Gray whales that spend summer off the Oregon coast are smaller than Arctic counterparts, OSU researchers find

August 14, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service NEWPORT – Gray whales that spend their summers feeding off the coast of Oregon are shorter than their counterparts who travel north to the Arctic for food, new research from Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute shows. Both males and female gray whales in the subgroup known as the Pacific Coast Feeding Group are

Armed with nets, Sharpies and glitter pens, silverspot researchers spend the summer tracking threatened butterfly

August 10, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews Izzy Bur kneels on the ground to avoid the brunt of a howling wind that rakes across the salt-spray meadow overlooking the ocean south of Rock Creek. With the fingers of one hand gently grasping the gossamer wings of a butterfly she uses the other to write a number across the tops of its wings, first

NOAA scientists tracking large marine heat wave that’s raised Oregon coastal temperatures by 7 degrees

August 10, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews A large marine heat wave that has developed each of the past four years has scientists watching closely to see how long it lasts and to what extent it could affect the coastal ecosystem and marine life in the coming months. A recent lessening in ocean upwelling – when winds push surface water offshore and

Big ship moves just offshore north of Waldport to begin new phase of OSU’s PacWave project

August 8, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service WALDPORT — The next step in Oregon State University’s construction of a wave energy testing facility off the Oregon coast is now visible to residents and visitors to the area. Crews are working on shore and from a vessel anchored about a mile offshore from Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site north of Waldport. The

With months of little rain and none on horizon, Lincoln County asks governor to declare drought emergency

August 2, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH and GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews After three months of almost no rain and the likelihood of little more until October, Lincoln County commissioners Wednesday asked Gov. Tina Kotek to declare a drought emergency for all of the county. The last time such a declaration was made was in 2021. The central coast has had record-low rainfall in May,

ODFW commissioners will consider extending rules Friday to limit crab gear to lessen impact on whales and turtles

August 2, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Oregon Fish and Wildlife commissioners are expected Friday to indefinitely extend regulations aimed at reducing whale entanglements with commercial crabbing gear. Commissioners, meeting in Salem, are on track to adopt staff recommendations that have been in effect for the past three years. Their vote to adopt the proposed rules indefinitely is needed because expiration dates

Threatened snowy plovers having a very successful nesting season — so far — on the central Oregon coast

July 27, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Lincoln County’s narrow beaches can make life difficult for western snowy plovers, those diminutive, long-endangered birds that nest in small crevices along the sand. Take last year, for instance. Volunteers counted a total of 29 nests scattered between Newport and Yachats. After torrential rains hit in June, during peak nesting season, only five surviving nests produced

ODFW lowers fall Chinook salmon limits on mid-coast streams starting Aug. 1, but coho catches likely OK again

July 20, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews After two years of higher catch limits, Oregon’s fishery managers are cutting back on Chinook salmon harvests in bays and rivers along the central coast starting next month because of deteriorating ocean conditions. The only bright spot for central coast streams is that coho salmon – which are listed as endangered by the federal government –

Number of West Coast gray whales continues seven-year decline, say NOAA researchers, but there are some promising signs

July 17, 2023

By NOAA NEWS SERVICE and YACHATSNEWS The number of gray whales that migrate along the West Coast continued their decline this winter from a high seven years ago, but researchers have found clues suggesting their numbers may soon start to rebound. Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration counted whales migrating south off the coast of California from

New study by OSU researchers warns of increasing incidental catches of salmon in big Pacific hake fishery

July 13, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service NEWPORT – Rates of incidental catches of Chinook salmon in the Pacific hake fishery rise during years when ocean temperatures are warmer, a signal that climate change and increased frequency of marine heatwaves could lead to higher bycatch rates, new research indicates. During years when sea surface temperatures were higher, including during a marine

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Environment - Page 13

Gray whales that spend summer off the Oregon coast are smaller than Arctic counterparts, OSU researchers find

Armed with nets, Sharpies and glitter pens, silverspot researchers spend the summer tracking threatened butterfly

NOAA scientists tracking large marine heat wave that’s raised Oregon coastal temperatures by 7 degrees

Big ship moves just offshore north of Waldport to begin new phase of OSU’s PacWave project

With months of little rain and none on horizon, Lincoln County asks governor to declare drought emergency

ODFW commissioners will consider extending rules Friday to limit crab gear to lessen impact on whales and turtles

Threatened snowy plovers having a very successful nesting season — so far — on the central Oregon coast

ODFW lowers fall Chinook salmon limits on mid-coast streams starting Aug. 1, but coho catches likely OK again

Number of West Coast gray whales continues seven-year decline, say NOAA researchers, but there are some promising signs

New study by OSU researchers warns of increasing incidental catches of salmon in big Pacific hake fishery

Letters from readers

Whale’s entanglement shows need for better derelict gear removal program

Sen. Anderson’s chief of staff out of bounds on ICE and Newport “boomer hippies” remarks

A farewell letter to the Yachats whale

Yes, everyone in Waldport community should refrain from further attacks

The community speaks — ICE detention center not welcome in Newport

Let’s show some grace to all involved in whale’s attempted, emotional rescue

Obituaries

Jon M. French of Waldport

Joe Chapman of Tenmile

Ruth R. Mock of Yachats — “Fiddlin Ruth”

Civic Calendar

City of Yachats Parks & Commons Commission

Yachats Big Band monthly concert

Yachats Rural Fire Protection District board

Yachats Planning Commission monthly workshop meeting

Yachats Public Works & Streets Commission

Lincoln County School District board of directors

Waldport City Council

Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District monthly board meeting

Newport City Council work session and regular meeting

Southwest Lincoln Water People’s Utility District board

Public & Legal Notices

CITY OF NEWPORT, OREGON NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING

The Board of Directors of the Lincoln County School District, Public Hearing regarding Newport High School

The Board of Directors of the Lincoln County School District, Public Hearing regarding Waldport High School