Friday, August 2, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3 Celebration inaugurates new mountain bike trail network Riders hit th e Klootchy Creek trails Ju ly 20. Seaside Signal A Submitted Mark Morgans, GreenWood Resources area manager, performs the “ribbon-cutting.” ‘Operation Ship Shape’ targets lapsed boat registrations Seaside Signal The Oregon State Marine Board, in partner- ship with 32 county sher- iff’s offi ces and the Oregon State Police, will be out in force Aug. 3-4, looking for expired boat registrations as part of “Operation Ship Shape.” “We want boaters to look at their boat’s decals, the registration numbers, and their registration card and make sure they’re up-to-date,” said Randy Henry, boating safety pro- gram manager for the Marine Board. “Make sure you’ve renewed your reg- istration, and make sure you’ve put the decal on your boat, or you could face a $265 citation.” “Any boat that is pow- ered by a motor — elec- tric, gas, diesel or steam, and all sailboats 12 feet GEARHART FIRE DEPT. FIRE LOG June 19 7:24 p.m., Pine Ridge, Gearhart: Emergency medical response. June 20 5 a.m., Ocean Avenue, Gear- hart: Emergency medical re- sponse. and longer — must be currently registered when on the water, even when docked or moored,” said Henry. This includes infl at- able rafts with an electric motor, even a standup pad- dleboard or fl oat tube with an electric motor. ” Boaters can renew their boat registration online at www.boatoregon.com/ store, or can visit their local registration agent. Boaters can print off a temporary permit after successfully completing their transac- tion online or will be issued a temporary permit through an agent for an additional fee. For assistance renew- ing online, contact the Marine Board at marine. board@oregon.gov or 503-378-8587. For a list of registra- tion agents, visit oregon. gov/osmb/title-registra- tion/Pages/Where-to-Reg- ister.aspx. ers, but organizers have developed a long-range master plan that envisions a broad network of nonmotorized rid- ing trails on GreenWood’s Lewis and Clark Tree Farms property. Trail Alliance President Steven Blakesley said the group — a chapter of the Northwest Trail Alliance cycling organization — had been trying unsuccessfully to fi nd suitable trail sites on public lands before a part- nership with the private timberland company was forged. Klootchy Creek County Park is the trailhead for the riding network. County Natural Resource Manager Steve Meshke said he looks forward to seeing increased vis- itation to the small park on the bank of the Necanicum River, which has seen visitor numbers dwindle since the area’s landmark Sitka spruce heritage tree was felled in a 2007 windstorm. Parking space at the park was expanded in anticipation of the new trails, and further improve- ments, including restrooms, are planned, he said. Use of the trails is free, but is subject to fi re closures and other restrictions. Riders must also obtain a free rec- reational permit from GreenWood Resources. NCLC volunteers go deep into the weeds By CARA MICO Seaside Signal A “spectacular num- ber” people showed up to pull policeman’s helmet, or Impatiens glandulifera, Sat- urday, July 20, for the fi nal of three weed-pulling events aimed at eradicating the inva- sive weed on the North Coast Land Conservancy’s Circle Creek property just south of Seaside, and it wasn’t “the usual suspects” according to Jeff Roehm, a long-time volunteer. The weather was perfect for volunteers and staff who spent several hours pulling and stomping the fl owering shrub. By Roehm’s estimates, that volunteer spirit at the Conservancy is only grow- ing. Most of the 17 volun- teers who showed up to work on Saturday had been to the Circle Creek farm prior to the event, but there were many newcomers as well. Volun- teer John Rippey called the work “satisfying.” NCLC received a three year grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to remove the inva- June 25 July 10 July 14 12:54 p.m., Pacifi c Way, Gear- hart: Odor of smoke. 9:00 a.m., Ocean Avenue, Gear- hart: Public service assistance. 8:46 a.m., Beach/Ocean Shore, Gearhart: Fire reported. 3:41 p.m., Seventh Street, Gear- hart: Emergency medical re- sponse. July 11 July 24 10:58 a.m. Sixth Street, Gearhart: Emergency medical response. 7:49 p.m., Sheridan, Gearhart: Emergency medical response. July 12 July 25 4:30 p.m., Pacifi c Way, Gear- hart: Hazardous conditions. 2:12 p.m., Saddle Mountain: Ex- trication, rescue. July 4 1:20 p.m., Cottage, Gearhart: Smoke alarm activated; no fi re found. Cara Mico Intern Delaney Newport highlights characteristics of policeman’s helmet for volunteers. 6:12 p.m., Pine Ridge, Gearhart: Public assistance. 9:34 p.m., Marion, Gearhart: Emergency medical response. 7:12 p.m., Fairway, Gearhart: Alarm system activation; no fi re found. June 23 5:09 p.m., Highway 101, Gear- hart: Emergency medical re- sponse. 8:49 p.m. Dunes, 10th Street beach access, Gearhart: At- tempted burning, illegal ac- tion. June 24 July 7 11:36 p.m., Sandy Ridge, Gear- hart: Emergency medical re- sponse. large crowd, including dozens of mountain bike riders, gathered Saturday, July 22, to cel- ebrate the grand opening of what organizers hope will become the destination trail cycling spot on the North Coast. The Klootchy Creek Trails network, located off U.S. Highway 26, two miles east of the U.S. Highway 101 junction, is a collaborative project of the North Coast Trail Alliance, land manager GreenWood Resources and the Clatsop County Parks Department. County Commissioners Kathleen Sullivan and Pamela Wev were joined by representatives from GreenWood, the trail alliance and others involved in the project, before a chainsaw “ribbon-cutting” offi cially opened the trails to the waiting riders. Volunteer trail-builders were thanked for their work, which totaled more than 5,000 hours over eight months. Currently about four miles of trails are open to rid- Submitted 7:05 a.m., Ridge Street, Gearhart: Emergency medical service. 7:26 p.m., Highway 101: Emer- gency medical response. ONLY VALID AT BEAVERTON/ALOHA LOCATION CALL TODAY TO PERSONALIZE YOUR ORDER 503.642.0849 $150 OFF LEER BEDLINERS C A N O P I E S S P R A Y I N AFTER 21575 SW TUALATIN VALLEY HWY • ALOHA 97006 $100 OFF BEFORE *MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON TO REDEEM *SOME EXCLUSIONS MAY APPLY sive riparian weed from their Necanicum watershed prop- erties including upstream waterways. Since police- man’s helmet seeds travel downstream during win- ter fl oods and readily recol- onize disturbed banks, it is important to remove it from the uppermost headwaters before it reseeds. The goal of the grant was to completely eradicate the weed from the Necanicum watershed in three years and the conser- vancy is close to accomplish- ing that goal. The weed is very shallow rooted and self sows from seeds that eject themselves up to 20 feet if even slightly dis- turbed, hence the other name for the plant, touch-me-not. Policeman’s helmet is an annual plant and its pres- ence leaves the winter soil exposed. Left unchecked, the weed can lead to increased erosion on the banks where it grows which destabilizes the river channel. NCLC’s upcoming hands-on stewardship event is Swampathon weekend. Volunteers are invited to spend Saturday and Sun- day, Aug. 10 and 11, at the Blind Slough Swamp Hab- itat Reserve on the Lower Columbia River, east of Astoria pulling purple loose- strife and English ivy. Simi- lar to policeman’s helmet, the invasive purple loosestrife spreads easily. On Saturday, volunteers will work at the Big Creek location from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday volunteers will paddle to pull weeds from hard to reach places 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rubber boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are highly recommended and NCLC will bring the tools. Pack water and lunch. If you’re camping, dinner and breakfast are provided. For more information check out the conservancy’s website at https://nclctrust.org/event/ swampathon-2019.