Oregon Beach News, Monday 7/15 – Tribal Leaders on The Coast Call For Action to Return Sea Otters to Oregon, Curry County Sued Over Citations For Homeless People & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com

Friday, July 12, 2024

Oregon Beach Weather

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ISSUED – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM PDT TUESDAY...

* WHAT...North winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and choppy seas 5 to 7 ft at 7 to 8 seconds.

* WHERE...All of the area.

* WHEN...Until 2 AM PDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and/or steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels.

* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

Tribal Leaders on The Coast Call For Action to Return Sea Otters to Oregon

Leaders of two federally recognized Oregon coastal Indian tribes have called upon U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to “take all appropriate actions” to direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to return sea otters — known to tribal ancestors as Xulh-t’ush, Giye’we, or Ela-ke’ — to the Oregon coast within the next five years.

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) have sent letters to Haaland. In the letters, Bradley Kneaper, chairman of the CTCLUSI Council, and Delores Pigsley, chairman of the CTSI Council, cited the cultural ties between coastal Indian people and sea otters extending back thousands of years. 

“Our ancestors knew Xulh-t’ush as a relative who brought prosperity and plenty to our people,” Pigsley and Kneaper said in a statement issued last week, noting the critical importance of sea otters to the ecological health of the ocean. “Science teaches us what our ancestors knew, that these creatures are indeed a keystone species that creates and maintains kelp forest habitat conditions in nearshore ecosystems. Sea otters were thus central to the way of life our ancestors enjoyed for thousands of years, until both sea otters and the way of life they supported were destroyed in the 1800s.”

Once found across the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to Mexico, sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their valuable fur more than a century ago. They have recovered on the central California coast and, thanks to reintroduction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, on the coasts of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, and Southeast Alaska.

But the tribal leaders point out that sea otters remain absent from the entire Oregon and northern California coastline and as a result, “our nearshore ecosystem has experienced dramatic changes.”

“Without sea otters, instead of productive kelp forests, our rocky seafloor is covered in ‘urchin barrens,’ biological deserts of purple sea urchins that have devoured these kelp forests and all that they provide to the ecosystem,” Kneaper and Pigsley said. “We feel strongly that the time has come to bring Xulh-t’ush back to Oregon and call on Secretary Haaland to direct the USFWS to prioritize returning sea otters to the Oregon coast, set a timeline, prepare a plan, and take other steps necessary to pursue this act of environmental and cultural reconciliation.”

The otters are a keystone species, meaning many other marine species largely depend on them, and their absence has myriad effects, especially on kelp and seagrass forests and species that depend on those oceanic forests. The otters eat sea urchins that attack kelp.

The otter has been listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act since 1977. They were nearly hunted to extinction for their fur throughout the 1700s and 1800s.

Southern sea otters consume more than 150 different species, including mussels, crabs and clams. The reintroduction of the otters could also result in restrictions or prohibitions on some fishing gear to protect the otters from becoming caught or hurt, according to the news release.

Scientists from the agency concluded in a feasibility study that the benefits of their reintroduction outweigh the potential negative impacts to fishing and shellfish harvesting. As a keystone species, their return would enhance the health of kelp and seagrass ecosystems and the fish that depend on them, potentially increasing some fish populations. Growing kelp and seagrass forests is also helpful for reducing ocean acidification and for trapping climate change causing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held eight open houses along the Oregon coast in June 2023 to share a proposal for reintroducing southern sea otters — one of three subspecies of sea otter — to the Pacific Coast from San Francisco and up through northern Oregon. (SOURCE)

Curry County Sued Over Citations For Homeless People

In a lawsuit filed on Thursday in federal court, John Malaer claims that in July 2022 he was living on property owned by Curry County in the small, coastal community of Harbor, Oregon, across the river from Brookings.

He says the county’s code enforcement officer posted a trespassing notice outside his tent that did not comply with state law. The lawsuit says that notice was later rescinded.

On the same day, the county then leased that property to a private individual for $1 a year, turning it into private property. The lawsuit argues the county did not give adequate notice of this change before then threatening to arrest those camping on the property and issuing a criminal citation to Malaer later that night.

Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, the lead attorney representing Malaer, said for the county to lease property, it has to be in the public interest.

“How can they possibly say that leasing public property, where the public is using it for the basic necessity of being able to sleep somewhere at night or access services that they need to survive, is outweighed by a $1 revenue stream per year?” she said.

The lawsuit was filed against the county, Sheriff John Ward, two men who were sheriff’s deputies at the time, former County Commissioner Christopher Paasch and the former Code Enforcement Officer Melvin Trover.

The Board of Commissioners and Ward did not respond to a request for comment.

According to an agenda item from a July 6, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, Trover sought to have the county vacate the property and lease it to property manager Ron Reel. The goal was to “address the tents.”

Instead, the property was leased to Ue Ching Ow, who appears to be an anesthesiologist in Monterey, California. The site is near Shopping Center Avenue and Zimmerman Lane in Harbor, near a liquor store.

“The County engaged in this leasing as a bad faith attempt to levy criminal charges against unhoused campers, including Mr. Malaer, and avoid complying with state laws intended to protect the rights of individuals camping on public property, simply because Mr. Malaer and others remained camping in public view on public property for lack of other housing or resource options and asserted their rights,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit also claims the county violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, since Malaer is disabled and “could not physically comply with the order or move all of his property in the time demanded.”

LeDuc Montgomery said they’re seeking a jury trial, as well as economic and compensatory damages of an unspecified amount. (SOURCE)

Construction is Underway at Oregon State University Wave Energy Test Site

Oregon State University PacWave South testing site being built off the coast of Newport is the first pre-permitted, utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in the United States.

Workers will install power and data cables for Oregon State University’s new testing facility in the coming week. This will allow researchers to develop new ways to harness the power of ocean waves and transfer that energy into the local electrical grid.

OSU Professor Burke Hales called the site one more asset in the country’s portfolio of green energy. “We have a carbon problem,” Burke said. “We’re changing the climate, we’re changing the chemistry of the oceans and the only effective way to resolve that problem is to stop producing so much carbon.”

The test facility is located north of Waldport and it will connect to four power and data cables stretching 10 to 13 miles out into the ocean. Once installed, the cables can test up to 20 different wave energy devices at the same time. The test site was placed on a sandy-bottomed stretch of the Pacific Ocean, away from popular commercial and recreational fishing reefs, the university said. All boaters are advised to avoid the area while the construction is in progress.

The Louisiana-based subsea cable services contractor R.T. Casey will start the installation later this month. PacWave Deputy Director Dan Hellin said that the public will likely see three different vessels working about 7 miles off the coast south of Newport as crews spend the next six to seven weeks installing the cables. “We are asking all mariners in the area to maintain a minimum distance of 500 yards from any vessel involved in the cable installation process,” Hellin said. “While these vessels will be moving very slowly, they will be laying cables and have equipment operating on the seafloor, so they will be unable to stop operations or deviate from their planned route.”

Wave energy tests are expected to begin at the facility in 2026. The PacWave South site was funded by more than $100 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Oregon and other public and private entities.

“Wave energy has the potential to provide clean, reliable electricity to help meet the world’s rising energy demands,” OSU stated in a press release. “Oregon State has pursued development of a wave energy test facility for more than a decade to accelerate the development of this industry. There currently is no U.S. facility for developers to measure the electrical and environmental performance of their devices at this scale.” FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/cable-installation-set-begin-osu-led-wave-energy-testing-facility-oregon-coast

Lincoln County Task Force Helps Fight Larch Creek Fire Near Dufur Oregon

In a collaborative effort to combat the rapidly spreading Larch Creek Fire near Dufur in Wasco, Oregon, Lincoln County Fire Agencies, including Central Coast Fire Rescue, Depoe Bay Fire District, City of Newport Fire Department, North Lincoln Fire Rescue, and Siletz Valley Fire District have mobilized a task force led by Polk County Fire District #1’s Task Force Leader Austin Champ.

Designated Task Force #14, our team deployed to the fire at approximately noon today and is now on scene, actively engaging in the firefight on the night rotation. Task Force #14 is comprised of two brush engines, two brush patrols, a water tender, and a task force leader.

Central Coast Fire Rescue:              B72                 (Type VI Engine)

Depoe Bay Fire District:                  BE21               (Type III Engine)

Newport Fire Department:              B31                 (Type VI Engine)

North Lincoln Fire Rescue:             BE12               (Type III Engine)

Siletz Valley Fire District:               WT52             (Type I Water Tender)

Siletz Valley Fire District:               Trailer 51       (Conflagration Support Trailer)

Polk Co. Fire District #1:                 S464                (Task Force Leader)

The Larch Creek Fire has consumed an estimated 9,100 acres of wheat and grass fields in Wasco County. With 0% containment, the fire poses a significant challenge to the region, and our firefighters, along with our firefighting partners across Oregon, are committed to providing apparatus, personnel, and equipment to support the firefighting efforts in order to bring the fire under control.

•••Lifetime Coos County Sheriff’s Office Posse Member Richard (Dick) Swartling passes away•••

Richard Swartling, or “Dick,” if you have ever met him, was an amazing Man, Father, Husband, Marine, Lifetime Sheriff’s Office Posse Member, and so much more. I have only had the privilege to have known Dick for the past twenty years. At that time, I met a man who would give every penny he owned and every piece of clothes in his closet to anyone in need, not to mention lend his tractor to a neighbor (me).

Dick has been a Coos County Sheriff’s Posse Member for several decades. During that time, he served in several board positions and served as Posse Capt. Dick has been awarded numerous awards most recently a few years ago as the prestigious “Posse Person of the Year.” (I know I am missing several accolades)

Dick began the Horse Rescue Fund at the Sheriff’s Office Posse, which has been instrumental in the care of seized horses pending criminal prosecution. Any time work needed to be done on Posse grounds or if anyone needed a helping hand, Dick arrived on his tractor with shovels, a weed eater, and rakes in tow. Dick would regularly donate major prizes like buckles and saddles for the local youth to win at horse shows around the county.

Dick supported more young kids who had a love for horses than I can count. No money for a horse, no problem, no place to ride the horse, no problem. Dick was always ready to help the next generation onto a horse.

Sadly Dick passed away this last week, but we are so blessed as a community that we got to have him for so long. If you knew Dick or were touched by him during his time on earth, make him proud and give that gift of love, joy, and happiness to others, as that would be a great way to remember his legacy. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=792038499753272&set=a.169225488701246

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.

Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke

Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

CAST for Kids Foundation needs five additional boat captains to take a disabled child and their parents crabbing for a few hours on Sunday, July 28th.

If you and your family would like to volunteer, please register online at castforkids.org/event/yaquinabay

The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation (C.A.S.T. = Catch A Special Thrill) is a public charity that was formed in 1991 to join volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a day of fishing in the outdoors. Children with special needs (ages 6-18) and their caretakers come together with community volunteers for a fun day of fishing they may not otherwise experience. These events provide a refreshing break from their daily challenges. Spreading a positive message that kids with disabilities can accomplish anything, we include all children, despite their limitations. This is all made possible through national and local sponsors-people who want to make a big difference in the lives of kids with special needs thus strengthening their community. https://www.facebook.com/castforkidsfoundation

Siuslaw Library Summer Reading Program

City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) members, Vicki Philben, Ivy Medow and City Councilor Sally Wantz, as well as Master Recycler, Britte Kirsch, are partnering with Miss Gayle at the Siuslaw Public Library in this year’s Summer Reading Program. 

Using the “Read, Renew, Repeat” curriculum, these volunteers will be hosting 5 interactive events on such topics as bugs & bees, dirt, recycling, worms, and native plants.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend these and all the other events from June through July.  All programs are free and held at the Florence location’s Bromley Room unless otherwise specified.  For more information, call the Siuslaw Library at 541-999-3132. 

Florence Food Share Empty Bowls 2024 Call for Artists for Poster Art

We are currently making plans for Florence Food Share’s annual Empty Bowls event, which has been a successful fundraiser for 29 years. Local artists contribute handmade ceramic, wood, and fused glass bowls along with other art for sale during the first weekend of December.

For over a decade, we have featured the work of a local artist on the poster advertising the event. The art created for the event serves as the focal point for the poster and is later raffled off at the event to generate extra revenue for the Florence Food Share. In return, the artist receives recognition in local and regional publications and a tax deduction, of course.

We are searching for artwork that conveys the message of the event and the mission of Florence Food Share, which is to provide nutritious food to those in need because “no one should go hungry.” We welcome any medium, as long as it can be photographed, and the original artwork can be donated to the event. We will handle the framing, with input from the artist.

To be considered for creating the poster art for 2024, please send us your concept, including the medium and a description of the proposed image. Additionally, attach a photo of one of your previous works to give us an idea of your style. Please email your submissions to Desiree Clifton at dclifton@windemere.com by August 25, 2024. The
completed, unframed artwork should be submitted no later than September 30, 2024.

We are grateful to all the artists who have participated in Empty Bowls over the years and eagerly anticipate the participation of new artists in this year’s event. For any questions regarding submitting artwork, please reach out via email to dclifton@windemere.com. Florence Food Share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florencefood.share/?locale=ro_RO

Beverly Beach State Park Remains Closed Until End of July

Due to delays in construction, Beverly Beach State Park will now be closed through the end of July, according to Oregon Parks & Recreation.

Located just seven miles north of Newport, the popular campground and day-use area has been closed since September 2023. The construction work included moving power lines underground and replacing water lines. The park is now slated to reopen on August 1.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to Host Hiring Event in July

We are looking for individuals with strong character, motivation, and integrity to join our Sheriff’s Office team. With multiple positions open, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a hiring event on Saturday, July 20, 2024. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the rewarding careers our team has to offer. 

Those interested in participating are encouraged to complete an application before the event. To submit an application, visit www.co.lincoln.or.us/748/Join-the-Team. Join us at this hiring event to jumpstart your successful career in Law Enforcement.  

All applicants are invited to meet our team, have lunch, and learn more about our career opportunities. Deputy applicants ages 21 years and older are invited to complete the physical testing requirements during this event. Participants in this event experience a significantly expedited application process. In addition to completing the required physical test for free, participants have the opportunity to meet our team, ask questions, receive more information on perks and benefits, and enjoy free lunch and snacks. All participants need to bring ID and deputy applicants need to bring athletic clothes and shoes.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm 

• Check in anytime between 11:00am and 1:30pm.
• Deputy applicants will complete the physical testing for free (testing takes less than 15 minutes per participant).
• Enjoy lunch and network with our team.
• Ask questions and get a feel of what your future career looks like.

Location: Search and Rescue Building, 830 NE 7th St., Newport

What to Bring:

• Government Issued Identification
• Athletic clothes and shoes if applying for a deputy position
• Interest in joining our team

Registration for this event is encouraged but not required. For questions or to register, contact Jess Palma at 541-265-0652 or jpalma@co.lincoln.or.us

Lincoln County Accepting Grant Funding Applications for Share Of $398,000 in ARPA Funds for Local Water and Sewer Projects

$398,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Ac (ARPA) are set to be distributed to eligible districts in Lincoln County to invest in local water, sewer and drainage projects.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law in March of 2021 and provided states, cities, and counties with federal money to support pandemic recovery efforts and economic stimulus. One allowed use for ARPA dollars is to support public water, sewer and drainage projects.

Lincoln County is accepting grant funding applications from local water, sewer and drainage districts in unincorporated Lincoln County for water and sewer projects. Eligible projects must meet the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) eligible funding requirements.

Districts must be in good standing with State of Oregon financial reporting requirements and show proof of complying with public meeting law requirements. The county has a total of $398,000 to provide for eligible projects from districts. Applications will be reviewed by a committee selected by Lincoln County to look at the financial stability of the organization, the engineering feasibility of the project, and if the project meets ARPA requirements.

The county is planning to use an open grant process to award the funds. Starting June 10 applications will open, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to qualifying districts and projects; applications will close once all funds have been allocated.

The county says each eligible district can ask up to $50-thousand total. Projects can be stand-alone projects or a discrete portion of a larger project. Applications will be reviewed by county administrative, legal, and engineering staff to ensure projects meet American Rescue Plan Act, legal and technical requirements. All projects must adhere to federal procurement rules and Davis-Bacon Act requirements.

County officials say they will execute contracts with awarded districts before December 31, 2024. All work on the awarded projects must be completed by subrecipients before December 2026. To apply for the Local Water, Sewer and Drainage Districts’ Grant click here.

OHA 2024 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season

Agency shares list of monitored beaches for May-September

—The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2024 beach monitoring season by announcing the list of coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall.

The 24 beaches on the list that the OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, is publishing includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

The following are Oregon beaches being monitored during 2024, including beach name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County
• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County
• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County
• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County
• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County
• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County
• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County
• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County
• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County
• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County
• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

Beach monitoring season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Beach advisories are only issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in the next beach monitoring season.

OBMP works with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify beaches that need monitoring based on several established criteria. These criteria include: pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request.

For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at each.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>Beach.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0400.

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Fires Around the State

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

The Forest Service says since June, 100 wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people, Though most of the time crews were “largely successful” in putting them out, officials are urging the public to help reduce the amount of preventable fires firefighters have to deal with.

The U.S. Forest Service says a surge of human-caused wildfires is stretching resources thin as extreme heat, dry conditions and lightning in the forecast increases the chances of wildfires.

OSFM sending firefighters, incident management team to Falls Fire in Harney County

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is sending its Blue Incident Management Team and four task forces to the Falls Fire burning 20 miles northeast of Riley in Harney County. 

Hot, dry, and windy conditions caused the fire to grow rapidly on Saturday, pushing it to 55,000 acres with zero percent containment. 

“Within the last week, we mobilized three incident management teams to fires across Oregon. This highlights the substantial fire danger we are seeing,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “With dry lightning expected to hit east of the Cascades on Sunday, I can’t stress enough the importance of taking action to prevent sparking another wildfire.”

The Grant and Harney County sheriffs’ offices have evacuation orders in place. A map of Harney County evacuations can be found here. Grant County evacuations can be found here.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Sunday with temperatures in the mid-90s and very low relative humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are predicted for the area that may produce gusty outflow winds reaching 20-25 mph. Little to no precipitation is expected from these isolated thunderstorms.

For fire information, please follow the Falls Fire Facebook Page or the Falls Fire InciWeb page.

OSFM sends task force to Lone Rock Fire through Immediate Response

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing resources to assist locals battling the Lone Rock Fire in Gilliam County.  A task force from Linn County and a division supervisor were mobilized early this morning. The fire sparked Saturday afternoon and burned about 4,200 acres by evening. The Gilliam County Sheriff has Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notices in place for the community of Lone Rock.  

For evacuation information, follow the Gilliam County Sheriff. 

This task force is an added resource for the local fire agencies that responded to protect the community of Lone Rock and the region. Firefighters from Gilliam County, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Prineville Bureau of Land Management have been fighting the fire since it sparked. 

“We are seeing critical fire danger across the state. It’s urgent, now more than ever, to take this threat seriously. I am calling on all Oregonians and visitors to be aware of the dry conditions and help us by preventing any new fire starts,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The weather predicted through the next week is extremely concerning, not only with these new starts but with lightning in the forecast. Our resources will continue to be challenged. These fires and the forecast add strain to the system.” 

The OSFM is constantly assessing needs across the state and will proactively respond as needed. 

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page. 

Larch Creek Fire – Wasco County

Firefighters worked to hold the fire within existing lines during today’s critical fire weather conditions. Increased winds on the western perimeter resulted in several spot fires starting outside the line. Fire Managers had firefighters ready to respond and as of this update the lines around the spot fires are holding.

Structure protection for affected communities will continue through tomorrow, with a goal of removing fuels away from structures.

High winds and low relative humidity will continue into the night. Firefighters will be patrolling for new fire activity and remain ready to respond. Structure protection for affected communities is planned to continue through tomorrow, with a goal of removing fuels away from structures.

There is an air quality advisory in effect until 12 pm on Monday (7/15). Those impacted may want to close windows overnight when the smoke trends tend to be the highest. For current and forecasted air quality as well as a map of smoke impacts, visit: airnow.gov. Weather forecasting shows a 30% chance of thunderstorms Wednesday (7/16) evening. This could bring additional ignitions in the greater area.

Precautions should be taken to prevent the start of additional fires. Fire restrictions are in effect for ODF and USFS jurisdictions. Evacuations remain in effect and levels did not change today. Evacuation information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.

Salt Creek Fire – Salt Creek Road, Eagle Point

Salt Creek Fire Turns the Corner to Full Mop-up Operations

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – With the entire perimeter lined, work on the Salt Creek Fire is now focused on mop up for the remainder of the incident. Updates to mapping put the fire at 4,081 acres, and an infrared (IR) flight across the whole area is scheduled for this evening to confirm a final acreage. 

Overnight, firefighters used multiple types of IR devices to search for hot spots, or smoldering patches of vegetation, roots and coals that could later reignite in hot conditions. With these specific locations identified and marked on maps, today’s day shift resources will be better able to find and extinguish these areas holding leftover heat. 

“We’ve worked incredibly hard in a short amount of time to get to this point where the fire is lined and holding,” Joe Hessel said, IMT 1 Incident Commander. “The work that’s left will require us to be methodical and thorough.”

Today, resources will pick up where night shift left off and build on the progress that has already been made around the perimeter. Mop up totals range from 50 to 200 feet deep into the interior of the fire, which illustrates how wide and secure the line itself is in each area. 

Today, more than 750 personnel are assigned to the fire for Saturday’s day shift, including 27 20-person crews, 22 engines, 12 water tenders, 13 tree fallers, seven dozers and various types of logging equipment. 

BLM Medford District has temporarily closed BLM-managed lands in the area for safety. For more info go to: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire

U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Dies after Activity

Wildland Firefighter Daniel Foley, 27, was working in the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Oregon.

A wildland firefighter is dead after completing a routine preparedness activity. U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Daniel Foley, 27, was assigned to Fremont-Winema National Forest, according to The Herald and News.

 “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends and wildland fire community,” said Benjamin Wilson, public information officer.  

Foley’s father shared his son’s journey in a Facebook post: “He started as a volunteer with Twin District in Lancaster went on to become a EMT and then a professional firefighter in Fauquier County VA. He moved back home a few years later and worked at the Buffalo VA hospital which he loved. He followed his best friend/brother Dan Sutch to Oregon to work as a wildland firefighter with the US Forestry Service.

He passed away in the line of duty July 9th doing what he loved and always dreamed about with his best friends.”   (SOURCE)

Governor Kotek Declares Extended State Of Emergency Due To Imminent Threat Of Wildfires

Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency because of the imminent threat of wildfire beginning on July 12, 2024, and continuing through October 1, 2024.

“Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace. Hot and windy conditions this weekend, including forecasted lightning in some areas, are threatening even larger wildfires,” Governor Kotek said. “I am declaring a State of Emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season.

“Throughout the summer, it will inevitably get hotter and drier, presenting an even greater risk of catastrophic wildfires. The best way to limit wildfire impacts on our communities, natural areas, and first responders is to be aware of the conditions and prevent wildfires from starting.

“I urge all Oregonians to follow the instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.”

A link to Executive Order 24-13 can be found here.

Following ORS 401.165 et seq., Governor Kotek determined that the State of Oregon is in a critical fire danger situation, threatening life, safety, and property because of extreme high temperatures. The state has experienced wildfires this season resulting in three state conflagration declarations and two federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, several community evacuations, threatened and damaged structures, and critical infrastructure.

Oregon’s neighboring states of California, Idaho, and Washington continue to experience similar fires and weather. The extended weather forecast for Oregon predicts ongoing warm and dry conditions, creating an imminent fire threat across a large portion of the state.

This declaration directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to support access to and use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, lessen, or recover from conditions caused by this emergency and to meet requests by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and/or county and tribal emergency management to support response needs to respond to or lessen the effects of, the wildfire emergency as described in the state’s Emergency Operations Plan.

The Oregon National Guard will deploy, and redeploy, firefighting resources as needed and following Operations Plan Smokey 2024 throughout the remainder of the fire season based on need.

Those who believe they have been charged excessively high prices for essential consumer goods during this emergency are encouraged to report violations to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services, which has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices.

When a 5-mile stretch of I-84 was shut down for 12 hours on Sunday, Governor Kotek was among more than 150 people who beautified it by cleaning trash and painting over graffiti.

The closure impacted the entire stretch of I-84 between I-5 and I-205 from late Saturday until noon Sunday. Crews also closed several I-5 northbound lanes over the Marquam Bridge. PBOT crews additionally closed the bridges over the highway one at a time — including the Congressman Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge and the bridges at Northeast 12th Avenue, 21st Avenue and 28th Avenue.

At an early Sunday morning press conference, Kotek was flanked by leaders from ODOT, TriMet and Union Pacific. She thanked the crews who worked overnight and over the past few months on this.

“This is what it means to solve problems here in our state,” the governor said. “When the Central City Task Force said one of the things we have to work on to bring back our city is to make sure we’re dealing with the livability issues, particularly around litter and graffiti. And people talk about I-84 as the entryway as you’re coming in from the airport into our beautiful city, either if you’re on the MAX or driving in, how this looks and feels is really important to how people feel about their communities.”

She thanked the legislature for an infusion of cash toward projects to “really make a difference here.”

“Do we solve everything in one fell swoop in one weekend? No. Do we make significant progress? Absolutely. So when folks are back on these roads they’re going to see it cleaner, they’re going to see things cleaned up — and probably more importantly, they’re going to say, ‘Look! We can do things!’ People can come together and solve problems,” Kotek said.Falls Fire now 85 square miles; Level 3 ‘Go Now’ evacs issued

“As your governor, I’m here to be a partner, side by side, whether I have to paint things over or talk to folks and get some resources, I’m going to do that,” she added. “This city matters to the entire state of Oregon. And how it looks and how we think it looks and how we know it looks is really important.”

ODOT Director Kris Strickler said more than 150 people were working together to clean up this 5-mile stretch of I-84 over the previous 12 hours.

14 Deaths in Oregon Linked to Heat Wave

Since a wave of excessive heat began late last week, 14 people in Oregon have died from suspected heat-related causes.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office announced Thursday morning that four more deaths were reported on Wednesday.

Suspected heat-related deaths have now been reported in Coos, Jackson, Klamath, Linn, Multnomah, and Washington counties since last Friday.

One person, a 33-year-old man from Clackamas County, died after being taken to a Portland hospital.

The names of the 14 people have not been released. The medical examiner said the designation of these deaths is preliminary.

The actual cause of death in each case may take months to determine, the examiner’s office said, and may be unrelated to hyperthermia. Here is a table of the reported deaths:

Copyright 2024 Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon seeks public comment on large-scale farming regulations

Oregonians have until July 22 to submit comments on the implementation of new environmental restrictions for the state’s largest farms.

When the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 85 last year, regulations were signed into law for Confined Animal Feeding Operations. Now, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is working to implement them.

Brian Posewitz, staff attorney for the group WaterWatch of Oregon, said the new rules will help protect one of Oregon’s most important natural resources.

“All Oregonians should care about that, because all Oregonians should care about our water supplies, both in the streams and rivers as well as in the groundwater,” Posewitz emphasized. “Because those water supplies are precious to everybody.”

The regulations mean more closely monitoring the amount of water used by the large farms and considering the placement of the operations to reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater caused by manure. The move to protect Oregon’s water supply coincides with an increase in demand for water as the state reenters its wildfire season.

As important as Oregon’s water is, regulations often come with a price tag. Large ag operations could be more limited in their site selection, disposal of waste and use of water. The Oregon Farm Bureau predicted tougher rules will affect people’s trips to the grocery store.

Lauren Poor, vice president of government and legal affairs for the bureau, thinks the new rules will make it harder to buy local, and wonders if the changes are justified.

“There wasn’t a clear indication that there needed to be changes to this program to protect Oregon’s waterways or Oregon’s water supply,” Poor contended.

According to Poor, the previous regulations were working, and continuously changing them can be difficult for producers. The deadline is July 22 to submit public comments to the Oregon Department of Agriculture before the regulations are finalized the end of this summer.

Hundreds of Crisis Calls in Oregon Go Unanswered

Almost a quarter of Oregon calls to the mental health crisis hotline have gone unanswered so far this year.

Why it matters: The revamped national suicide hotline, which launched in 2022 as 988, promised a quicker, more seamless crisis response in Oregon and across the country but remains a work in progress two years later.

By the numbers: Roughly 79% of the 5,500 Oregonians who called the 988 hotline in May were connected with an in-state counselor, according to data from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• Oregon’s year-to-date answer rate for 2024 is 76%. It’s a lower rate than most of the country, and even lower than the state’s previous records.
• In 2023 it was 85%.

The intrigue: While Oregon’s answer rate has fallen, the number of 988 calls increased nearly 21% locally between May 2023 and May 2024.

What they’re saying: Call volumes have “been rising more quickly than new staff can be hired and trained,” Dean Carson, a spokesperson for Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the state’s 988 system, told Axios.

• Oregon has two 988 call centers, Lines for Life and Northwest Human Services, with the latter only handling calls for Marion and Polk counties in the Salem area.

Zoom in: Lines for Life has answered “1,000 more contacts than this time last year,” Carson said, while Northwest Human Services has received 250 more calls per month — a sign more Oregonians may be becoming aware of the new hotline.

• The number of texts to Oregon 988 is also up — about 2,000 each month — which “means more young people are comfortable with just sending a text to get that emotional support,” he said.

The big picture: Oregon is one of few states that have made long-term funding commitments to sustain the program. The Legislature approved a 40-cent monthly tax on all phone bills to help expand 988 last year and started collecting the tax in January.

• Right now, 988 pulls from the state’s general fund for funding. The phone bill fee, however, could offset $26 million of the program’s costs by 2025, Carson said.

Between the lines: If you call from a 503 or 971 cellphone, your call will go to Oregon-based crisis counselors. If you have an out-of-state area code, your call will go to that area code — a challenge the FCC is working with telecom providers to fix via geo-routing.

• When local counselors don’t answer in Oregon, calls are routed to national crisis center experts who may not be familiar with local resources and treatment options.

What’s next: Carson said OHA will determine whether additional call centers will be added in the coming years based on need. (SOURCE)

Oregon among 27 states with illnesses linked to mushroom-derived candies

Prophet Premium Blends in California recalling Diamond Shruumz products

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon is one of 27 states with cases of a severe acute illness associated with a brand of candies that contain a potentially harmful chemical found in mushrooms, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified epidemiologists at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division July 5 that Oregon is now part of a nationwide FDA outbreak investigation involving products manufactured by Prophet Premium Blends of Santa Ana, Calif.

The company has issued a recall of chocolate bars, cones and gummies sold under the brand Diamond Shruumz, including “Micro- and Mega/Extreme-Dose” versions of the products. According to the FDA, the products contain muscimol, a chemical found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita, and which could cause symptoms consistent with those observed in persons who became ill after eating Diamond Shruumz products. These products are not regulated for consumer safety.

Reported symptoms that may be related to the recalled products have included those linked to seizures, agitation, involuntary muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rates, and hyper/hypotension.

Oregon has one case. The individual has recovered from the illness. CDC reports there now are 58 cases across the country, with 30 hospitalizations. One death also is being investigated.

The FDA says Diamond Shruumz-brand products should no longer be available for sale. The products were previously available online and in person at a variety of retail locations nationwide, including smoke/vape shops. They also were available at retailers that sell hemp-derived products such as cannabidiol (CBD) or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC).

OHA and FDA are making the following recommendations:

• Consumers should not eat, sell or serve any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones or gummies.
• Consumers should check their homes and discard these products, or return them to the company for a refund.
• These products may appeal to children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers should consider discussing the information in this advisory with their children and take extra care to prevent children from eating them.
• Retailers should not sell or distribute any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones, or gummies, and should hold the product in a secure location and contact Diamond Shruumz to initiate the return and refund.
• Those who become ill after consuming these products should contact their health care provider and/or call the Oregon Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Let Poison Center staff know you have recently consumed the Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones, and/or gummies.
• Health care providers should report these illnesses to the Oregon Poison Center.

For more information:

• CDC investigation page, https://www.cdc.gov/environmental-health-studies/outbreak-investigation-diamond-shruumz-products/index.html#cdc_generic_section_1-outbreak-investigation-summary
• FDA investigation page, https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-illnesses-diamond-shruumz-brand-chocolate-bars-cones-gummies-june-2024
• FDA product recall page, https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/prophet-premium-blends-recalls-diamond-shruumz-products-because-possible-health-risk

Public comment sought on program serving older adults and people with disabilities

Salem, OR – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), along with the Oregon Health Authority, will hold a forum to receive feedback from the public on implementation of Oregon Project Independence – Medicaid (OPI-M).

OPI-M is being launched by the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities this year as a result of an 1115 Demonstration Waiver. This forum for public input is referred to as a Post-Award Public Forum by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is required by federal regulations. It will provide information on the implementation of OPI-M since the waiver was approved by CMS on Feb. 13, 2024, in addition to providing an opportunity for the public to provide feedback. OPI-M operates under the authority of section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act. The waiver is in effect from Feb. 13, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2029.

The forum will be held as a video conference on Zoom on Aug. 5, 2024, from 3 to 4:30 ​p.m. Pacific Time​. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Real-Time Captioning (CART) will also be provided. To request other accommodations, please contact Max Brown by email at rown@odhs.oregon.gov“>Max.Brown@odhs.oregon.gov or by phone at 971-707-1019 no later than 48 hours prior to the forum.

Meeting: OPI-M Post-Award Public Forum

When: Aug. 5, 2024, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time

Where: Video conference meeting on Zoom

• To join by video conference: Join Zoom Meeting​
• To join by phone: dial 669-254-5252; meeting ID: 161 701 1754; passcode: 664575

Additional resources and information about OPI-M:

• Draft Quarterly Monitoring Report​ (currently under CMS review)
• Read the ODHS news release: CMS approves expansion of program providing older adults and people with disabilities more options for support at home

Ashland’s Winchester Inn has been nominated by USA Today as a 2024 Best Wine Country Hotel

Decades before Wine Enthusiast magazine included southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley as one of the 2022 top five wine regions in the world, the Winchester Inn in Ashland had been celebrating regional vintners and catering to people who travel here to savor award-winning red, white and sparkling wines.

Now, the Winchester Inn has been nominated by USA Today as a 2024 Best Wine Country Hotel. Nominees are selected by a panel of experts and voting by the public continues until 9 a.m. July 22.

Vote for The Winchester Inn

Best Wine Country Hotel — The Winchester Inn in Ashland, Oregon, offers a boutique hotel experience that combines comfort and charm, including a gourmet breakfast served each morning as part of the stay. Situated in downtown Ashland, the inn offers convenient access to nearby wineries, outdoor activities such as hiking and biking, and the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-wine-country-hotel-2024/the-winchester-inn-ashland-oregon/

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/

The wild sagebrush deserts of southeastern Oregon are a step closer toward additional environmental protections.

The Bureau of Land Management is updating its management plan for 3.2 million acres in Lake and Harney counties, as part of a 2010 legal settlement with the nonprofit Oregon Natural Desert Association — also called ONDA. The settlement required BLM to survey its southeast Oregon land that didn’t have wilderness protections, and then map out areas that are wild and natural enough for potential protections.

Through that mapping process, the BLM’s Lakeview District office determined that an additional 1.6 million acres had wilderness characteristics — meaning they are large, mostly natural areas with few manmade objects in sight.

Now the agency is asking the public how much of that land should have limits on offroading and mining. BLM outlined several options in a draft environmental analysis last month, all with varying levels of wildland protections, and highlighted one as its preference.

The agency’s preferred option would protect the natural characteristics of about 25% of the wild lands it mapped. Some environmental groups say that’s not enough.

ONDA program director Mark Salvo called it “a great start.”

“But are there more wilderness quality lands that should be protected as part of this planning process — as part of a balanced use of this landscape? We believe so,” he said.

Salvo is particularly concerned about protecting lands around the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon, as well as an area reaching down to a wildlife refuge in Nevada.

“These are some of the most important public lands in the West remaining for wildlife that depend on sagebrush steppe,” Salvo said. Sage grouse, pronghorn and pygmy rabbits live in these areas.

Although BLM highlights a preferred option, Lakeview district manager Todd Forbes said the public should study all management options on the table.

“It’s really helpful for me to hear people look at all the alternatives and describe how those alternatives impact their use of the land,” Forbes said. “And in addition to that, is there anything that we missed that we didn’t analyze that we should have?”

BLM is hosting several public meetings about the proposed plan through July. Public comments are due Sept. 5.

Earlier this year, BLM finalized a similar addition to its management plan covering 4.6 million acres in Malheur, Grant, Harney and Baker counties, including the Owyhee Canyonlands. That update was part of another legal settlement with ONDA. During that process, BLM determined that 1.2 million acres of public land had wilderness characteristics. It ultimately added protections for about 417,000 acres.

BLM is also working on its management plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southern Oregon. That monument was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 2000, and then expanded in 2017 by President Barack Obama. BLM is expected to complete that plan this fall, as reported by Jefferson Public Radio. (SOURCE)

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