Oregon Coastal Treasures

Oregon has the most beautiful and rugged coastline. Extending from the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria in the north, down to Brookings near the California border, the major shore towns also include: Seaside, Tillamook, Newport, Waldport, Florence, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Coquille and Port Orford. Unlike either the California beaches or the shoreline on the Eastern Seaboard, the Oregon and Washington coastline is very rocky, the temperature is nearly always chilly, and the wildlife is abundant. This natural gift of wilderness remains a treasure to residents and visitors alike.

A considerable amount of fishing occurs in the Columbia River and along the coast. Chinook and Coho Salmon have been coming back from their lowest levels recently, though the Coastal Coho is still on the Endangered Species List. The fishing industry still adds a considerable value to the state's economy with harvests of Rockfish, sole, Albacore Tuna, Pacific Whiting, Dungeness crab, and pink shrimp.

Logging was once a large part of Oregon's economy, and though it is still significant, the nearly 28 million acres of forestland in Oregon are under a number of environmental protections for fish and wildlife habitats. The State Forest in Tillamook had been considerably overcut and during the 1930's, '40's and '50's a series of fires burned many acres. In order to provide recreation land as well as reforestation, the Tillamook State Forest Comprehensive Recreation Management Plan (1993, updated in 2000, in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation) was developed.

Tourism, then is the next biggest contributor to the overall economy of the depressed coastal regions. Many different activities take place throughout the year in these small towns. Many tourists flock to annual kite festivals, arts festivals, gem shows, and garden shows.

Lincoln City has devised a plan to help stretch out their tourist season to their 7.5 miles of scenic coastline beauty. Glass blowing is an art that really interests me and if you travel to Oregon's coast between October and Memorial Day, be on the lookout for a real treat. The Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its second annual Glass Float hunt.

In years past, the Japanese fishing fleet used beautiful glass floats to keep their nets in place. Many of the floats broke free and ended up on Oregon's beaches, providing a fun souvenir to go along with sand dollars and starfish. Reminiscent of the glass floats of the past, Oregon glass blowers have created 2001 beautifully hand-made glass floats of various size, color and decoration.

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