A precautionary public health advisory was issued today due to a sewage spill off the coast of Cannon Beach. The advisory is due to a 85,000 gallon sewage overflow into the ocean from the waste water treatment plant. This precautionary health advisory will be lifted as soon as the beach water testing results indicate acceptable water quality and the water is safe for recreational use.
Wastewater discharges can increase the risk of higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters, which can result in diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes and other illnesses affecting the eyes, ears, nose and throat.
UPDATED (7/23): Precautionary health advisory warning the public against water contact at Cannon Beach has been removed. Subsequent monitoring shows the concerns about contamination have subsided and the waters do not pose a higher-than-normal risk associated with water contact activities.
We mean that literally. If you were looking off the coast near Newport, OR today, you would have noticed the Salvage Chief offshore about a mile. According to Finavera Renewables, the ship has been doing work on recovering the Finavera Buoy, which sank last fall. Over the past several days they have been at work removing sand, cutting chain, and getting the buoy ready to lift. The plan was to lift the buoy today and have it at the entrance to Yaquina Bay earlier this afternoon - no word yet if all went to plan. The Coast Guard is putting a 500 yard restriction on the vessels while they are towing the buoy. They’ve also asked that interested persons stay away from the work site, as there are divers in the water and subsurface devices also in the water.
The dory boat operator who struck Cole Ortega on July 6, severing his arm, won’t have charges filed against him.
The fact is that the incident between Cole Ortega and the dory boat was preventable. Numerous witnesses have stated that the operator of the dory boat failed to sound his horn, as required, before approaching the beach. The dory boat operator was sited for not carrying or having a boater’s safety card and class after the incident, but this was not deemed grounds for negligence by the sheriff’s department. Wouldn’t the Marine Board and Coast Guard see otherwise as this program was put in place to help prevent boating accidents? Furthermore, police at the scene did not even test the boat operator for use of alcohol or other drugs to determine if there was unsafe operation of the boat.
Nearly all nearshore waters and all vessels operate within the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard. The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Department have completed their investigation - however you may formally request an investigation from both the marine board and the coast guard.
The 10th annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Contest is on for August 2nd and 3rd, 2008. The contest will be held on the beach in Pacific City, Oregon, the site of the recent dory boat incident. The contest is for longboards only, 9′ and up. Contestants will be judged on three criteria: size and quality of wave, length of ride, and maneuvers the rider can complete. Saturday night features live music, food and beverage vendors on the beach.
Entry Form
A 14-year-old boy lost his arm on Sunday after a Dory boat struck him while surfing. Other surfers were able to recover his arm and administer aid. The boy was air lifted to Emanuel Hospital in Portland where he underwent surgery to reattach his arm. No word yet on the outcome of the surgery.
Witnesses say the Dory boat approached the beach at a high speed with no warnings even though its mandated to blare the boat’s horn within 100 yards of the beach. The incident may lead to more ordinances from the city, with possible restrictions within the convergence zone. A sad and unfortunately easily preventable accident.
Shortboard Open
1. Jeremy Rasmussen - Lincoln City
2. Kirk Tice - Waldport
3. Irwin Langeberg - Lincoln Beach
4. Rex Adams - Portland
5. CC Unger Meyer - Tofino, BC
6. Tony Perez - Lincoln City
Longboard Open
1. Kainoa Casco - Maui
2. Bill Bourdon - Brookings
3. Ollie Richardson - Newport
4. Ray Benner - Brookings
5. Nolan West - Eugene
6. Ernie Martella - Pacific City
Masters Shortboard (over 40)
1. Irwin Langeberg - Lincoln Beach
2. Buzzy Morales - Salem
3. Nolan West - Eugene
4. Tony Gile - Lincoln City
5. Garry Link - Pacific City
6. Ben Cockcroft - Seaside
Grom (Under 16)
1. Tyler James Muth - Waldport
2. Decklyn Wood - Lincoln City
3. Marcus Muth - Waldport
4. Gavin Flynn - Lincoln City
5. Travis Cockcroft - Seaside
Women
1. Sierra Gjerde - Rockaway Beach
2. Angela Haynie - Lincoln City
3. Hannah Nichols - Depoe Bay
4. Susan Russo - Lincoln City
5. Kelsey Bales - Milwaukee
6. Alisa Hideg - Spokane
Menehune (child with parent in the water)
1. Izzy Martinez-Ybor - Nahalem
2. Savannah Russo - Lincoln City
3. Jackson Butler - McMinnville
4. Wyatt Link - Pacific City
5. Talicia Hixson - Salem
6. Averi Afford Anderson - Lincoln City
