What a spectacular fall it's been along the Oregon coast! This is the season for ocean and coastal recreation with the storm swells pulsing opportunities for surf and the autumn days and evenings offering some of the best, windless and warm beach conditions of the year. Our Surfrider Chapters have been making the most of the coast this season with lots of great volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved from leadership roles to just pitching in at a local cleanup! *Can you guess the Oregon coastal location of this gorgeous blue water photo? Answer at the bottom.
-Charlie Plybon, Oregon Policy Manager
Surfrider Cleanups Sweep September Beaches
Building off our partnership with the annual SOLVE cleanups, Surfrider chapters cleared an incredible amount of waste in September through our chapters collective cleanup efforts. Coos Bay and Newport Chapters alone boasted 7 cleanups and over 1000 pounds of trash from their beloved beaches last month.
Surfrider Files Comments on Oregon Draft Wind Energy Areas
Following the release of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Draft Wave Energy Areas for Oregon, Surfrider filed comments in October following an extensive outreach process with our chapters and allies in ocean conservation. The draft areas cover nearly a quarter of a million acres roughly 18-32 miles offshore Oregon's southern coast. Surfrider filed both individually on behalf of our Oregon and Northern California chapters and we contributed to an outstanding wildlife coalition comment as well.
For over 15 years now Surfrider's Portland Chapter has maintained an ongoing stewardship program, Oswald West Action Days, with local partners in support of the beloved state park and marine reserve. This beautiful state park has been a little over-loved by surfers and other beachgoers for decades, so in 2008 the Chapter launched the stewardship program for the park, just prior to Cape Falcon's designation as a state Marine Reserve. This October's Action Day marked their 15th year of this radical program!
New Ocean Policy Appointment: Ocean & Coastal Recreation
As a coastal resident and avid ocean recreational user I directly see the importance of ensuring our ocean policy reflects its stakeholders so my daughter, who is a six generation Oregon coast recreational user, and future generations can experience our unique coastline as I have had the privilege - Amelia O'Connor
Oregon's Governor and Legislature have appointed a new ocean and coastal recreation representative, Amelia O'Connor, to the state's Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC). Amelia's official seat, "Coastal Non-Fishing Recreation", is a critical role in representing the myriad of non-fishing (other seats represent various fishing interests) forms of ocean and coastal recreation such as surfing, swimming, scuba diving, wildlife viewing and beach going.
This year's Cascadia Conference in Long Beach, WA was a huge success last month! Volunteers, activists and staff attended the two-day conference from around the Pacific Northwest for activist trainings and key issue discussions and of course some fun and camaraderie! You can check out the conference wrap up and photos on the 2023 Cascadia Conference Dashboard below!
Ahead of UN Plastics Treaty negotiations set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, next month, the Surfrider Foundation is proud to launch the Global Plastic Laws Database in partnership with Plastic Pollution Coalition. Check it out!
Upcoming Events!
Nov. 4– State of the Coast, Newport, OR - More info
Nov 5, 3pm-4:30pm –Coos Bay Chapter Meet – More info
Nov 14, 6pm-7:30pm – Portland Chapter Meet - More info.
Nov 18, 5pm, Yachats– Land Sea Symposium – More info
Nov 25, 10am-1pm, Coos Bay– Thankful for our beaches cleanup – TBD
Dec 7, Newport– SAVE the DATE, Volunteer Appreciation!
Scenes of the surf from Surfrider Portland's bi-annual Oswald West Action Day last month at Shorties. One of those gorgeous autumn days on the Oregon coast!
Beach games at last month's Cascadia Conference in Long Beach, WA. Shout out to our friends at Fort George Brewery for hooking us up with some Short Sands Lagers (their collab beer with Surfrider North Coast) to enjoy on the beach!
The Surfrider Portland Communications Guru, Chanel Hason, was featured on a panel last month discussing Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program at The People’s Coast Summit in Astoria, OR.
*PHOTO HEADER ANSWER: Sisters Rock State Park, also known as Frankport in Curry County on the south coast. Frankport was once an actual port, abandoned today the site is an outstanding natural area on the Oregon coast.
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