Out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for high winds this afternoon and evening, we are canceling tonight’s planned Siletz Watershed meeting. Your safety is our top priority, so please stay home, stay safe, and take care during this gusty weather!

We wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to seeing you at our next meeting in March.

Join us at our upcoming Siletz Watershed Quarterly Meeting, on December 17th at 5:30 PM, hosted at the Siletz Public Library.

During the meeting we’ll hear from Evan Hayduk, Executive Director of MidCoast Watersheds Council, who will provide updates on upcoming construction projects on the Siletz, including phase II of the Lower Drift Creek tidal restoration project. Evan will also give an update on Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians’ mainstem and Siletz bay large woody debris project. A portion of the logs being used for the project are provided by MCWC through our log salvage program.

Siletz Watershed Quarterly Meeting

December 17th @ 5:30-6:30 PM

Siletz Public Library

255 S Gaither St, Siletz, OR 97380

We are working to secure funding to support future meetings in the Siletz basin, and we’d love to hear what you’re interested in learning more about. Email Natalie (natalie@midcoastwc.org) or plan to attend the meeting to let us know!

Your presence and participation would greatly improve these community events, as we come together to foster a healthier Siletz watershed. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The MidCoast Watersheds Council invites you to join us to learn about the vital role of prescribed fire in habitat restoration and management on the Oregon Coast. For millennia, Indigenous tribes across the Americas utilized prescribed fire as a primary tool for large-scale habitat management. These intentional burns shaped ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and maintaining balance. Early European colonists ended these practices for their own purposes; only recently have we become aware of their unintended consequences. Complete fire suppression has not only contributed to severe wildfire risks due to fuel accumulation but has also led to the degradation and loss of critical habitats. For example, less than 1% of the Pacific Northwest’s coastal meadow ecosystem remains, a dramatic decline noted in the Oregon Conservation Strategy. Restoring and maintaining these ecosystems may depend on reintroducing fire as a management tool.

On the Oregon Coast, prescribed fire is used primarily for ecological restoration and coastal meadow conservation rather than wildfire risk reduction, a role that differs significantly from other ecoregions in the state. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as organizations like The Nature Conservancy, lead these efforts on public and preserved lands such as Cascade Head Preserve. However, with 63% of Lincoln County composed of private lands, there is potential to expand prescribed fire practices into private land management and conservation efforts.

This presentation will feature experts from Oregon State University Extension, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in fire management and ecological restoration. They will delve into the role of prescribed fire in restoring and maintaining ecosystems on the Oregon Coast, highlighting its use by federal agencies, opportunities for expanding its application on private lands, and the social, legal, and environmental challenges involved. The discussion will include practical strategies to address these challenges, offering valuable insights into how prescribed fire can serve as a key tool for fostering ecological resilience.

Speakers: 

Aaron Groth

Regional Fire Specialist, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Fire Program

Aaron is the regional fire specialist for the North Coast within the OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Fire Program. He works with communities as well as local, state, federal, private, and nonprofit partners at different scales across the Coast to provide education and foster fire resilient communities and landscapes. He has worked for local, state, and federal agencies, international cooperation, nonprofits, and served as an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru.   

David Thomson

Restoration Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & U.S. Forest Service

David serves as a Restoration Specialist shared between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ecological Services and Refuges branches, and the U.S. Forest Service’s Hebo and Central Coast Ranger Districts on the Siuslaw National Forest. His work focuses on coastal meadow restoration in the Pacific Northwest, with a primary goal of recovering the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly.

Brian Bradbury

Fuels Assistant Fire Management Officer, U.S. Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest

Daniel Crowell

Fire Management Officer, U.S. Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest

Kate E. Iaquinto

Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Photo Credit: USFWS/Taryn Sutton 2024

Why did Oregonians set aside 3% of their nearshore habitat as no-take areas? What does this decision reveal about the values and priorities of the people in this state? And how can these marine reserves contribute to building more sustainable, vibrant, and equitable nearshore ecosystems? The answers to these questions vary depending on who you ask, but understanding those diverse perspectives is essential to shaping the future of Oregon’s coastline.

Join us for an insightful presentation by Dr. Sarah Klain, the Human Dimensions lead for Oregon’s Marine Reserve Program, as she delves into these questions and more. Dr. Klain’s work focuses on investigating how Oregon’s five marine reserves impact people—residents and visitors alike—and what these areas mean for the state’s future. Her research plays a critical role in shaping an upcoming adaptive management planning process that will guide the continued development of these protected areas.

During this talk, Dr. Klain will provide an overview of her program’s latest research and share opportunities for community members to engage in coastal stewardship. Whether you’re a passionate environmentalist, a coastal resident, or simply curious about the future of Oregon’s marine ecosystems, this discussion will offer valuable insights and ways to get involved.

Dr. Sarah Klain leads human dimensions research for the ODFW Marine Reserves Program. After majoring in biology with a minor in economics at Reed College, she worked at Ecotrust interviewing fishermen on the Oregon coast from 2003-2005 to help inform the process for creating the reserves. During her service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, she learned about Micronesian indigenous knowledge of marine ecosystems. She earned her graduate degrees from the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. Her participatory GIS-based MSc research assessed social and cultural values to inform marine spatial planning. Her PhD research focused on risk and benefit perception of offshore wind as well as community engagement on island communities near proposed wind projects. She conducted riparian restoration research in collaboration with a Tribe and taught ecological economics as well as environmental policy at Utah State University before joining ODFW’s Marine Reserves team. Her favorite hobbies are trail running with her golden doodles, playing at the beach with her kids and attending her husband’s bluegrass gigs.

Are you a landowner along the Alsea River or its tributaries? Are you interested in learning about opportunities for financial and technical assistance in land management?

MidCoast Watersheds Council, a local restoration group, invites you to join us for a free dinner and a presentation about Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs available to landowners. We’ll discuss the support available for owners of small woodlots and private timberlands, including Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Programs (CSP). The event will be at the Alsea Library on Wednesday October 30th at 6 PM. Please RSVP through Eventbrite or by calling: 541-265-9195. Our featured speaker is Annie Marion- District Conservationist at USDA NRCS. Annie has spent 15 years with the agency, the last five of which have been in the Waldport Field Office, serving as the District Conservationist for Lincoln and West Lane Counties. We will also be joined by Stephanie Rice, Benton County District Conservationist at NRCS. Stephanie began this role in may of this year, after previous experience with the NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in both the Tangent and John Day offices.

Featured Speakers:

Annie Marion, District Conservationist for Lincoln & West Lane Counties

Stephanie Rice, District Conservationist for Benton County

Dinner provided by MidCoast Watersheds Council (catered by El Cruzero)

During the talk, Annie will outline the technical and financial assistance NRCS provides to small woodland owners and managers, equipping them to successfully implement conservation projects on their properties. She will discuss how the EQIP and CSP programs can help you meet conservation goals, improve land productivity, and contribute to broader efforts to protect natural resources. We encourage landowners and land managers to attend- Both Annie and Stephanie will be on hand for questions.

Please note: This event is at the Alsea Community Library

Join us at our upcoming Siletz Watershed Quarterly Meeting, on September 17th at 6 PM, hosted at the Siletz Public Library.

During the meeting we’ll hear from Katie Saaty, Water Quality Monitoring Specialist at Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, who will discuss water quality monitoring in the Siletz basin. While water quality monitoring efforts in the Siletz River Basin have been ongoing for decades, many holes in the big picture of the river system’s health remain to be filled in. At the Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, work is in progress to collect data to be used in the development of a Clean Water Plan to address impaired dissolved oxygen levels in the watershed.

Katie Saaty first joined the Lincoln SWCD in 2021, and stepped into her current role as the Water Quality Monitoring Specialist two years ago. As a Humboldt State University graduate with a Bachelors in Fisheries Science and former Commercial Fisheries Observer, Katie is thrilled to be using her knowledge of aquatic ecosystems to serve the residents of Lincoln County in protecting our vital waterways and drinking water sources.

​​Water Quality Monitoring in the Siletz-Rock Creek Basin: Establishing a Baseline

September 17th @ 6-7 PM

Siletz Public Library

255 S Gaither St, Siletz, OR 97380

Join MidCoast Watersheds Council to explore the crucial role of pollinators and discover how we can collaborate with them to build sustainable ecosystems. Speakers Tyler Clouse, Celeste Lebo, and Evan Hayduk will present updates on the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District’s Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (OSB) meadows, sharing insights and lessons learned from two distinct properties: the Mahaffey meadow and the OCCC OSB Demo Garden. They will also address the challenges pollinators face and provide practical strategies to support their survival. Whether you're a gardener, farmer, or butterfly enthusiast, join us to learn about the importance of pollinators!

Tyler Clouse- Executive Director at LSWCD

Tyler joined Lincoln SWCD in September 2021. He graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan. Since then, he has worked primarily in the intersection of human resource use and environmental protection through regulatory compliance and outreach. An inquisitive outdoor adventurer, you can find Tyler surfing, swimming, berry pickin’, and exploring the diverse landscape of the region. In his free time, Tyler enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing board games.

Celeste Lebo- Habitat Restoration Biologist, USFWS (Partners for Fish and Wildlife)

Celeste has been active in the field of habitat restoration for over two decades in western Oregon. Moving to the coast in 2009, Celeste has worked for several non-profit and government organizations, restoring and conserving some of our most imperiled coastal native plant communities and species. Exploring the interrelationships between pollinators, plants, and people is one of the many joys that she finds in her work.

Evan Hayduk- Executive Director at MidCoast Watersheds Council

Evan came to Oregon as of his beginnings with MCWC in April 2016, but has a shared sense of Pacific Northwest pride as a lifelong Washingtonian. For almost a decade he has worked in environmental restoration of riparian, wetland, sub-alpine, prairie, forested and oak savanna ecosystems.

MidCoast Watersheds Council invites you to join us for a tour of past and ongoing work on Mill & Beaty Creeks, near the town of Alsea. We’ll guide you through two phases of work at the restoration site, where over 300 logs have been placed to create complex stream habitats and two fish passage barriers have been replaced. On our 1-hour walk along the creek, we'll see active construction being done to replace a culvert, place large logs in the stream, and reconnect the floodplain.

MidCoast Executive Director Evan Hayduk will discuss how you can support restoration projects on your own river, stream, or bayside properties. Please come prepared to walk through sections of mud and uneven ground. Bringing water and snacks is recommended.

Whether you are curious about the what and whys of restoration or if you have interest in helping, we hope to see you at our upcoming event. Tell your neighbors and we look forward to seeing you there!

Location: Meet in Alsea Library Parking Lot

Join MidCoast Watersheds Council for an inside look at the work of local artists Liz Fox and Sandy Roumagoux, whose creations are deeply inspired by estuaries and coastal landscapes. In this talk, they will delve into their latest exhibit, Between the Tides, and share how the coastal regions of Lincoln County inspire their work. 

In celebration of the evening, the galleries at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center will be open and free for attendees to explore. Arrive at 5:30 PM to enjoy the galleries before the talk begins at 6:30 PM. This is a free event, so don't miss this unique opportunity!

Liz Fox has lived on the Oregon coast for most of her life and has navigated a sea of careers since graduating with a Soil Science degree from OSU in 1980.  Retiring as a high school librarian in 2020, she’s been a full-time potter ever since, diving into the riptide she’s waded in for over 40 years.  Liz and her marine biologist husband, Dave, have 2 amazing children, 3 unruly dogs, and live on a former tideland between Newport and Toledo.  

Sandy Roumagoux is a celebrated artist and former Mayor of Newport, Oregon. Sandy's work is showcased in places like the Portland Art Museum and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Recently, she shared her unique vision through exhibits like "Biomass, Invitational" and "Between the Tides." Sandy brings her passion for coastal landscapes to life with every brushstroke.

Join MidCoast Watersheds Council for a captivating presentation by Dr. Steven Rumrill, Shellfish Program Leader at ODFW, as he discusses the Olympia oyster, the only oyster native to the North American west coast! Populations of this small oyster historically provided valuable ecosystem benefits in the intertidal and subtidal zones, but overharvesting during the late 1800s decreased the population to a fraction of their historical abundance. Olympia oysters currently only occur in three estuaries in Oregon – Netarts Bay, Yaquina Bay, and Coos Bay – where they are estimated at 1-10% of their historic densities prior to the onset of commercial harvest. Rumrill will discuss the many setbacks of Olympia oyster recovery, and showcase a recent project to experimentally enhance the existing population of Olympia oysters at Coquille Point. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the world of Olympia oysters and the efforts underway to ensure their survival and flourishing in our coastal ecosystems.

Dr. Steven Rumrill has served as the Shellfish Program Leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2011, managing a diverse program encompassing policy development, resource assessment surveys, fisheries, research, and outreach activities for a diverse group of shellfish that inhabit Oregon’s various coastal habitats. Before this, he was the Chief Scientist and Research Coordinator for the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve from 1990 to 2011. Currently, he holds adjunct positions at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Portland State University, conducting research and advising graduate students. Rumrill holds a master's degree in Marine Science from UC Santa Cruz (1984) and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Alberta (1987).

Are you a landowner along the lower Alsea River or Alsea estuary? Are you interested in learning about opportunities for watershed restoration in your community?

During his talk, Evan Hayduk will discuss the past, present, and future of Oregon’s tidal wetlands, with a focus on the Alsea estuary. As sea level rises, many of these tidal wetlands will be flooded or submerged more frequently, resulting in a transition of wetland types and the upslope "movement" of various tidal habitats, known as Landward Migration Zones (LMZs). Salmon and many other fish and wildlife species depend on tidal wetlands during their life spans, and MidCoast and our partners are working to conserve, protect, and restore these very important tidal wetland areas.

Featured Speaker: Evan Hayduk, Executive Director of MidCoast Watersheds Council

Please note: This event is at the Waldport Community Center

We are excited to announce the revival of our quarterly Siletz Watershed Meetings, and we invite you to join us for the first gathering on May 30th at 6 PM, hosted at the Siletz Public Library.

During the meeting we’ll discuss project updates on past and upcoming Siletz Watershed sites including- Lower Drift Creek, Sam’s Creek, and Rock Creek. Additionally, we'll be discussing plans for our annual Siletz River Cleanup, set to take place at Hee Hee Illahee Park on June 8th, running from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Siletz Watershed Quarterly Meeting

May 30th @ 6 PM

Siletz Public Library

255 S Gaither St, Siletz, OR 97380

Shawn Stephensen, Wildlife Biologist of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex), will provide a presentation on seabirds of the Pacific Northwest and ongoing projects related to seabirds on the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. There are approximately 1.2 million breeding seabirds representing 15 species at 400 colonies in Oregon. Many of the seabird species are in decline and the Complex is conducting scientific studies to assess populations and contributing factors of the decline.

Shawn W. Stephensen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Utah State University and a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences from University of Alaska Anchorage.  He has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over 34 years as a Wildlife Biologist.  He worked for four years with Fish and Wildlife Enhancement in Salt Lake City, Utah conducting contaminant studies, 14 years with Migratory Bird Management in Anchorage, Alaska conducting seabird studies and database management, and 16 years with the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Newport, Oregon conducting seabird studies and refuge management.

Are you a landowner along the Alsea River or its tributaries? Are you interested in learning about opportunities for watershed restoration in your community?

During this event, Tony Spitzack will delve into the historical context of our relationship with streams, the natural changes that occur over time, and the crucial need to reconnect floodplains. His expertise as a fish biologist, coupled with his extensive experience as an educator and firefighter, uniquely positions him to offer valuable perspectives on this critical issue. We invite Alsea landowners and community members to attend.

Featured Speaker: Tony Spitzack, Fish Biologist with the Bureau of Land Management

Tony Spitzack is a Fish Biologist with the Bureau of Land Management. He is part of an interdisciplinary team managing public lands in the Marys Peak Field Office in accordance with the BLM’s multiple use mandate. He has lived and worked in Oregon ecosystems as a fish biologist, fish and wildlife technician, firefighter and educator for 20 years.

This is the first event in our new Alsea Basin series. Keep an eye out for more chances to learn about restoration throughout 2024.

Please note: This event is at the Alsea Community Library

Join MidCoast Watersheds Council for an informative talk by Derek Wilson, a seasoned Habitat Conservation Biologist at ODFW, as he discusses the European Green Crab invasion along the coastlines of Oregon. European green crab (EGC) are a non-native species that has rapidly colonized temperate coastlines at several locations around the world. Commonly known as the "green crab," they have swiftly become an aggressive invader with potential to disrupt native shellfish communities, including crabs, clams, and oysters.

Beginning with the historical context of EGC colonization, Wilson will take you on a journey from their initial establishment in San Francisco Bay before 1989 to their widespread presence along the west coast between 1996 and 1999. In recent years, the population dynamics of EGC have undergone significant changes, with a surge in numbers attributed to shifting ocean conditions and elevated seawater temperatures during the marine heatwave from 2015 to 2021.

Learn about the presence of European green crab in Yaquina Bay, one of many bays in Oregon where populations have now become established. Monitoring efforts in Yaquina Bay have continued since April 2022 to identify the environmental variables and species interactions that influence the distribution and behavior of this non-native species. Efforts are also underway to generate a risk assessment and management plan for EGC in Oregon. Mark your calendars for an evening of discovery and education!

Derek Wilson has 20 years of fish and wildlife resource management experience with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, all based in Newport. He was a Fisheries Biologist for 13 years where he assisted with the management of the freshwater fisheries by conducting specific research and monitoring projects to fill informational gaps and planning and implementing various restoration projects across the management district. The last seven years Wilson has been the Habitat Conservation Biologist with a focus on estuary health, resilience and restoration.

There are so many reasons why we love beavers and a few reasons why they can be some very annoying neighbors. In this presentation, Megan Garvey and Shea Fuller from The Wetlands Conservancy will discuss all of the reasons why they try so hard to build truces with the flat-tailed families that call wetlands their home. They often wonder how we could battle climate change without our beaver friends! This talk will cover some of the benefits people enjoy by having beavers manage our landscapes, as well as the coexistence solutions used to keep our human-based infrastructure safe. Megan and Shea will also discuss how The Wetlands Conservancy is using community science to expand their knowledge of beaver populations and better inform the stewardship of their lands.

Megan Garvey is the Stewardship Director for The Wetlands Conservancy (TWC), a statewide land trust of Oregon. She has worked in Oregon as a natural resource technician, an outdoor educator, and a land manager. Megan has been with TWC for over 10 years, managing their preserves as well as their community science and education programs.

Shea Fuller is the Community Engagement Manager for TWC and has worked to bring people into wetlands for about 7 years. She leads tours, cleanups, field trips, and wildlife surveys throughout urban wetlands in the Portland Metro area.

Learn more about the work at The Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES) with its director James Sulikowski. Dr. Sulikowski is the Director of COMES and a Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences (FWCS) at OSU. His interdisciplinary research integrates aspects of physiology and ecology to provide an understanding of how humans and a changing environment affect the movements, and spatial/temporal distribution of sharks in both the coastal and pelagic environments.

Image curtesy of James Sulikowski.

Yaqina Bay conservation

Yaquina Bay and the biodiversity it supports are the backbone of coastal culture, and a  variety of local groups collaborate on the management and improvement of the bay and estuary. At the MidCoast Watersheds Council’s September presentation, representatives of several of these groups presented about recent work and management of these resources.

Presenters included Cheryl Horton (Estuary Program Manager with MCWC), Michael Moses Estuarine Resilience Coordinator with the Department of Land Conservation and Development), and Megan Hoff (Senior Planner with Lincoln County).  They discussed upcoming marsh restoration work in the Yaquina estuary funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Estuary Resilience Planning Process (ERAP) that is slated to begin this fall in Lincoln County, and the multiyear effort to modernize the Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan to reflect current needs and plan for a future with sea level rise. These short presentations were followed by a panel discussion.

Presenters include:

Michael Moses, Estuarine Resilience Coordinator of the Department of Land Conservation and Development

• In 2021, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)’s Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) began a two-year coordinated planning effort with stakeholders in Coos and Tillamook Counties to evaluate estuary-related resilience needs and identify opportunities for nature-based solutions. Building on this program, OCMP is expanding this work to Lincoln and Lane Counties next, starting in fall 2023.

Megan Hoff, Senior Planner with Lincoln County

• The Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan (YBEMP) regulates estuarine resource conservation and development decisions in compliance with Statewide Planning Goal 16: Estuarine Resources. The YBEMP was adopted by Lincoln County in 1982 and is administered at the local level by Lincoln County, the City of Newport, and the City of Toledo for areas within their respective jurisdictions. Guided by a Steering Committee and an Advisory Group comprised of experts, stakeholders, and interested parties in the Yaquina Bay area, a detailed process has been undertaken to modernize and update the YBEMP over the last few years.  

Cheryl Horton, Estuary Program Manager with the MidCoast Watersheds Council

• The Oregon Central Coast Estuary Collaborative has been conducting estuary restoration for several years, and was recently rewarded a large sum of funds to design and implement several estuarine restoration projects in the Yaquina and Alsea estuaries.

Step into the world of environmental science and stewardship at the Midcoast Watershed Council's summer celebration! It was an evening filled with interesting information, appetizers, and the chance to win wonderful prizes. This event showcased the accomplishments and experiences of our staff and summer interns, and provided an opportunity to support our mission for healthy streams and rivers on Oregon’s central coast.

Before the interns took the stage to present their experiences this summer, there was a raffle including items from Ossie’s Surf Shop, Englunds Marine Supply, Pacific Sourdough, Ultralife, Visual Arts Center, Pura Vida Surf Shop, and Artsea Craftsea!

We look forward to welcoming you at 6:00!

For more and information about future events, join our email list. Check here for past community meeting recordings.

 Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Past and Present

June 1st, 2023 at 6:30 pm

At the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (333 SE Bay Blvd, Newport, OR)

And streamed via Zoom

[Newport, OR, June 1st] – The MidCoast Watersheds Council is pleased to announce our June community presentation titled, "Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Past and Present." This event will provide an overview of the history of conservation and the ongoing restoration efforts by the refuge. Join us on June 1st at 6:30 at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport’s historic bayfront or stream the event on Zoom.

Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Lincoln City, is a vital habitat for diverse wildlife and migratory birds. Restoration initiatives to encourage native plants and natural water flow have played a crucial role in revitalizing the refuge's ecosystem.

Our presenter is Kate Iaquinto, Deputy Project Leader with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She will discuss historical context of restoration, innovative techniques, and collaborative partnerships that have shaped the refuge. She will also highlight the efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to create wildlife refuges on the Oregon coast.

The presentation underscores Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge as a testament to restoration's power and ongoing conservation importance. While progress has been made, significant tasks remain to safeguard and enhance the refuge's ecological integrity. Attendees will deepen their understanding of preserving our natural heritage and foster responsibility for the refuge's future.

The presentation is free and open to the public, welcoming all community members curious about local conservation and restoration efforts. It provides a unique platform to learn about the refuge's history and restoration initiatives, and connect with others who care about environmental issues.

For more information, contact 541-265-9195 or tom@midcoastwc.org. Visit midcoastwatersheds.org for details about the event.

 Thursday May 4th, 2023, 6:30 PM
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (333 SE Bay Blvd., Newport, OR)
View the recording here: https://youtu.be/R-XiEeZBr1M

On Thursday May 4th at 6:30 PM, the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC) will be hosting a presentation about the history and status of Olympia oysters, the native oyster species of Yaquina Bay. Oysters are deeply intertwined with the history of the Oregon Coast, providing a rich food source, water filtration, and habitat for other animals with their hard reef structure.

This month, our presenter is Dr. George Waldbusser, ecology researcher at Oregon State University. His lab has been studying the effects of environmental changes, such as ocean acidification and temperature changes, on the growth and survival of Olympia oysters and other shellfish in Yaquina Bay. He will be joined by a graduate student to share the fascinating history of oysters and the trends in the ongoing research.

Some of their research sites overlap with recent tidal restoration work, including in Poole Slough.

Photo by Debbie Ross-Preston.

Thursday April 6, 2023, 6:30 PM

Pacific Maritime Heritage Center or by Zoom

On Thursday April 6 at 6:30 PM,we hosted a presentation about the unique landscapes just south of Yachats.  Paul Engelmeyer discussed the history and ecology of the wilderness between Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head, including the Cummins, Rock, Ten Mile, and Big Creeks. Additionally, Evan Hayduk, Council coordinator of the MCWC, discussed more recent restoration and management to improve habitat further.

The area is special for many birds and other wildlife.  It is designated as a “Globally Significant Important Bird Area” (IBA) and is near the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve and Seabird Protected Area. These efforts tie into wider efforts from Baja to Alaska to improve habitat for migratory birds and marine life.

Paul, a founding member and long-term officer of the MidCoast Watersheds Council,drew on his years of experience managing the Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary (located near Yachats) for the Portland Audubon.  He has also managed lands for The Wetlands Conservancy located in Alsea Bay, Beaver Creek and Yaquina Bay.

The live event was streamed via Zoom, but we had some technical difficulties recording this presentation, so a rerecording of the talk can be found below:

The slides form the presentation can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qPlEeWi-Ua-P-ek6kDJJRt4tv7Jb8x0q/view?usp=sharing

For this month’s community meeting, we will be hearing from Kami Ellingson from the US Forest Service about the measured success of the restoration of the tidal system of the Salmon river Estuary, and the benefits of these regenerate habitats. There will be a streaming option to accompany the in person event in Newport. Join us at:

6:30 PM at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center

333 SE Bay Blvd., Newport, OR 97365

Kami Ellingson is a hydrologist with over 20 years of field experience, ranging from landslide studies following the 1996 storm event in western Oregon, USA, to restoration of streams and rivers from headwaters to the estuaries.  Kami has led the restoration of the Salmon River estuary, Lincoln City, Oregon, USA, since 2007 and has been recognized nationallyand internationally for the success of physical process-based restoration and collaborative partnerships.  For the past 15 years, Kami has worked as the Watershed Program Manager, overseeing watershed restoration and management for approximately 630,000 acres of national forest land in the Oregon Coast Range. Kami received both her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management and her Master’s in Forest Engineering and Hydrology from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

As gray whales head north for their summer feeding season, a small group of them stick around the Oregon coast rather than heading all the way up to the Arctic, making places like Depoe Bay renowned for whale watching. Scientists from OSU have been researching which whales cut the migration short, how they use habitats present off our coast, and why they might be doing this.

This month, we heard from Lisa Hildebrand (PhD student at OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute at HMSC) about her research projects based out of Newport and the south coast. She covered the individual whales that are known to frequent our coastal waters, and what she and her colleagues have been able to learn about them.

Watch the talk at: https://youtu.be/AB3G6oG4yOY

Speaker Bio

Lisa Hildebrand is a fourth year graduate student at Oregon State University in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Leigh Torres in her Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna lab within the Marine Mammal Institute. She is an international student from Germany who very quickly after moving here in the fall of 2018 fell in love with Oregon and all it has to offer. Lisa has undertaken research on several marine mammal species including bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals, humpback, blue, and now, gray whales, who have become the focus of her graduate research. Lisa’s research interests lie in understanding the spatial and foraging ecology of large predators, particularly as it relates to their prey and environment.

Productivity of Douglas-fir forests in western Oregon provide enormous social and ecological services. There’s growing concern about combined impacts of past forest management, contemporary wildfires, and a warmer, drier climate on Douglas-fir forest ecosystems. Our understanding of historical wildfires and their influence on Douglas-fir forest ecosystems is simplistic because is not well informed by precise records of wildfires and tree establishment data. Tree ring datasets provide a wealth of precise information on the frequency, size, and effects of historical wildfires and how old-growth forests developed and persisted over time. We will summarize key findings from an extensive tree ring dataset collected across the Oregon’s west Cascades and the Oregon Coast Range. This rich and detailed dataset provides records of wildfires and forest dynamics over the past 500 years. Our aim is to share how wildfires are essential to creating and maintaining diversity in forest conditions and the critical ecosystem services Douglas-fir forests provide.

Andrew Merschel is a dendroecologist working for the Forest Service PNW Research Station and Oregon State University. Andrew uses tree rings to develop a shared understanding of how different forest ecosystems function over time. Andrew is particularly interested in how disturbances (mostly fire) and forest management have shaped and will continue to shape forest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. Andrew lives with his family (Vanessa, Aldo, and Sawyer) in Corvallis and they enjoy a mixture of fishing, hiking, wildlife ecology, and chainsaw repair in their spare time.

Join us Thursday, November 3rd at 6:30 PM to hear about his research into the history of fires in the coast range.