| "While we're not going to be out there taking scientific measurements, we can be the eyes and ears for scientists, as well as regulators." | |
| Phillip Johnson, CoastWatch |
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In a perfect world, researchers and coastal resource managers would have 24-hour environmental monitoring along their state's entire coastline, but the reality is that there may be little data on vast stretches of shore. Volunteers in Oregon are adopting mile-long segments of beach and are collecting observations on everything from evidence of major erosion to the impact of development.
About 750 volunteers have adopted every mile of the Oregon coast since the CoastWatch Mile-by-Mile program was organized in 1993 as an offshoot of the nonprofit Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. Each volunteer agrees to visit their roughly mile-long segment of beach at least four times a year (though some walk their beach daily) to observe changes, gather data, and generally take a personal interest in their territory.
"We're not pretending that we're doing science, but this kind of observation can serve as the raw material for science," says Phillip Johnson, CoastWatch coordinator. What the volunteers can do is alert researchers and agencies "that there seem to be changes in a littoral cell, or that there are marine debris, or landslide events. While we're not going to be out there taking scientific measurements, we can be the eyes and ears for scientists, as well as regulators."
In fact, Johnson says one of the goals of the group is to provide an "early warning system. There is a Paul Revere function of people being ready to spread the alarm." The group received its biggest test to date in February 1999 when the freighter New Carissa ran aground north of Coos Bay, Oregon. CoastWatch activated its phone tree, and within days about 120 volunteers were closely monitoring their miles looking for tar balls and oiled birds. "That was a proud moment for us. It was a great experience to see so many people who right away were able to get out and do something."
Another goal of the project is looking for environmental trends. After visiting their beach segment, volunteers fill out a two-page report that provides a checklist for observations about the number of vehicles at access sites; the number of people on the beach and their activities; human interactions with wildlife; dead wildlife; driftline content; development impact; beach and shoreline modifications; and evidence of major bluff erosion. The forms are collected quarterly, and volunteers study them for regional and long-term impacts.
"We're looking for situations of immediate concern, but we're also compiling data and accumulating information," Johnson explains. "If a question comes up, we could go back through the forms and see if something is geographically widespread and how far back it goes."
He says CoastWatch is "always glad to share their information. We're far from being proprietary. We encourage our volunteers to get to know the regulators in their area and find out what information would help them and to let them know when they have spotted something. People are encouraged to take the information wherever it will do the most good."
For more information about CoastWatch, contact Phillip Johnson at (503) 238-4450 or orshores@teleport.com.
