MONTHLY MEETING JUNE 24th

North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection again will be holding regular monthly meetings the last Tuesday of each month. Meetings will take place starting at 6:00 p.m. and going until about 7:00 p.m. at the St. Mary by the Sea Parish Hall; 275 S. Pacific St.; Rockaway Beach, Or 97136. 

We’ll be discussing how we can protect our local drinking water sources—such as Jetty Creek and the Nedonna Beach aquifer, how we can unite to preserve the Nedonna Beach wetlands from development, and ways to build stronger community engagement.

We'll have an update about the June 17 Land Use Board of Appeals hearing: "Oral Argument 2025-001 Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition v. City of Rockaway Beach."You can view the recording by using this link: https://www.youtube.com/@landuseboardofappeals8802/streams (The City of Rockaway Beach waived appearing at the hearing.)A decision from LUBA is expected in mid-July. Thanks to everyone who submitted testimony regarding protecting the Nedonna Beach wetlands. 

View the attachment "What is a Wetland, Considerations for Communities in Oregon." This was compiled by Inanna Hencke, UO MLA student from the "Coastal Futures" project.

Join us to help safeguard our wetlands. The beavers and other wetland habitants thank you.

COASTAL FUTURES

Check out the incredible “Coastal Futures” project now on display at the Rockaway Beach Library!

North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection was honored to host and work with Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) students from the University of Oregon. Their research project, entitled Coastal Futures, focused on climate change adaptation strategies for coastal communities in Oregon. It was led by Ignacio López Busón, a UO Assistant Professor of Climate Change Resilience.
For three months, the students deeply analyzed Rockaway Beach, meeting with local stakeholders to understand community values and challenges. Their research explored paths for long-term resilience and sustainable coastal practices.The project addresses important local challenges such as coastal erosion, sea level rise, deforestation, drinking water quality, and urban development.

The “Coastal Futures” project is more than just research – it’s a demonstration of creative scholarship. This first-year UO MLA project recently received the Creative Scholarship Award from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), an international organization. This award recognizes outstanding student work that defines a design issue and presents a “creative intervention, technical resolution, or novel method of practice.” Winning this award is a significant honor within the academic community.
Materials showcasing the project findings, including pamphlets, maps, and graphics, are available at the library. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see innovative ideas for the future of our coast!

The Rockaway Beach Public Library is located at 120 N Coral St, and open Tuesday-Friday 10-1 and 1:30-6 and Saturday 10-1 and 1:30-5. Phone: (503) 355-2665
Visit the library and learn about building resilient connections between ecology and community in Rockaway Beach!

SAVE THE DATE

Board of Forestry Meeting on September 4-5

Please save the dates for the upcoming Board of Forestry Meeting on September 4-5! Tell the Board of Forestry you are concerned about clearcutting, pesticide spraying, and drinking water quality and quantity in Northwest Oregon. Urge the Board to take initiative to protect residential and recreational areas that will be harmed by the detrimental impacts of industrial logging practices. Request more public participation in decision making processes, more transparency, and more timely notice for all logging operations. Help protect and amplify the voices of residents impacted by ODF clearcuts like Mothball Hill and Davis Ridge. Urge a cessation of all logging, pesticide spraying, and slash burning within drinking watersheds within Oregon, regardless of land ownership. Your voice and support matters! 

This meeting will take place at the Salem Headquarters (Oregon Department of Forestry Headquarters, 2600 State Street, Salem, OR 97310) but will also offer virtual participation via Zoom. 

While the agenda, board packet, and registration form for public comment have not yet been released, please keep an eye out for these at this webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/board/Pages/bofmeetings.aspx

SAVE OUR WETLANDS

Good News: Nedonna Wave Appeal Referred to LUBA

As most of you know, the RB City Council voted unanimously in December to deny the appeal of the approval of the Nedonna Wave Planned Unit Development. The Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition has filed an appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Oregon Shores' legal representatives are from the Crag Law Center.

To learn more about LUBA, go to https://www.oregon.gov/luba/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx.

NCCWP hopes this action will help prevent further development in the area for several important reasons: First, this land is a wetland that deserves protection; second, the development would be built above the aquifer which serves as Rockaway Beach's backup water source, thus posing a risk of contamination; finally, Nedonna Beach has only one vehicular escape route that is already insufficient in case of an emergency such as a major fire or tsunami. Adding more houses would increase this safety concern. 

The Crag Law Center is doing this legal work pro bono, and would be grateful for any donations. https://crag.org/donate/  Please see the attachment at the bottom to read the appeal they filed with LUBA.

To be sure, there will be other long-term challenges to our wetlands, drinking water, and community......likely to go beyond just the Nedonna Wave development. We need to continue to organize and speak with a strong voice. Let NCCWP know if you have thoughts about how we can speak as one to protect our wetlands and drinking water.

Important Petition Alert

Save Mothball Hill, Davis Ridge, And Slough Hill From Clearcutting

PETITION

WHEREAS, the proposed clearcuts named ‘Mothball Hill’, ‘Davis Ridge’, and ‘Slough Hill’ (Alt) in Oregon Department of Forestry Astoria District draft Annual Operations Plan for 2025 are immediately abutting numerous residential properties and recreational areas, and fail to address community concerns; 

 WHEREAS, Oregon Department of Forestry’s planned logging fails to address unprecedented climate change and does not account for the increasing coastal heat waves and water scarcity correlated with deforestation;

WHEREAS, the standard practice of pesticide applications after logging can have serious impacts on the health of neighboring residents, recreationalists, drinking water quality, and wildlife;

 WHEREAS, clearcutting and replanting practices are known to increase wildfire intensity and reduce stream flow for up to fifty years post harvest; they are known to increase risk of landslides on steep slopes, as found at ‘Mothball Hill’ and ‘Slough Hill,’ as well as increase flash floods during storm events;

 WHEREAS, the proposed logging near John Day River and Gnat Creek increases the likelihood of silt and other contaminants impacting drinking water, as well as wetlands and tributaries that are essential to salmon and other aquatic life; salmon are a native species that are endangered due to numerous industrial practices including clearcutting;

 ACCORDINGLY, Petitioners want ‘Mothball Hill’, ‘Davis Ridge’, and ‘Slough Hill’ removed from ODF’s 2025 Astoria District Annual Operations Plan and eliminated from further considerations of timber harvests in the future.

 ACCORDINGLY, Petitioners want the ODF to publicize draft Annual Operation Plans in multiple media at least two months in advance of the public comment deadline and to make a special effort to contact and meet with residents living in proximity to any planned logging before initial approval.

JETTY CREEK 1994-2022

SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE TOWN OF ROCKAWAY BEACH, OREGON

Trygve’s photographic timeline of Jetty Creek from 1994 through 2022.

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Our petition, "SAFE WATER AND AIR", is aimed at building momentum around protecting our forests and drinking watersheds.

Learn more here and share it with everyone you know.

Thank you North Coast Community!