Bob Bailey, Manager, Oregon Coastal Management Program
Oregon Estuaries defined: (Goal 16) includes estuarine water, tidelands, tidal marshes, and submerged lands. Estuaries extend upstream to the head of tidewater, except at the Columbia River estuary, which by definition extends upstream to the western end of Puget Island.
Estuary Management Background Current management regime began in early 1970s, culminated in Goal 16 in 1977. Driving forces: significant loss and alteration of estuarine areas to filling, diking, dredging, riprapping, etc. Estuaries were named in ORS 197.230 for special consideration in writing Goals. Governor McCall championed estuarine protection.
Estuary Management Part of statewide land use planning program Applies land use planning approach (i.e spatial allocation of uses and resources) Sets priorities and attempts to balance: natural functions human use/imprint
Statewide Planning Goal 16, Estuarine Resources To recognize and protect the unique environmental, economic, and social values of each estuary and associated wetlands; and To protect, maintain, where appropriate develop, and where appropriate restore, the long-term environmental, economic, and social values, diversity and benefits of Oregon's estuaries.
Goal 16, Estuarine Resources 1. Requires inventories of resources/habitats; 2. Creates Coastwide Estuary Classification System; 3. Requires local estuary plans for each estuary; 4. Incorporates state and federal agency regulations and programs; 5. Requires review of development proposals.
Goal 16, Inventory Requirements inventories shall provide information on the nature, location, and extent of physical, biological, social, and economic resources in sufficient detail to establish a sound basis for estuarine management and to enable the identification of areas for preservation and areas of exceptional potential for development.
Oregon Estuary Classification LCDC shall classify the Oregon estuaries to specify the most intensive level of development or alteration which may be allowed to occur within each estuary Natural: no jetties, little development or alteration Conservation: no jetties, altered shoreline, some urban development Shallow-draft Development: jetties, channels up to 22 depth Deep-draft Development: jetties, channels over 22 depth
OREGON ESTUARY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Legend Deep Draft Shallow Draft Conservation Natural Minor Estuaries Conservation Natural Columbia River Nehalem River Tillamook Bay Depoe Bay Yaquina Bay Siuslaw River Umpqua River Coos Bay Coquille River Rogue River Necanicum River Ecola Creek Netarts Bay Sand Lake Nestucca River Neskowin Creek Salmon River Siletz Bay Beaver Creek Alsea Bay Yachats River Tenmile Creek Big Creek Berry Creek Sutton Creek Siltcoos River Takenitch Creek Chetco River Twomile Creek Fourmile Creek/New Floras Creek/New R Sixes River Elk River Hunter Creek Pistol River Euchre Creek Winchuck River Tenmile Creek
Local Plan Requirements Comprehensive plans and activities for each estuary shall provide for appropriate uses (including preservation) with as much diversity as is consistent with the overall Oregon Estuary Classification. shall protect the estuarine ecosystem, including its natural biological productivity, habitat, diversity, unique features and water quality. Complex requirements for planning for each of the four estuary classification categories
Local Estuary Plans General Priorities (Highest to Lowest) 1. Uses which maintain the integrity of the estuarine ecosystem; 2. Water-dependent uses requiring estuarine location, as consistent with the overall Oregon Estuary Classification; 3. Water-related uses which do not degrade or reduce the natural estuarine resources and values; 4. Nondependent, nonrelated uses which do not alter, reduce or degrade estuarine resources and values.
Local Plan Requirements for each estuary Land-use plan designations are determined by resources and uses present, based on: Habitat classes (mapped) Physical and Biological Features Existing Land Uses
Estuary Habitat Classes Unconsolidated Bottom Rock Bottom Aquatic bed Shore
Estuary Habitat Classes Flat Beach/Bar Tidal Marsh
Estuary Management Units within each estuary Natural Conservation Development
Management Units allowed in each category of estuary Natural Estuaries Conservation Estuaries Shallow-draft Estuaries Deep-draft Estuaries Natural Mgmt Units Natural Mgmt Units Natural Mgmt Units Natural Mgmt Units Conservation Mgmt Units Conservation Mgmt Units Conservation Mgmt Units Development Mgmt Units Development Mgmt Units <22 channel 22 + channel
Estuary Project Impact Review Impact Assessment Resource Capabilities Test Dredge/fill/alterations Test Mitigation State & Federal Standards
Goal 17 Coastal Shorelands
Goal 17, Coastal Shorelands The management of these shoreland areas shall be compatible with the characteristics of the adjacent coastal waters. General priorities (highest to lowest) 1. maintain integrity of estuaries and coastal waters; 2. water-dependent uses; 3. water-related uses; 4. non-dependent, non-related uses that retain future flexibility; 5. Urban development compatible with existing or committed uses; 6. uses that cause a permanent or long-term change in the features of coastal shorelands only upon a demonstration of public need.
Goal 17 Shoreland Use Requirements Protect habitats, other resources; Reserve for water-dependent uses; Enable redevelopment (w/public access); Allow rural non-resource lands.
Goal 17 Shoreland Special Use Sites Dredged material disposal Mitigation and restoration Water dependent development Significant shoreland habitats Riparian vegetation
Program Results
Program Results coastwide, resource-based estuary management; halted loss of estuarine lands; eliminated competition between estuaries; set stage for habitat restoration for salmon recovery; mechanism for waterfront reuse.
Program Results Estuarine areas were delimited in late 1970s and local plans completed by mid-late 1980s. All estuaries and shorelands are contained in city or county land use plans and regulations. Each estuary has a land use plan based on spatial location of estuarine habitats and features (maps) and on land uses (plan and zoning maps).
Current Estuary Management Emphasizes maintaining natural functions, protecting habitat, limiting spread of development into estuarine areas; Does not anticipate: ~ significant rise in mean tidal elevation or landward migration of estuarine functions; ~ changing shape of estuarine footprint.
Current Estuary Issues Needs: new habitat inventory & assessment comprehensive water quality monitoring research on estuary/ocean linkage monitoring/research invasive species update local estuary plans
Future Estuary Issues How to adjust policy and management of estuaries in the face of rising sea level; How to take advantage of information technologies to identify and monitor changes in habitat distribution and ecosystem function; How to engage local governments with planning responsibilities to modernize estuary plans; How to identify and prioritize areas for landward migration of wetlands.