Photo by Ruth Shelly
This coming Monday, Oct 7 from 6-8pm, is a pivotal moment for the future of Yaquina Bay and your voice matters. For more information on how you can make a difference, read below and check out Oregon Shores People’s Guide to Commenting on the City of Newport’s Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan Adoption
The Yaquina Bay Estuary, including Newport and Toledo in Lincoln County, links Oregon's coastal forests, rivers, and coast while sustaining salmon, seabirds, Dungeness crab, oysters, herring, and other wildlife. These resources support Oregon's economy and have sustained Tribal Nations since time immemorial. Estuaries also play a crucial role in climate change resiliency.
Photo by Rena Olson
In 2023, the Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan (YBEMP) was scheduled to be updated for the first time in 40 years, with the goal to modernize the plan and better reflect existing conditions. The YBEMP is a regulatory document that guides Newport, Toledo, and Lincoln County in making critical decisions about estuary uses. The Plan determines who can do what and where; thus shaping the future of the estuary and offering an opportunity to build ecological and social resilience to climate change and biodiversity loss.
For the part of the estuary that is within Newport city limits, the Newport City Council is moving to adopt the new YBEMP by incorporating it into the City’s own Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Codes. The Newport City Council will hold a hearing Monday, Oct 7, at 6 P.M at the Council Chambers,169 SW Coast Hwy, Newport, Oregon 97365. If you can’t attend in person, you can request a Zoom link from S.Marineau@newportoregon.gov. Lincoln County’s YBEMP adoption process will occur at a later date.
Let the Newport City Council know you support a strong plan to protect the Yaquina Bay estuary and all its vital resources. The plan before the Council is a substantial improvement. However, without clear and strong standards, considerations for important eelgrass resources, and a commitment to regularly update the plan, the Council risks future land use decisions that are out of step with what people and our local environment need. Urge the Council to make these three additions:
Ask that the plan include mitigation measures that protect listed Threatened and Endangered Species, Aquatic Resources of Special Concern, and Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. The plan should also include climate mitigation standards to keep the estuary resilient to climate change.
Ask that every management unit with existing eelgrass resources contain a Special Policy to minimize impacts to existing eelgrass beds.
Ask the city to commit to re-visiting the Yaquina Bay estuary sections of their Comprehensive Plan every five years, to keep pace with climate change.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday. Don’t forget to check out Oregon Shores People’s Guide to Commenting on the City of Newport’s Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Plan Adoption
Thank you for adding your voice to protect the Yaquina Bay Estuary.