Fall is here on the Oregon Coast and we've been soaking up the nice weather and lighter crowds. Just like this October has been unusually warm and dry, our chapter network has also been heating up - we're buzzing from recent victories, a fabulous chapter conference, and a slew of fall cleanups in September and October which nearly 100 of you attended, resulting in almost 900 lbs of trash collected from our beaches and waterways! We're also preparing for a historic El Niño, reflecting on what that means for Oregon, and advocating on several local beach resilience issues from riprap to dune grading. Surfrider chapters are entering planning mode and we have some fun winter events on the horizon, so if you've been thinking about getting more involved with your local chapter and taking the next step in your activist journey, now is a great time to take the (cold) plunge! From water quality and beach access issues to coastal resilience and legislative advocacy opportunities in Salem, the lineup is stacked with something for everyone!
- Kaia Hazard, Oregon Field Manager
Victory! Access to Lighthouse Beach is Restored!
We're so incredibly stoked to announce that after nearly 6 years, the trail to Lighthouse Beach in Coos Bay is officially back open! This victory is the result of immense effort by Surfrider activists, staff, and our legal team to reopen the historic access trail, which locals found blocked by barbed wire in early 2021. The trail has been deeded to Oregon State Parks to be used by the public in perpetuity, representing a huge win for public beach access here in Oregon. Massive kudos to the Coos Bay chapter and all those who never gave up this fight!
Each year, Surfrider activists from across Cascadia gather for our annual chapter leadership conference - an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and connect. This year we were stoked to be back in Oregon, enjoying the beautiful weather and surf in Otter Rock. Our focus this year was on the power of people to turn community engagement into meaningful action, with interactive workshops exploring ways to organize effective campaigns, cultivate new leaders, and leverage our programs to strengthen our network and move the mission forward.
We're so excited to welcome Taylor Wood, joining us through the Oregon Sea Grant Natural Resource Policy Fellowship! Through next summer, she'll be working on our Oregon Beaches Forever campaign, both in the field and on local and state policy, as we work to protect the future of Oregon's beaches. We're looking forward to the expanded capacity and energy that Taylor will bring to the team!
Last week, Surfrider Foundation released our annual 2026 State of the Beach Report. This year’s report focuses on emergency shoreline armoring, and highlights a critical gap in coastal protection policies nationwide. While Oregon is one of only three states to earn a “B” grade, the report reveals that stronger protections are needed to safeguard the future of our beaches.
With a potentially historic "El Niño" on the horizon, we must be proactive in considering not just how we respond to the next coastal emergency, but how we ensure that short-term solutions don’t lead to permanent beach loss.
The Surfrider Foundation North Coast chapter has joined forces with local advocacy groups to oppose a harmful measure in Cannon Beach, which would amend the City's charter (making it harder to undo) to require increased "management" of the dunes along the shore. Plainly, this would give a blank check to oceanfront homeowners seeking to destroy the dunes for their private views, all funded by taxpayers.
When the City of Cannon Beach collaboratively updated their Foredune Management Plan in 2019 and prohibited dune grading for views, a small group vowed to find a way around it. This harmful measure is their thinly-veiled attempt to do just that, with proponents campaigning on the platform of public access, safety, and restoration - just causes to be sure, but ones that are not borne out by the science or evidence. Visit our campaign page to learn more about this effort, and if you're in Cannon Beach, we urge you to vote NO on 4-243!
The Portland Chapter has teamed up with our friends at Breakside Brewery to create a custom beer, featured as the fourth installment of their "Beer that Benefits"! A portion of proceeds from this West Coast IPA will go toward the chapter and support their mission to "keep it clean upstream".
Grab it at your local taproom or snag it in stores around the PNW.
JUST DROPPED: Surfrider's Club Network Annual Report
Surfrider Foundation has released our annual Club Network Report, featuring case studies, program highlights, and stories from across the national club network from the 2025-26 academic year.
North Coast Water Quality Lab Has a New Home
After a hiatus, the North Coast Blue Water Task Force lab has a new home! The lab is now residing in the classroom of science teacher Tim Roth at Neah Kah Nie High School. Tim helped set up the lab in Astoria nearly 20 years ago, and is excited to be getting involved with the program again.
Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force is a volunteer-run water quality sampling program that fills in critical gaps in the state-run sampling schedule, helping to keep the public informed on where it's safe to recreate.
As we look to add new sampling sites, we'd like your feedback! If you know of any recreation or pollution hotspots in the Nehalem estuary, Nedonna, or Rockaway areas, check out the blog to get in touch.
Nov 12– Newport Blue Drinks: green holiday gifts - RSVP & Info
Nov 15– Portland Green Streets Cleanup - RSVP & Info
Nov 18 – Portland Wave Watch Wednesday -RSVP & Info
Nov 19 – Newport Water Quality Town Hall - save the date!
Dec 3 – Newport Volunteer Appreciation Party - save the date!
Dec 5 – Portland Chapter Leadership info session - save the date!
Dec 10– Newport Blue Drinks: backyard buoys - save the date!
Scenes from the Oregon field!
At our recent Cascadia Conference, we experienced coastal erosion firsthand when a massive part of the cliff came down during our beach bonfire. Luckily no one was injured!
A very fall cleanup with Breakside Milwaukie and the Portland chapter!
Carmen Matthews, co-founder of the Coos Bay chapter and longtime Lighthouse Beach campaign leader outside of the county courthouse, signaling the official end of our campaign to free Lighthouse Beach. The joy in this photo is palpable!
A few lucky Portland chapter leaders got to meet Jack Johnson while tabling at his show at Edgefield. Jack Johnson's Ohana Foundation is generously matching donations to the chapter during his tour!
A common sight around Cannon Beach - vote NO on 4-243 so that we may maintain the resilience of our coastal ecosystems!
.jpg?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=Cape%20Arago%20-%20South%20Cove%20Beach_October%20(1).jpg)
