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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2021)
The Columbia Press June 18, 2021 3 Keep Oregon Green sponsors billboard contest Courtesy Oregon Parks Trees block a portion of the North Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain Trail in Oswald West State Park. North Coast trails closed for three years due to wind damage Portions of three trails on the North Coast will remain closed at least two more years while crews remove danger- ous trees left in the wake of a September 2020 windstorm. The trail at Cape Lookout State Park and two sections of trails at Oswald West State Park are impassable due to downed trees and will require extensive work to reopen, ac- cording to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The agency is working with FEMA and other federal part- ners, Oregon Department of Forestry, private consultants, South Fork Forest Camp and volunteers to map the dam- age and plan for a safe re- opening. “We want to thank visi- tors for their patience as we work as quickly as possible to reopen these historic and culturally important trails,” said Justin Parker, North Coast district manager. “In the meantime, we encourage visitors to explore one of the many open trails along the north coast.” Specific closures Cape Lookout: The entire North Trail, which connects the day-use area to the Cape Trail. Oswald West: The 1.4- mile section of the Arch Cape to Cape Falcon Trail, from the north trailhead to the crossing at U.S. Highway 101. Oswald West: A 1.6-mile section of North Neah-Kah- Nie Mountain Trail from U.S. Highway 101 to the summit. The trail segments have been closed since Labor Day 2020, when the winds that fueled wildfires in other parts of the state caused extensive blowdown on about 185 acres within the two state parks. An especially wet and stormy fall and winter fol- lowed, knocking down more trees that had been weakened by the windstorm. In the hardest hit areas, up to 90 percent of the trees — made up of hemlock, Douglas fir and giant Sitka spruce as tall as 140’ — are down or in danger of falling. The closed sections are all part of the Oregon Coast Trail that stretches along the 362-mile coastline. Keep Oregon Green cel- ebrates its 80-year history with the first billboard poster art contest. Oregonians of all ages can share their vision for keeping Oregon free of wildfire. “We are excited to celebrate our important milestone by offering this fun opportunity to all Oregon residents,” said Kristin Babbs, president of the Keep Oregon Green Asso- ciation. “As over 70 percent of Oregon’s wildfires are hu- man-caused, the power of prevention is … our shared responsibility.” Contest deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 9 (Smokey Bear’s birth- day). In 2022, Oregon will be- come an open-air art gal- lery, the group vowed, as the winning artwork in three age categories (adult, grades 6-12, and grades 1-5) ap- pears on billboards at major intersections, highways and interstates. Cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the first three people who place in each age division. For more information, go to keeporegongreen.org and click on “art contest.” New map shows locations of sensitive fish species The state released an up- dated salmonid habitat map last month. The map identifies streams that are critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and other sensitive, threatened or endangered fish species. In Warrenton, the Skipanon River, parts of Alder Creek, and Adair Slough, which runs beside the airport, all are on the list. Other sensitive streams are in Astoria, Gear- hart, Seaside and unincorpo- rated Clatsop County. Oregon law requires pro- tection of the streams during construction projects. Re- moval-fill permits must be obtained for most projects that remove or add materials near streams on the map. “Knowing which streams are essential habitat helps property owners do their part to protect fish,” said Vicki Walker, Department of State Lands director. “More streams have been identi- fied as essential, so now is a good time to check the map.” The map was created us- ing Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife data and includes 1,700 more stream miles than the pre- vious map released in 2015. DSL’s recent requirement to update the map also created a process to ensure the map re- flects current data. The map will be updated annually in a process that includes a public review and comment period. The map can be found at oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Pages/ ESH-permits.aspx.
