If you haven’t seen the photos, they’re shocking. This aerial shot over Newport, Oregon isn’t digitally enhanced or altered. The big black spot off the coast is know as the black plume, which is a result of years of environmental degradation by the paper mill, Georgia Pacific.
Staying true to it’s infamous reputation, Georgia Pacific has been releasing by-products of it’s Toledo, Oregon paper mill into local streams. Local streams lead to a larger watershed and watersheds lead to the coast.
See the black plume for yourself by visiting Newport, Oregon on Google Earth.
The Port of Seattle estimates that 150 cruises leave for Alaska from Seattle from May to September. These cruise ships generate approximately 35 tons of biomass (poop), each day and currently discharge this partially-treated material just 12 nautical miles from Washington’s shoreline.
The Cruise Ship Wastewater Management Report states that this issue and impacts to the environment that can be avoided through the diversion of waste from cruise ships through King County’s wastewater management system.
The Seattle Surfrider chapter is currently involved and monitoring progress on this issue. Contact seattle@surfrider.org to learn more.
This season has produced some serious winter storms including a swell in early December that produced 50ft. + waves. While this season’s storms have unearthed some buried treasure and ancient forest they’ve also added to the growing problem of coastal erosion. Erosion along the coast is a common problem but one that is only perpetuated with the use of ripraps.
Rock ripraps are a conventional approach to bank erosion yet one that does not provide a long term solution. Ripraps may solve an immediate problem but may only accelerate erosion over time. As the beach is eroded in front of a riprap, the supply of sand available to nearby beaches is substantially reduced, thereby accelerating erosion at adjacent beaches.
Maine, South Carolina and North Carolina have all outlawed the use of ripraps. South Carolina had this to say “…..without adequate controls, development unwisely has been sited too close to the system (ocean beach / dune). This type of development has jeopardized the stability of the beach/dune system, accelerated erosion, and endangered adjacent property….hard erosion control devices such as seawalls, bulkheads, and rip-rap to protect erosion-threatened structures adjacent to the beach has not proven effective.”
Coastal erosion is a natural process which becomes a significant problem only when structures are erected in close proximity to the coastline. The town of Neskowin, Oregon has been experiencing massive beach erosion for many years and the use of ripraps has only turned natural erosion into a disaster, threatening a publicly-treasured resource.
Here’s a great breakdown of the events leading up to the erosion of more the 600 yards of destroyed beaches in Neskowin, Orgeon.
The Oregon Coast is a harsh environment, with rain, high winds and big surf the norm. A typical day at the coast in these conditions doesn’t normally involve frolicking in the shallows but the lure of a sunny day draws crowds not acquainted with the ocean’s temperament. Gleneden Beach in particular is known for it’s strong rips and heavy waves making it a dangerous place to wade, let alone swim along the Oregon Coast.
An 11yr. old boy lost his life on Saturday at Gleneden Beach, Oregon after he was quickly swept into the high surf and drown. Sadly, a 16yr old went in to attempt a rescue and has not been seen since. A sad weekend on the Oregon Coast.
Almost 1yr. ago a surfer drown in high surf off the Oregon Coast and tragically it happens every year. The Coast Guard made 2 other rescues on Saturday, saving the lives of those unknowing to the dangers of the North Pacific.
and the 72ft. Finavera wave energy buoy is still sitting at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Newport, OR - corroding, seeping and deteriorating away.
The Shark Shield surf model, designed to protect surfers by deterring sharks, was put to the test last week in South Africa. It was activated on a float carrying bait when a shark approached and rather than being deterred by the device as it should have been, bit into it.
Rod Hartley, director of Sea Change Technology, which manufactures the Shark Shields, said the failure of the product was due to a problem with the electrode’s configuration. The Shark Shield is now packaged with a large disclaimer warning it would only repel sharks when the surfer was still in the water waiting for a wave - so you’re covered just as long as you don’t paddle or ride waves.
