While Oregon continues to be a leader with sea level rise planning, some key beach preservation policies in Oregon are limited in addressing restoration and mitigation from development and associated impacts to beaches. Much of this has to do with the extremely dynamic nature of Oregon’s ocean shore, which makes defining and developing restoration and mitigation efforts challenging. However, with Oregon’s Beach Bill establishing the public right of way along, and the important recreational value of Oregon’s beaches, it’s critical that future planning addresses this shortcoming – for surely the seas are rising and our beaches are shrinking.
This key planning and programmatic ocean shore issue is further exacerbated in our state as the state’s most important beach preservation policy, statewide land use planning Goal 18, has been challenged more and more by private individuals seeking to protect and develop ocean front homes over that of public beaches. Surfrider is challenging one such issue through our current rip rap campaign in Tillamook County. Moreover, in an effort to plan for sea level rise the state recently made some changes to Goal 18 that allows for more shoreline armoring that threatens public beaches, underscoring the need for improved restoration policies and mitigation programs – more on that here. With climate change and sea level rise, Oregon will need to address these issues more and more to protect public beaches and elevate our beaches report card to an A!