Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 New barriers, inÀatable air dancers deployed against sea lions the Baja Peninsula, the ani- mals migrate as far north as Alaska in search of food. Pesky pinnipeds may stay until food runs out Favorite haunt By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian The Port of Astoria will partner with students in Knappa High School’s weld- ing program to create barri- ers to sea lions on docks at the East End Mooring Basin. The inÀatable air dancers could also go up next week. Robert Evert, the Port’s permit and project manager, said the Port met last week with of¿cials from the state Department of Fish and Wild- life and National Marine Fish- eries Service, which over- sees the Marine Mammal Protection Act covering sea lions. Executive Director Jim Knight said of¿cials with the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration, which oversees the ¿sheries service, said the pipe barriers are effective and widely used along the West Coast. Evert said the Port then contacted Topper industries, which quoted the agency about $500,000 for installa- tion. Through the deal with Knappa, he said the Port will spend about $13,000 on mate- rials, along with a $2,000 donation to the school from Tim Hill, co-owner of J&H Boatworks and Columbia Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Sea lions and harbor seals lay on the docks at the East End Mooring Basin. Steel Supply in Astoria and a Port tenant. Tim Kamppi, a welding instructor at Knappa, recently mentioned students would fabricate about 2 miles worth of railing for the Port. Port staff will install the 2-inch pipes 18 to 24 inches above the docks’ surface, with a cable in between to prevent sea lions from slipping under- neath the pipes. Knight said the Port can amend the 2015-16 budget to include the additional expense and should probably budget the same for the West End Mooring Basin, in case sea lions move there. Sea lions back “That’s just a Band-Aid on a massive gash,” Commis- sioner James Campbell said, pointing to the larger issue of Local pot tax heads to November ballot City Council also approves gift to Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian A 3 percent local tax on rec- reational marijuana will be on the November ballot. Voters will get to decide whether to add the local tax on top of a 17 percent state tax that will be imposed once the state licenses retail marijuana outlets. Consumers are now paying a temporary 25 percent tax on recreational pot sold at med- ical marijuana dispensaries through the end of the year. Astoria Police Chief Brad Johnston has estimated that the local tax could bring in roughly $100,000 annually. The Astoria City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to place the tax question on the ballot after clarifying that the local tax would not be applied to medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is tax free under state law. In other business Tuesday night, the City Council: • Held a moment of silence for Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding, who was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest on a felony assault war- rant this month. • Issued a $1,000 gift to the Oregon Fallen Badge Founda- tion, which organized a memo- rial service for Goodding at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center last Friday. sea lion predation. After mostly emptying out, the pinnipeds are once again packing the docks at the East End Mooring Basin, where Port of¿cials claim they have caused more than $100,000 in damage. State wildlife of¿- cials are already on-site trap- ping and branding the ani- mals, part of a 19-year study of their movement, feeding habits and migration patterns, amid protests by groups like the Sea Lion Defense Brigade. An increasing number of sea lions have been ventur- ing into the Columbia River in recent years foraging for smelt, salmon and any other available prey, as their tradi- tional food web along the Cal- ifornia coastline has collapsed amid warm El Niño water conditions. With rookeries in Southern California and off The Port’s East End Moor- ing Basin has become a favor- ite haul-out and Àash point for the issue, with more than 2,300 sea lions counted in one day at the basin in March by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Port has tried myriad ways to scare the ani- mals off and prevent damage to the docks — from survey- ing tape and beach balls to a fake orca and soon the inÀat- able air dancers — but to lit- tle avail. Port Commissioner Bill Hunsinger, a commercial fisherman, has championed the formation of a commit- tee to address sea lion preda- tion on endangered salmon runs. Hunsinger had wanted the Port to lead the effort, but other commission- ers pulled back, saying the agency should focus on get- ting sea lions off the docks while supporting efforts on predation. Knight said state of¿- cials told him there are no state or federal resources to put toward the sea lion issue, adding the only way they will ultimately leave is through the loss of the food source. “Until that point, the agencies have no expectations that the sea lions will ever go away,” he said. Razor clam digs on at Copalis, Mocrocks EO Media Group LONG BEACH, Wash. — Razor clam diggers can count on openings begin- ning Friday at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches, Washing- ton state shell¿sh managers announced. Long Beach also remains open to clam digging on afternoon or evening tides through March 10. The Washington Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife approved a two-day opening on Friday and Saturday at Copa- lis and three days of digging from Friday through Sunday at Mocrocks on evening tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. Dan Ayres, a state coastal shell¿sh manager, recom- mends that diggers arrive at the beach an hour or two before low tide for best results. However, digging is not allowed on any beach before noon. The upcoming dig at is scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides: • Friday: 4:33 p.m., 0.0 feet, Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach • Saturday: 5:17 p.m., -0.1 feet, Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach • Sunday: 5:56 p.m., -0.2 feet, Mocrocks, Long Beach For additional informa- tion about low tides at Long Beach, go to http://wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/ razorclams/current.html MEMORIAL GOLF BENEFIT FOR SGT JASON GOODDING Saturday, February 20 th , 2016 8:00 am Shotgun Start SEASIDE GOLF COURSE 451 Avenue U, Seaside, OR 503-738-5261 (Possible 2nd Shotgun Start at Noon depending on turnout) 4 Person Scramble - $46 per Person 18 Holes plus Cart - Includes BBQ ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE GOODDING FAMILY FREE Taxi Service to and from Benefit Donated by Alpha Shuttle: 503-440-7777 NOT a Golfer? NOT a Problem! Ask about Volunteering to Help! Contact Casey at the Seaside Golf Course: 503-738-5261
