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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2016)
May 6, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 3A RETHINKING BEACHES Naturalist Neal Maine wants to raise awareness about ‘amazing phenomenon’ By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette Many use Oregon’s sandy shores for recreational fun in the sun, and there’s nothing wrong with that, local naturalist and nature photographer Neal Maine said in his April 13 lecture, “Beaches: More than Sand.” With the increase in visitors, Maine said a greater understanding of lively ecological processes and “the wonder of this amazing phenomenon” happening on beaches is needed. He wants to change public perception of Oregon’s beaches, which were made accessible to the public, protected from private development and administered as a state recreation area in 1967. “We’re trying to recast the beaches of Oregon as ecosystems, not just play- grounds,” Maine said to a rapt audience gathered in the Cannon Beach Chamber Hall as part of the city’s “12 Days of Earth Day” events. With his late wife, Karen, Maine start- ed the Haystack Rock Awareness Pro- gram, which began an oficial program in 1985. Last year, the program celebrated 30 years of educating visitors about the iconic rock. Now, Maine hopes to help develop a strategic campaign called “Beaches are Alive” to raise public awareness about beach ecology. For example, instead of showing visitors how to clam, state parks could provide lessons about beach ecolo- gy, Maine said. He invited the audience to send “ideas, observations and inspiration” for the pos- sible program this spring. As Maine demonstrated with photos and animated dialogue, beaches are living sys- tems home to a wide variety of creatures, including mole crabs, clams, tiny inverte- brates, kelp, birds and more. Beaches are unique in that they are inluenced by external input sources, like material from the ocean. “The richer your awareness about the environment and how it works,” he said, “then the higher the quality of life.” Maine displayed photos of some beach-dwelling creatures, including Velel- la velellas, an example of “population ex- plosion.” “You’ve seen more than you’ve ever wanted to see,” he said. Meanwhile, razor clams, with their quick burrowing into the sand, are an ex- ample of biological specialization. “They have evolved for that speciic habitat.” Maine showed photos of gulls “danc- ing” for their food. He said delicate, spe- cialized birds may be affected by human modiications to the beach. What may look like an oil spill on shores — a brown, oily substance with frothy bub- bles — is indeed oil released from photo- synthesizing algae called diatoms. “They’re a huge source of solar con- version,” Maine said, adding that the sub- stance was made up of “good oil.” Poet and isherman Dave Densmore. Senator to seek federal funds for Seaside-area tsunami safety By R.J. Marx Cannon Beach Gazette Microplastics are one concern for beach environments. “This year there was the greatest dis- tribution of microplastics I’ve ever seen,” Maine said, adding that he has seen an “incredible volume” of plastic debris, which can be ingested by sea animals. “These become sponges for chemical structures in ocean water so we get con- centrated chemical material in these par- ticles.” Maine suggested beach cleanups be combined with “Beaches are Alive” edu- cation. Keeping beaches free from trash is a beneit for both coastal residents and visitors. “So many people go to the beach and walk and ind that solace and atmosphere that they need,” Maine said. “You can try to put some of that in the bank, because June will be here soon.” ‘Fisher poet’ Densmore comes to Cannon Beach CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/SUBMITTED PHOTO Dire risk prompts Wyden stopover Poet and isherman David Densmore will be reading poems and stories at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum in Cannon Beach on Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. Dave Densmore has appeared in The New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine, he was one of the subjects of a documentary called “isher poets,” and has published several books of his writings. He is well known as an artist and isherman on the coast of Ore- gon and in Alaska. He has appeared at events for the Bioneers: the Columbia River Keepers events, and at New Bedford’s Working Waterfront Festival. When not ishing in Alaska or writing in Oregon, he spends his time in Belize and Guatemala. The event is free and open to the public, it will be held at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, 1387 S. Spruce St. Coffee and tea will be served. “Help!” is the message from Seaside School Super- intendent Doug Dougherty, and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden responded to the SOS Sun- day, April 24. Dougherty and Seaside Mayor Don Larson served as guides on a tour of the city’s tsunami zone, from Seaside High School to Broadway Middle School before going east to Sea- R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE side Heights Elementary School. Seaside School District “My view is when you Superintendent Doug talk about disasters, this Dougherty and U.S. Sen. has historically been con- Ron Wyden behind Sea- sidered a place there is a side High School. federal role,” Wyden said. “It’s not about somebody’s political philosophy when com- ing together to ensure when our communities are facing life- and-death situations we are there for them.” Dougherty told Wyden that Seaside is the most vulnera- ble to tsunamis of any city in Oregon. “Seaside, then Gear- hart, then Cannon Beach,” Dougherty said. Most of Oregon’s other coastal towns have some kind of elevation, Dougherty said, providing some protection. Federal studies only plan for 38-foot tsunami waves, but studies by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries found past tsunamis scaled 80 feet. “If the federal government doesn’t get the heights right, that’s going to affect everything else,” Wyden said. “As I un- derstand it, Doug Dougherty is trying to plan for real world circumstances, not for some mythical igure.” Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Com- mittee, said he would seek predisaster and Federal Emergen- cy Management Agency funds. “What really needs to improve is the judgments of mem- bers of Congress in terms of priorities, and that’s my job,” the Oregon Democrat said. Wyden said he sees raising the issue of tsunami aware- ness as a national one. “Seaside would be different than a small community in the Midwest or something on the East Coast,” Wyden said. “Disasters are something where Congress comes together and says, ‘We’ve got to come together in terms of preven- tative medicine.’” Wyden said he plans to take Seaside’s message back to Washington, D.C. “There’s nothing better than coming out and seeing some- thing like this,” Wyden said. “Otherwise you’re just reading government reports and talking about this in the abstract.” We’ve had “a little work done!” Come celebrate our big reveal! We’ll take you where you need to go. If you don’t have wheels, don’t worry. Providence Seaside Hospital offers Providence Community Connections, a free ride program to get you to your health and wellness services. This resource is available to people of all ages who have no other transportation options. Our volunteer drivers can take you to your medical appointments, even if you have to go to Portland. We can also give you a lift to the grocery store, bank, post office, library or even the gym – whatever you need for your well-being. For eligibility details and ride reservations, call 503-717-7174. Providence.org/northcoast You’re invited to our Grand Re-Opening at May 9, 2016 from 4-7pm Please join us to view our face lift at he Ocean Lodge. We will have lite bites, wine, music and rooms to show. 2864 S. Paciic St., PO Box 1037 Cannon Beach, Oregon 97110 888-777-4047 | theoceanlodge.com