Attempts to save martens from extinction may include U.S. Highway 101 warning signs on the Oregon coast

July 12, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews For decades, scientists assumed that trapping and loss of critical habitat had led to the extinction of the marten population that once inhabited much of Oregon’s central coast. In recent years, however, painstaking, on-the-ground surveys have shown that two subgroups of martens are alive and well on the coast. They are separated by the Umpqua River

OSU study of whales off central Oregon coast finds they’re eating millions of microplastics and fibers each day

June 27, 2023

By SEAN NEALON/OSU News Service NEWPORT — Oregon State University researchers estimate that gray whales feeding off the Oregon coast consume up to 21 million microparticles per day, a finding informed in part by poop from the whales. Microparticle pollution includes microplastics and other human-sourced materials, including fibers from clothing. The finding, just published in the journal Frontiers in Marine

Federal agency considering sea otter re-introduction on the Oregon coast wraps up eight public open houses

June 23, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews Federal wildlife officials floating the idea of returning sea otters to the Oregon coast in an effort to re-establish their historic range are also hoping they might help combat the devastation sea urchins are reaping on the underwater ecosystem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes there is currently a 900 mile gap in sea otter

OSU wave researchers find that new vegetation on coastal sand dunes can actually speed up erosion

June 18, 2023

By STEVE LUNDEBERG/OSU News Service CORVALLIS — Newly planted vegetation on coastal sand dunes can accelerate erosion from extreme waves, a study involving researchers from the Oregon State University College of Engineering suggests. The authors note the findings run counter to the widely accepted paradigm that vegetation always acts to reduce erosion on dunes, the first line of storm

Discovery of 25 sunflower sea stars in Yaquina Bay is encouraging, but not necessarily indication of big recovery

June 14, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews An iconic species of sea star has disappeared in such astonishing numbers along the Oregon coast over the past decade that researchers are now circulating what amounts to a “wanted” poster to help people figure out what to do if they spot one. Researchers estimate that as many as five billion sunflower sea stars have died

OSU professor to head $1.4 million study of climate, fish and conflict bringing change to coastal communities

June 7, 2023

By IAN ROSE/Oregon Capital Chronicle CORVALLIS — Climate change is forcing fish to move to cooler waters to survive, which means big changes for Oregon’s coastal communities and for international politics. A team led by Oregon State University professor James Watson just won a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study the migrations to map

Federal government agrees to buy $52 million in Pacific groundfish to help struggling West Coast fisheries

May 30, 2023

Commercial fishermen in Oregon and the rest of the West Coast have been hit with climate change and decreased sales due to the pandemic. By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Portions of the struggling fisheries industry in Oregon and on the West Coast is getting a financial boost from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it will

OSU’s new ocean research vessel headed to Newport next year has been successfully launched in Louisiana

May 22, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service A new 200-foot research vessel headed to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport was successfully launched last week at a shipyard in Louisiana. The ship, R/V Taani, is being constructed as part of a project, led by Oregon State University and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, to provide scientists with valuable

It’s beach season for harbor seals, sea lions and humans — and the experts would like to offer a few words of advice

May 18, 2023

By SUSAN PALMER/YachatsNews Mammals — both marine and terrestrial — are headed for Oregon beaches this spring and Jim Rice would like a word with the humans. Rice, stranding program manager for Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute, is the guy who gets the call when people stumble on seals and sea lions — the charismatic megafauna that can

Marine reserve researchers deploy sensors to see how water temperature and oxygen levels affect ocean life

May 17, 2023

By MARK FREEMAN/ODFW News Service NEWPORT – Ocean monitoring in Oregon’s five marine reserves is trying to unlock secrets about temperatures and oxygen levels known to impact groundfish and invertebrate activities, create stresses on ecosystems and even alter sport anglers’ catches. Some of the data go back two decades at what is now the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve near

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Environment - Page 14

Attempts to save martens from extinction may include U.S. Highway 101 warning signs on the Oregon coast

OSU study of whales off central Oregon coast finds they’re eating millions of microplastics and fibers each day

Federal agency considering sea otter re-introduction on the Oregon coast wraps up eight public open houses

OSU wave researchers find that new vegetation on coastal sand dunes can actually speed up erosion

Discovery of 25 sunflower sea stars in Yaquina Bay is encouraging, but not necessarily indication of big recovery

OSU professor to head $1.4 million study of climate, fish and conflict bringing change to coastal communities

Federal government agrees to buy $52 million in Pacific groundfish to help struggling West Coast fisheries

OSU’s new ocean research vessel headed to Newport next year has been successfully launched in Louisiana

It’s beach season for harbor seals, sea lions and humans — and the experts would like to offer a few words of advice

Marine reserve researchers deploy sensors to see how water temperature and oxygen levels affect ocean life

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