Are you a landowner along the Alsea River or its tributaries? Are you interested in learning about opportunities for watershed restoration in your community?

During this event, Tony Spitzack will delve into the historical context of our relationship with streams, the natural changes that occur over time, and the crucial need to reconnect floodplains. His expertise as a fish biologist, coupled with his extensive experience as an educator and firefighter, uniquely positions him to offer valuable perspectives on this critical issue. We invite Alsea landowners and community members to attend.

Featured Speaker: Tony Spitzack, Fish Biologist with the Bureau of Land Management

Tony Spitzack is a Fish Biologist with the Bureau of Land Management. He is part of an interdisciplinary team managing public lands in the Marys Peak Field Office in accordance with the BLM’s multiple use mandate. He has lived and worked in Oregon ecosystems as a fish biologist, fish and wildlife technician, firefighter and educator for 20 years.

This is the first event in our new Alsea Basin series. Keep an eye out for more chances to learn about restoration throughout 2024.

Please note: This event is at the Alsea Community Library

Join MidCoast Watersheds Council for an informative talk by Derek Wilson, a seasoned Habitat Conservation Biologist at ODFW, as he discusses the European Green Crab invasion along the coastlines of Oregon. European green crab (EGC) are a non-native species that has rapidly colonized temperate coastlines at several locations around the world. Commonly known as the "green crab," they have swiftly become an aggressive invader with potential to disrupt native shellfish communities, including crabs, clams, and oysters.

Beginning with the historical context of EGC colonization, Wilson will take you on a journey from their initial establishment in San Francisco Bay before 1989 to their widespread presence along the west coast between 1996 and 1999. In recent years, the population dynamics of EGC have undergone significant changes, with a surge in numbers attributed to shifting ocean conditions and elevated seawater temperatures during the marine heatwave from 2015 to 2021.

Learn about the presence of European green crab in Yaquina Bay, one of many bays in Oregon where populations have now become established. Monitoring efforts in Yaquina Bay have continued since April 2022 to identify the environmental variables and species interactions that influence the distribution and behavior of this non-native species. Efforts are also underway to generate a risk assessment and management plan for EGC in Oregon. Mark your calendars for an evening of discovery and education!

Derek Wilson has 20 years of fish and wildlife resource management experience with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, all based in Newport. He was a Fisheries Biologist for 13 years where he assisted with the management of the freshwater fisheries by conducting specific research and monitoring projects to fill informational gaps and planning and implementing various restoration projects across the management district. The last seven years Wilson has been the Habitat Conservation Biologist with a focus on estuary health, resilience and restoration.

Our volunteer day this Friday 3.22.24 is an onsite planting at Bummer Creek from 9-1. We will be planting some grasses and pollinator flowers in an oak prairie area. There is a chance of rain out there so the field may be muddy, muck boots are recommended.

People are free to meet us on location, please park by the old fire truck and we will shuttle folks to the planting site across the field.

Parking at Bummer Creek

If Carpooling: Please arrive at Ray's in Waldport at 8 am to prepare to carpool to Alsea. Please email natalie@midcoastwc.org to rsvp if you are carpooling.

Ray’s in Walport

Our volunteer day Friday 1.8.24 is a spring cleanup at the nursery from 9-1. We will be weeding, culling plants, bundling willow, and doing general maintenance.

We may luck out with a rain free day but muck boots and rain gear are always encouraged!

Gate Location - where to turn for the nursery (google map link)

Conservation Nursery Location (google map link)

Please push open the gate (it will be unlocked), close it behind you, and drive all the way down the dirt road until you get to the nursery.

There are so many reasons why we love beavers and a few reasons why they can be some very annoying neighbors. In this presentation, Megan Garvey and Shea Fuller from The Wetlands Conservancy will discuss all of the reasons why they try so hard to build truces with the flat-tailed families that call wetlands their home. They often wonder how we could battle climate change without our beaver friends! This talk will cover some of the benefits people enjoy by having beavers manage our landscapes, as well as the coexistence solutions used to keep our human-based infrastructure safe. Megan and Shea will also discuss how The Wetlands Conservancy is using community science to expand their knowledge of beaver populations and better inform the stewardship of their lands.

Megan Garvey is the Stewardship Director for The Wetlands Conservancy (TWC), a statewide land trust of Oregon. She has worked in Oregon as a natural resource technician, an outdoor educator, and a land manager. Megan has been with TWC for over 10 years, managing their preserves as well as their community science and education programs.

Shea Fuller is the Community Engagement Manager for TWC and has worked to bring people into wetlands for about 7 years. She leads tours, cleanups, field trips, and wildlife surveys throughout urban wetlands in the Portland Metro area.

This volunteer day Friday 2.23.24 is in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Garden Program. We will be processing willow cuttings and planting willow riparian buffers to restore historical beaver habitat on the CTSI Farm property. Muck boots are a great idea but there should be work to be done staying on drier land.

This is a public event hosted by the tribe from 10-4, but MCWC will be volunteering our normal hours 9-1. Feel free to drive straight to the farm or carpool with us from our office depending on how long you'd like to stay.

If Carpooling: Please arrive at the MidCoast office at 9 am and prepare to carpool to the farm site

MCWC Office:

914 SW Coast Highway Newport, OR 97365

CTSI Farm:

5213 Logsden Rd. Logsden, OR

Please join us February 2nd from 9am-1pm at the Siletz Wildlife Refuge. We will be planting out on the Lower Drift estuary. 

This is a very muddy and wet site (it is an estuary) and involves a lot of walking (approximately a 1/2 mile out to the planting area). Rain boots and rain gear will be needed. The weather is calling for a high of 48 and rain.

We will be meeting at the Siletz river national wildlife refuge Alder Island trailhead and then carpooling over to the planting site. Here is the map link for the meeting point:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FkXMTuTP6E4VbQzMA

Learn more about the work at The Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES) with its director James Sulikowski. Dr. Sulikowski is the Director of COMES and a Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences (FWCS) at OSU. His interdisciplinary research integrates aspects of physiology and ecology to provide an understanding of how humans and a changing environment affect the movements, and spatial/temporal distribution of sharks in both the coastal and pelagic environments.

Image curtesy of James Sulikowski.

On January 5, 2024, we're throwing a pizza party at noon to say thank you for all your help!

Before the party, from 9-12pm, we'll be working on propagation and willow processing at the Conservation Nursery.

Gate Location - where to turn for the nursery (google map link)

Conservation Nursery Location (google map link)

Please push open the gate (it will be unlocked), close it behind you, and drive all the way down the dirt road until you get to the nursery.

Please join us from 9am-1pm at the Conservation Nursery located at Beaver Creek State Park.

The weather is calling for cloudy and dry but always come prepared with rain gear just in case. If you have taller rain boots please bring them, some folks will be harvesting willow and spirea from the creek for processing.

Gate Location - where to turn for the nursery (google map link)

Conservation Nursery Location (google map link)

Please push open the gate (it will be unlocked), close it behind you, and drive all the way down the dirt road until you get to the nursery.

December 7th @ 6:30pm
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, 333 SE Bay Blvd, 
Newport, OR

Watch Blue Carbon with Elizabeth Ruther, an officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts who analyzes the science and policy behind coastal conservation.

Watch on YouTube

Friday, December 1st
9am - 1pm

Join us and USFWS staff for an afternoon of planting native species at the Siletz Bay Wildlife Refuge!

We will be meeting at the Alder Island Nature Trailhead at 9am to get an overview of the project and carpool to the planting site a mile in. It will be a wet day so come prepared with rain-gear and boots for mud.

Join us for an afternoon of planting and weeding at Quiet Waters. We will be meeting off of Lori Lane and Combs Circle.

Although we’re hoping for good weather, bring rain gear just in case!

The Drift Inn will be generously providing pizza to all volunteers to celebrate the work we get done.

Watch us on YouTube to hear about conservation of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly, a federally Threatened species that calls the Oregon coast range its home!

Speakers were Tyler Clouse, the Watersheds Program Specialist for the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, and Celeste Lebo, the Natural Resources Coordinator for Oregon State Parks.

Watch on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2P09jwjBlY

The meeting was recorded and posted on our YouTube page .

Image retrieved from the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

Yaqina Bay conservation

Yaquina Bay and the biodiversity it supports are the backbone of coastal culture, and a  variety of local groups collaborate on the management and improvement of the bay and estuary. At the MidCoast Watersheds Council’s September presentation, representatives of several of these groups presented about recent work and management of these resources.

Presenters included Cheryl Horton (Estuary Program Manager with MCWC), Michael Moses Estuarine Resilience Coordinator with the Department of Land Conservation and Development), and Megan Hoff (Senior Planner with Lincoln County).  They discussed upcoming marsh restoration work in the Yaquina estuary funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Estuary Resilience Planning Process (ERAP) that is slated to begin this fall in Lincoln County, and the multiyear effort to modernize the Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan to reflect current needs and plan for a future with sea level rise. These short presentations were followed by a panel discussion.

Presenters include:

Michael Moses, Estuarine Resilience Coordinator of the Department of Land Conservation and Development

• In 2021, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)’s Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) began a two-year coordinated planning effort with stakeholders in Coos and Tillamook Counties to evaluate estuary-related resilience needs and identify opportunities for nature-based solutions. Building on this program, OCMP is expanding this work to Lincoln and Lane Counties next, starting in fall 2023.

Megan Hoff, Senior Planner with Lincoln County

• The Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan (YBEMP) regulates estuarine resource conservation and development decisions in compliance with Statewide Planning Goal 16: Estuarine Resources. The YBEMP was adopted by Lincoln County in 1982 and is administered at the local level by Lincoln County, the City of Newport, and the City of Toledo for areas within their respective jurisdictions. Guided by a Steering Committee and an Advisory Group comprised of experts, stakeholders, and interested parties in the Yaquina Bay area, a detailed process has been undertaken to modernize and update the YBEMP over the last few years.  

Cheryl Horton, Estuary Program Manager with the MidCoast Watersheds Council

• The Oregon Central Coast Estuary Collaborative has been conducting estuary restoration for several years, and was recently rewarded a large sum of funds to design and implement several estuarine restoration projects in the Yaquina and Alsea estuaries.

Step into the world of environmental science and stewardship at the Midcoast Watershed Council's summer celebration! It was an evening filled with interesting information, appetizers, and the chance to win wonderful prizes. This event showcased the accomplishments and experiences of our staff and summer interns, and provided an opportunity to support our mission for healthy streams and rivers on Oregon’s central coast.

Before the interns took the stage to present their experiences this summer, there was a raffle including items from Ossie’s Surf Shop, Englunds Marine Supply, Pacific Sourdough, Ultralife, Visual Arts Center, Pura Vida Surf Shop, and Artsea Craftsea!

We look forward to welcoming you at 6:00!

For more and information about future events, join our email list. Check here for past community meeting recordings.

We will be meeting from 9 am - 1 pm on the site to remove as much invasive Tansy Ragwort as possible. This invasive plant is known to dominate open fields when conditions are right, so we are trying to pull it before it goes to seed to spread further. The area we will be working is in recovery from the 2020 Echo Mountain Fire, and the Tansy is growing through the reforestation effort.

The meeting location will be: 2371 Salmon River Hwy, Otis, OR 97368

Please park along the road near Salmon River Mobile Village, and we have a short walk to the site from there. Please bring gloves and water, and we will have snacks and all necessary supplies.

Email tom@midcoastwc.org with questions.

Photo credit to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Meeting Point: Pull off near the restoration site, just south of Yachats (map link)
Time: 9 am, Friday 7/21
Please join us for a volunteer day at the Big Creek restoration site, located just south of Yachats. We will be removing invasive species from the restoration site. You can learn more about this project here!

Join us for the Mill Creek Effectiveness Monitoring Workshop on Tue Jun 27 2023 at 9:00Am-3:30PM in Logsden, OR. This in-person event will be held at 7707 Logsden Road and is a great opportunity to learn about the effectiveness of placing wood into streams to improve salmon habitat.

The wood placement was followed by a large effectiveness monitoring effort, including researchers from OSU, ODFW, and MCWC. Researchers will present about the status and results of their studies. Studies include lifecycle monitoring of retuning adults and exiting smolts with over 20 years of pre-project monitoring, benthic macroinvertebrate population changes, habitat surveys, and geomorphology changes.

The morning will be presentations at the Logsden Community Club, followed by field visits to the wood placements. Lunch will be provided, so please let (tom@midcoastwc.org) know of dietary restrictions. Hard hats and high visibility vests will be required in the field, so please bring them if possible of let us know you would like to burrow them.

Please RSVP for this event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mill-creek-effectiveness-monitoring-workshop-tickets-653015405657

Morning presentations will be streamed at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83437185204?pwd=aUl2UzN4ZVhLbTFzazlhLzdJb0RhQT09

On the third Thursday of each month, MCWC convenes professionals in various fields related to conservation and restoration to discuss feedback on upcoming projects. These meetings are held virtually. We welcome people bringing items for the agenda if they are working on a project and would like local input.

If you would like to receive the information to attend the meeting, please contact us. We send out the agenda and Zoom information via email each month.

 Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Past and Present

June 1st, 2023 at 6:30 pm

At the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (333 SE Bay Blvd, Newport, OR)

And streamed via Zoom

[Newport, OR, June 1st] – The MidCoast Watersheds Council is pleased to announce our June community presentation titled, "Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Past and Present." This event will provide an overview of the history of conservation and the ongoing restoration efforts by the refuge. Join us on June 1st at 6:30 at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport’s historic bayfront or stream the event on Zoom.

Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Lincoln City, is a vital habitat for diverse wildlife and migratory birds. Restoration initiatives to encourage native plants and natural water flow have played a crucial role in revitalizing the refuge's ecosystem.

Our presenter is Kate Iaquinto, Deputy Project Leader with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She will discuss historical context of restoration, innovative techniques, and collaborative partnerships that have shaped the refuge. She will also highlight the efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to create wildlife refuges on the Oregon coast.

The presentation underscores Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge as a testament to restoration's power and ongoing conservation importance. While progress has been made, significant tasks remain to safeguard and enhance the refuge's ecological integrity. Attendees will deepen their understanding of preserving our natural heritage and foster responsibility for the refuge's future.

The presentation is free and open to the public, welcoming all community members curious about local conservation and restoration efforts. It provides a unique platform to learn about the refuge's history and restoration initiatives, and connect with others who care about environmental issues.

For more information, contact 541-265-9195 or tom@midcoastwc.org. Visit midcoastwatersheds.org for details about the event.

Audubon Society of Lincoln City is hosting our annual Migratory Bird Day festival on Saturday May 13th. This year, our focus is on Osprey and Snowy Plover - two birds that rely heavily on water for their well-being. 

This year’s theme for Migratory Bird Day is water, the essence of life that we are surrounded by here on the Oregon Coast. Learn more about World Migratory Bird Day and this year’s theme here. Find MCWC at the evening festival and learn more about local habitat restoration efforts and how to get involved!

Full Schedule

Bird Walks:

Friday, May 12, 9-11am: Cutler City & Siletz Bay

Saturday, May 13, 10am-noon: Sitka Sedge Natural Area

Saturday, May 13, 3:15-4pm: Taft School Osprey Nest

Festival:

 4:00-6:00: Live raptors, activities for kids and adults, information booths, refreshments, and more!

6:00-8:00: Presentations and door prize drawings

• Snowy Plover with Roy Lowe

• Osprey in Lincoln City

• Door prize and raffle drawings

Our Migratory Bird Day festival will be held at Oregon Coast Community College in Lincoln City:

Oregon Coast Community College
3788 SE High School Dr
Lincoln City, OR 97367

We can’t wait to see you there!

 Thursday May 4th, 2023, 6:30 PM
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (333 SE Bay Blvd., Newport, OR)
View the recording here: https://youtu.be/R-XiEeZBr1M

On Thursday May 4th at 6:30 PM, the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC) will be hosting a presentation about the history and status of Olympia oysters, the native oyster species of Yaquina Bay. Oysters are deeply intertwined with the history of the Oregon Coast, providing a rich food source, water filtration, and habitat for other animals with their hard reef structure.

This month, our presenter is Dr. George Waldbusser, ecology researcher at Oregon State University. His lab has been studying the effects of environmental changes, such as ocean acidification and temperature changes, on the growth and survival of Olympia oysters and other shellfish in Yaquina Bay. He will be joined by a graduate student to share the fascinating history of oysters and the trends in the ongoing research.

Some of their research sites overlap with recent tidal restoration work, including in Poole Slough.

Photo by Debbie Ross-Preston.