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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2016
W ATCH
FOR SNOWY PLOVER NESTING AREA ON BEACHES
Springtime sun and warmer
March temperatures can bring
visitors in droves to Oregon’s
inviting shoreline.
For the western snowy
plover, March means nesting.
This tiny shorebird, protected
under state law and under the
federal Endangered Species Act
(ESA), usually begins nesting
along west coast beaches in
mid-March. The Oregon Parks
and Recreation Department
(OPRD) is responsible for man-
aging recreation on Oregon’s
ocean shore, overseeing snowy
plover management areas and
the recreation restrictions that
come with the legal agreement
between OPRD and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS).
The western snowy plover
is a shorebird protected
under the federal
Endangered Species Act.
Plovers nest in dry open
sand, in tiny, shallow scrapes
that are very well camouflaged.
Not only are nests easy to miss
(or step on), but the bird will
abandon its eggs if repeatedly
disturbed by activities it con-
siders a threat. OPRD manages
two kinds of beach areas to
help plovers survive: sites
where they actively nest, and
sites where they don’t, but
where the habitat has been des-
ignated as conducive.
Based on this, recreation
restrictions vary. Riding bicy-
cles or driving any kind of
vehicle is not allowed during
nesting season on any stretch of
beach managed for plovers.
Where plovers actively nest,
the dry sand around the nesting
area is signed to keep people
from accidentally crushing the
well-camouflaged eggs.
Recreation is limited to the
wet sand portion of the beach.
Kites and dogs (leashed or
unleashed) are not allowed any-
where in active nesting areas
until the end of the nesting sea-
son, Sept. 15.
Most plover breeding areas
in Oregon range from Florence
south to Bandon. In recent
years, though, a smattering of
nests have popped up at some
north coast beaches, a sign that
holds promise for Oregon’s and
Washington’s plover popula-
tion overall.
The two-mile Nehalem Spit,
just south of the entrance to
Nehalem Bay State Park, will
restrict vehicles, dogs and kites
from March 15 through Sept.
15.
The northern 3 miles of
beach in the park are open to
kites, dogs, bikes, horses and
all other recreation.
Recently, OPRD spokesper-
son Chris Havel thanked visi-
tors for their understanding and
support of the bird.
“Recreation management is a
balancing act,” said Havel.
“The vast majority of visitors
want to protect wildlife and
understand that plovers need
our help to survive.”
COURTESY PHOTO
Sheriffs offer safety tips as boating season approaches
Summer will be here before
we know it, and in the coming
weeks more people will be
pulling out their boats from
winter storage in preparation
for launch in the waters of this
state. Below are suggestions
which can contribute to your
safety and add to your boating
pleasure.
Know the legal require-
ments for your size vessel.
Safety equipment must be
accessible and in
working
condition.
Wear your life jackets!! 85
percent of the boating fatalities
could be avoided by wearing a
personal floatation device.
Remember it won’t save your
life if you don’t wear it.
Have children and non-
swimmers wear a personal
floatation device. Each device
should be of suitable size for
the intended wearer and fit
securely. 90 percent of those
who die in boating accidents
drown.
Be prepared and carry extra
equipment such as a bailer
(bucket), anchor, first aid kit,
visual distress signal, tool kit,
flashlight and extra batteries,
and a cell phone.
Don’t over load your boat.
Follow the recommendations
on the capacity plate of your
boat.
Capsizing, sinking and
falling overboard account for
70 percent of boating fatalities.
If your boat should capsize,
your best chance for survival
and rescue is to stay with the
boat. Pull as much of your body
out of the water as possible to
preserve body warmth.
Hypothermia can be a
killer, keep your body dry and
warm as possible
It is illegal to operate any
boat while under the influence
of alcohol or other drugs. Use
the designated driver concept, a
sober skipper is a must.
Stressors such as exposure
to sun, wind, cold water, vibra-
tion, noise and alcohol all affect
your ability to react.
Don’t run out of fuel.
Practice the 1/3 rule: 1/3 for
trip, 1/3 for return and 1/3 for
spare.
Clam dive permit registration due next week
SALEM — The Oregon
Department of Fish and
Wildlife will award one South
Coast bay clam dive permit
April 15, at ODFW headquar-
ters in Salem.
“The commercial bay clam
dive fishery in Oregon is limit-
ed to 15 permits — 10 coast-
wide permits and five south
coast permits,” said DeAnna
Erickson, license services man-
ager for ODFW. “If the number
of permits falls below 15, we
hold a lottery to bring the num-
ber back up to 15.
“Currently there is one
South Coast permit available.”
South Coast permits are only
valid in Oregon estuaries south
of Heceta Head.
Bay clams are harvested by
licensed inter-tidal commercial
harvesters and also by permit-
ted sub-tidal divers. Harvest
focuses on cockles, gapers and
butter clams.
“Historical landings patterns
and species targeted vary
depending on market demand,
environmental conditions and
population abundances,” said
Mitch Vance, shellfish project
leader for ODFW’s Marine
Resources Program. “Some
restrictions also exist for con-
servation purposes.
“For instance, the season for
gapers is closed from January
to June when they are spawn-
ing.”
Only one application per
vessel or individual will be
accepted.
Applications
must
be
received in the Salem office or
postmarked no later than
March 31.
To renew a permit for the
next year, the holder must meet
minimum landing requirements
of five landings of at least 100
pounds each or an annual total
of 2,500 pounds with dive gear.
If there are no landings, the
permit reverts to the state.
For more information on
applying for a permit, contact
ODFW’s licensing services,
4034 Fairview Industrial Dr.
SE. Salem, or call 503-947-
6101 or 1-800-720-6339 ext.
76142.
Fuel vapors are heavier
then air and collect in the bilge.
Never fill gasoline cans in the
boat.
When anchoring, use a line
that is several times longer than
the depth of the water and
never anchor by the stern.
File a float plan. Let some-
one know where you’re boating
and when you’ll be back.
You’re responsible for
damage or injury caused by
your wake. Exercise caution
around other boaters and docks.
As of January 2009, all per-
sons operating a motor boat
greater than 10 horsepower are
required to carry a Boater
Education Card. The card
shows that the operator has
passed an approved boater edu-
cation course or equivalency
exam.
For more information on
boating in Oregon, pick up the
Oregon Boaters Handbook or
visit www.boatoregon.com.
— Submitted by Lincoln
County Sheriff’s Office
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Annual SOLVE Spring Beach Cleanup taking place today
Today, March 26, SOLVE is
welcoming volunteers of all
ages to join together in clearing
the entire Oregon coast of litter
and marine debris.
Presented by AAA Oregon,
the 31st annual SOLVE Spring
Oregon Beach Cleanup will
take place from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Register at one of 45
beach cleanup locations from
Astoria to Brookings at solveo-
regon.org or by calling 503-
844-9571 x332.
Last year, more than 5,100
Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup
volunteers removed nearly
68,000 pounds of debris from
the coast, contributing to the
3.3 million pounds that have
been picked up since the first
fall cleanup in 1984.
Started by local citizens
Judie Hansen and Eleanor Dye,
this coastwide volunteer
cleanup model was the first in
the nation, inspiring similar
cleanups across the world.
Locally, the cleanup has grown
into an iconic Oregon tradition,
uniting multiple generations of
volunteers and keeping our
beaches healthy for humans
and wildlife alike.
“Oregon’s public beaches
are unique to our state, provid-
ing the basis for many of the
beloved cultural and recre-
ational activities that contribute
to our identity as Oregonians,”
said Tim Morgan, president
and CEO of AAA Oregon.
“The coast is shared by all of
us, and the Spring Oregon
Beach Cleanup gives citizens
the opportunity to join together
to keep it clean and healthy.”
From the 1,000-pound fish-
ing net to the tiniest piece of
plastic in the sand, litter and
marine debris on Oregon’s
coast is an issue that affects
everyone, threatening the
health of the environment and
impacting the economy.
Every year, fish, shorebirds
and other wildlife ingest and
become entangled in discarded
debris. It’s a problem that is
preventable. Everyone has a
role they can play in helping to
reduce the impact of wayward
trash.
“The chance to walk in a
quiet place and make it cleaner,
safer and more pristine is price-
less,” said John Andersen,
SOLVE Beach Captain in
Netarts. “We have a duty to be
stewards for all creatures that
exist now or will exist in the
future, and these annual
cleanups are a big part of the
solution.”
Volunteers at this year’s
event are encouraged to bring
old colanders or kitty litter
scoops to sift the tide lines for
tiny plastic pieces, harmful to
local wildlife. Bags and gloves
are provided, but bringing
reusable gloves and buckets is
encouraged to reduce the
amount of plastic waste.
Safety is the top priority, and
volunteers are urged to keep an
eye out for sneaker waves, stay
off logs near the water, steer
clear of sea lions, look out for
signs and ropes limiting beach
access around snowy plover
nesting areas, and refrain from
touching hazardous items like
oil drums.
The Spring Oregon Beach
Cleanup is presented by AAA
Coastal Gem Walkers set April jaunt, meeting
The
Coastal
Gems
Volkswalkers will host a group
walk Tuesday, April 5.
The group will be repeating
the Three Loops walk in Depoe
Bay. Those who want to car-
pool to Depoe Bay can meet at
the Commons in Yachats at 9
a.m., or be at the Sea Hag in
Depoe Bay at 10:15 a.m. to
register.
The 10K walk is rated 2B
because of uneven footing on
the forest path and a couple of
minor hills. Walkers can mix
and match the three loops to
create a shorter walk. The route
would be difficult for strollers
and wheelchairs.
As always, leashed pets are
welcome on walks, but be sure
to bring water and clean up
materials.
A sturdy 6-foot leash, not
the retractable type, is
required.
On Wednesday, April 6, the
group will hold its monthly
meeting in Yachats. There will
be a leg-stretcher walk at 5
p.m.; the club meeting begins
at 6 p.m. The meeting general-
ly lasts about an hour.
For more information or
directions, call Maryann
Brown in Waldport at 541-961-
4279 or Gene and Linda
Williamson in Seal Rock at
541-563-6721.
Visit the club website at
www.yachatscoastalgems.org.
Oregon. Additional sponsors
include major sponsors Fred
Meyer and The Standard; coor-
dinating sponsors Local Coast
Haulers and the Oregon Parks
and Recreation Department;
media sponsors K103fm and
KOIN 6.
SOLVE is a statewide
noprofit organization that
brings people together to
improve the environment and
build a legacy of stewardship.
Over four decades, the
organization has grown from a
small, grassroots group to a
national model for volunteer
environmental action.
Today, SOLVE mobilizes
and trains tens of thousands of
volunteers across Oregon to
cleanup beaches and rivers and
restore watersheds.
For more information, visit
solvoregon.org.
Fri-Sat 3/25-3/26
Fri, 8am-4pm
Sat, 9am-2pm
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