“Alder but Wiser” From STOP the SPRAY B.C. and our Sister Watershed in Peachland, British Columbia, here’s an excellent report
Consider donating to support NCCWP’s efforts to ensure water security in coastal communities.
FEMA-Related Webinar, December 16
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center will host a webinar entitled "Beyond the High Water Mark: A Call for Floodplain Management Reform to Ensure Compliance with Federal Law and Bolster Community Resilience to Flooding and Climate Change." You can sign up for this free webinar at https://oregonshores.org/?post_type=event&p=51628&preview=true
In light of recent "atmospheric rivers," as well as the choices cities and counties must make as to which of three proposed levels of FEMA codes regarding floodplains to adopt, this webinar will be particularly relevant.
This presentation will go over the history of Northwest Environmental Defense Center et. al. v. Federal Emergency Management Agency which is the driving factor in Oregon communities moving to update their floodplain management codes. There will be a discussion of why adequate updates are necessary to ensure that local communities, developers, the State, and FEMA comply with federal law as they participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Also, there will be talk about how protecting floodplain habitat necessarily allows building more resilient communities that are better able to withstand ever-increasing flooding events.
This webinar will provide local governments with a background on the history and reasoning for these reforms, as well as grassroots perspectives on the opportunities and implications posed by each pathway. This analysis will help to elevate and promote science-based decision making that will promote climate resilience and be responsive to various obligations under the Endangered Species Act and National Flood Insurance Program.
Leading the discussion will be Mary Stites, the Staff Attorney at the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, a Portland-based non-profit seeking to protect and preserve the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from Lewis & Clark Law School, Mary joined the NEDC team and assisted in a range of matters, including efforts to enforce the Clean Water Act, protect endangered species, and stop the siting of harmful industrial activities in sensitive locations.
MONTHLY MEETINGS-ASTORIA
Our main work topic will be creating an outline for our comments (regarding protecting drinking water) to the Oregon Department of Forestry during their public comment period on the new Forest Management Plan.
NCCWP Astoria Chapter News: We will be holding our monthly meeting this coming Wednesday, December 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Due to holiday events, the meeting will not take place at KALA, our usual venue. Instead, it will take place at Necessary Magic, 333 10th Street in Astoria.
At the monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 13, starting at 4:00 p.m., we will discuss talking points for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Forest Management Plan (FMP). This meeting will take place in Astoria at KALA. Besides being an in-person meeting, it can be attended virtually. (Chili and beverages will be available for purchase at the event.) A week later, the in-person meeting of ODF regarding the FMP (where testimony may be presented) will take place on Tuesday, January 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Tillamook ODF offices, 5005 3rd St.
MONTHLY MEETINGS-ROCKAWAY BEACH
NO MONTHLY MEETINGS in November or December in ROCKAWAY BEACH.
SEE YOU IN 2026!
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.
Photo Credit: RIsa Scott
Huge THANK YOU!
Support Makes NCCWP Successful
Huge THANK YOU to everyone that helped make the screening of The People vs Agent Orange film in Astoria such a success. Denise, Cheryl, Chris, Dinah, Les, Mike, Kim and all those who helped promote, poster, set up, greet, feed and decorate, you made it a perfect evening! Thanks Dinah and Les for the great venue, food, drink, ambiance and high quality video and sound equipment. Rhonda, thank you for the fitting land acknowledgment. Having two of the film's stars in attendance sharing their experiences and being open to our questions made it very personal. If you haven't had the chance to see this impactful movie, watch this website. We are working on a screening in Tillamook County in the near future. Those of you who have signed up to FERNS (ODF's notification system) will likely see pesticide/herbicide spraying notices that list the ingredients. One of the common ones still widely used was part of the agent orange chemical compound. That is what makes this film so relevant today.
Photo Credit: RIsa Scott
Photo Credit: RIsa Scott
COASTAL FUTURES
Check out the incredible “Coastal Futures” project now on display at the Main Tillamook County 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 maps and graphics of “Coastal Futures” are now being displayed on the Second Floor at the Main Tillamook County Library. Please come check it out!
Tillamook County Library
1716 Third Street, Tillamook, OR
Phone: 503.842.4792
Hours: Monday thru Friday: 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
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.
Join Our Email List
Sign-up for our mailing list and we'll keep you up-to-date with all of the news and upcoming events.
Meg Thompson, NCCWP Member: Letter to Senator Elizabeth Steiner
Dear Senator Elizabeth Steiner; I appreciate your desire to address fire risks to our forests. However, your Senate
The Oregon Timber Industry Won Huge Tax Cuts in the 1990s. Now It May Get Another Break Thanks to a Top Lawmaker.
As the cost of fighting wildfires increases, state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner has proposed a bill — developed in
Please Sign Our Petition
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!
Our Mission
North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection (NCCWP) is a grass-roots association of citizens from Rockaway Beach and surrounding communities. The group began in 2012 with the actions of one Rockaway citizen concerned about clear cutting for forestland and aerial spraying in the Jetty Creek Watershed - the sole source of her community's drinking water.
The group now partners with neighboring communities facing air- and water-quality issues and with statewide organizations advocating for forest practices that will ensure clean air and water for all living beings.
Our Goals
- To educate citizens about the connection between forest practices and the quality of their air and water.
- To advocate for forest practices that will ensure clean air and water.
- To support communities working to protect their watershed.
- No more clearcutting and pesticide spraying in our drinking water sources, regardless of land ownership.
Get Involved
There are many ways to help protect our watershed and keep our drinking water safe.
Donate
Your tax deductible donation will help us protect our watershed. Future generations will thank you!
About Us
We are a grassroots organization concerned about our watershed. We are making a difference in our community.