washing ashore along the western shores of North America. Known as “sea pickles” -- the scientific name is pyrosomes -- these creatures are made up of a colony of individual zooids. A zooid is a tiny multicellular organism that makes up part of a...Read more
Time to step up for our beaches\Photo courtesy of Surfrider.
June 6, 2017

Speak Out Now for Beach Fund Bill

Time to step up for our beaches\Photo courtesy of Surfrider. Oregon Shores has strongly supported Senate Bill 745, which creates an Ocean Beach Fund, as a means of honoring the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill. Now, your voice is urgently needed if the bill is to escape the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue in time for passage this session...Read more