Friday, November 1, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3
Fall
Fungi
Frolic
Katherine Lacaze
North Coast Land Conservancy Land Steward Eric Owen discusses mycology, the branch
of biology concerned with the study of fungi, during the organization’s Fall Fungi Frolic.
delivers mycological treasures
By KATHERINE LACAZE
For Seaside Signal
The going was slow along the trails
at Circle Creek the afternoon of Oct. 25
during the North Coast Land Conservan-
cy’s Fall Fungi Frolic.
However, the small group of partici-
pants was less interested in getting from
a specifi c Point A to Point B as quickly
as possible than they were in observing
the treasure trove of mycelium and mush-
rooms along the way.
“Mushrooms are super cool, super
important parts of our ecosystems,” Land
Steward Eric Owen told participants
before leading them out onto the 364-
acre Circle Creek property for the conser-
vancy’s fi nal “On the Land” outing of the
2019 season.
Nature’s bounty
As the group meandered along the ver-
dant trails, still damp and muddy from the
autumn rain that had fallen early that day,
the participants enjoyed their discoveries
in numerous ways — discussing the vari-
ous fungi they happened upon, collecting
small specimens to take back to the Circle
Creek Conservation Center to identify,
snapping pictures, and even hand-draw-
ing images of the mushrooms.
As Owen pointed out to the group,
there are four main classifi cations of
fungi: the chytridiomycota, zygomy-
cota, ascomycota, and basidiomycota.
Fungi in their various forms are both pro-
lifi c and critical to a wide range of habi-
tats, with scientists estimating as many as
90% of plant species relying on them for
life. More and more, emerging research
in the fi eld of mycology is exploring the
sentience of fungi, their genetic and bio-
chemical properties, and how they inter-
act with soil, plants, and one another.
Owen recommended the participants
keep hard copies of fi eld guides and
other references to help identify and learn
Katherine Lacaze
ors to the Circle Creek property study a wide
ge of fungi.
more about the different species they
fi nd at their own property or when out
mushroom-hunting.
“Use all the resources available to
you,” he said.
Living off the land
Kristin Koptiuch, who moved from
Phoenix, Arizona, to Rockaway Beach
in June, has recently embraced the study
of mycology as a way to adapt to and
explore her new environment, interact
with the specifi c landscape of the North
Oregon Coast, and “use what grows on
the land.”
In the past month, she has attended
three mushroom workshops and events
— including the Fall Fungi Frolic — and
she was planning to attend a fourth in the
coming week.
Koptiuch’s interest is learning where
to scavenge for mushrooms, how to iden-
tify them, and how to use them for med-
icine, food, and other purposes. Based
on her research so far, she is especially
excited about fi nding the popular King
Bolete mushroom, which is “supposed to
have the best fl avor,” she said.
Gearhart resident Pat Wollner, who
demonstrated her enthusiasm and knowl-
edge of the mycelium network frequently
throughout the outing, said there tend to
be two groups of fungi enthusiasts: those
who are interested in fi nding edible vari-
eties to cook with and use for practical
purposes, and those who are enamored
with the fascinating – and often slimy —
world of fungi, including mold and yeast.
Regardless, when it comes to studying
mycology, “some of the best people do
it,” she joked.
Wollner got interested in scavenging
for and researching fungi about two years
ago. Since then, she said, “it’s kind of
consumed me.
“I am so enthusiastic about the whole
science of the thing, the whole myce-
lium network,” she said, adding, “It’s so
diverse.”
Cove Beach property owners question moratorium Conservation group
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
Property owners in Cove
Beach are raising concerns
about the lack of transpar-
ency and oversight of the
Falcon Cove Beach Water
District.
The water district voted
for a six-month moratorium
last December after report-
ing water production had
been at record low levels for
the past several years during
the late summer months.
The moratorium was
extended for another six
months in June so the board
could continue to look at
long-term options to protect
the water supply. The water
district may vote to extend
the moratotium again in
December.
As long as the morato-
rium is in effect, property
owners have to come up with
another means of getting
their water to obtain a devel-
opment permit from Clatsop
County, said Gail Henrik-
son, the county’s director of
land use planning.
Each home is required
to document a water source
that will provide 250 gallons
a day.
The county accepts sev-
eral types of alternate water
supply systems, includ-
ing rain catchment. But the
alternatives can increase
building costs, leaving some
property owners in limbo as
they are unclear how long
the moratorium will be in
place.
Several property owners
are not convinced there is an
emergency that warrants a
moratorium.
Guido Paparoni and his
wife, Margaret Rozendaal,
bought a parcel in Cove
Beach in 2017. They want
to build a home and move to
the coast when they retire.
Paparoni has a Ph.D.
in economic geology and
Rozendaal has a Ph.D.
in climate science. They
decided to use their exper-
tise to examine the data
themselves.
They looked at multi-
ple sources, including data
reported to the state of how
much water is produced by
the spring, data recorded by
the water district using water
meters and data measured
by independent weather sta-
tions in Cove Beach and
Manzanita.
They concluded there is
no water shortage.
The water district could
not be reached for comment.
“The goal here is not to fi x
it. The goal here is to main-
tain lack of development and
they’re doing it through the
duration of an emergency
that doesn’t exist,” Pap-
aroni said. “And because
an emergency doesn’t exist,
the moratorium is without a
technical basis. You cannot
have a moratorium without
an emergency.”
completes restoration
project on Mill Creek
The Astorian
The North Coast
Watershed Association, a
local nonprofi t conserva-
tion group serving Clatsop
County, has just wrapped
up a successful stream res-
toration project on Mill
Creek.
The project removed
culverts, sediment and
fi ll that had blocked fi sh
migration for decades,
reopened and planted
1.6 miles of stream, and
decommissioned almost
2 miles of old forest road.
“With state fund-
ing and contracted work
through the Oregon
Department of Forestry,”
Jane Harris, executive
director for the organiza-
tion, explained, “we have
been able to rehabilitate
an important stream for
migrating salmon to its
original healthy fl ow.”
People interested in
local watershed health
can learn more at clatsop-
watersheds.org
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
On behalf of all of our members, volunteers and most importantly, THE KIDS who benefit from our programs,
the Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific would like to thank everyone who
made the 12th Annual Home & Chef Tour a huge success!
Event Sponsor:
Home
Owners
Jill & Tony Garvey and Alix & Tom Goodman,
Susan & Eric Hoffman and Fred Trullinger, Page Knudsen Cowles,
Richard & Margaret Marino, Elizabeth Kingery Warren, and Connie Cosner.
Home Sponsors
th
Seaside American Legion Post 99 • 100 Birthday of the American Legion
Semi formal Celebration
Englund Marine, Autio Co., Dr. & Sheila Miller for Dr. Russel Keizer, Lums
Auto Center, TOTEM Properties, U S Bank, and Bigby’s Tree Service.
Chefs
November 10th
No host Cocktail hour 5:30
Dinner served 6:00pm
$30.00 per ticket
Prime Rib or Salmon
Thai Me Up, Finn’s Fish House, Maggie’s on Prom, Pacific Way Café, Dough
Dough Bakery and The Sweet Shop.
Florists
Bloomin’ Crazy, Natural Nook, and Erickson Floral
Printer
All Dinner Guests MUST RSVP before November 2 nd so do it now!
503-440-7630 • 1315 Broadway Seaside Oregon
Public event Proceeds go toward helping our Veterans
Anchor Graphics
Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific is a nonprofit, all-volunteer, organization whose philanthropic programs promote
the well-being and self-esteem of children and teens throughout Clatsop County.
To learn more or get involved please visit www.assistanceleaguecp.org