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Coho
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: West Linn,Oregon
Posts: 84
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Re: Oregon Beach closures ( Snowy Plover)
This is a lot of reading about 20 pages of PDF copyied into word doc. but for those without acrobat reader here it is. there were a couple of tables that they reference but could not get the table format so they are in sentences. Makes it a bit harder to read.
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Appendix F:
Habitat Conservation Plan Management Strategy
and Recommendations Summary
Section 8: Management Strategy
Introduction
OPRD seeks to go beyond the goals of the Section 10 Incidental Take Permit, which seeks to ensure that the
species is not jeopardized as lawful activities are undertaken. Rather, the department seeks to assist the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other land and resource
managers in the recovery of the snowy plover. To that end, the department has prepared a set of principles to
guide the department in this effort. The strategy taken by the department is to focus recovery efforts on areas
where the birds currently nest or have nested in the past. These sites will be where the department and other
land and resource managers emphasize recovery. The remainder of the coast will allow for recreation use to
continue without management restrictions associated with snowy plover recovery.
Guiding Principles
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has prepared the following principles to guide the department
in its efforts to assist in the recovery of the snowy plover in Oregon while allowing for the continuation of
recreational activities on the ocean shore.
OPRD will assist with and contribute to the recovery of the Pacific coast population of the snowy plover. Such
efforts will be accomplished through the support of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state
Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the federal Endangered
Species Act. OPRD will work with the ODFW, USFWS and others towards the recovery goals in the Western
Snowy Plover Pacific Coastal Draft Recovery Plan.
OPRD will seek to manage for snowy plover recovery in a manner that balances with providing for
human use of the beach, such as recreation.
Emphasis areas will be established to concentrate snowy plover recovery efforts within.
OPRD will protect & restore habitat in critical locations on OPRD property located in emphasis areas.
OPRD will work with the other resource agencies to manage predators to minimize impacts on snowy
plover breeding success and improve the survival of the snowy plover in areas occupied by snowy
plover.
OPRD will provide public outreach to increase support and understanding of the snowy plover and the
need for recovery efforts, in cooperation with partners. In particular, OPRD will provide interpretive
programs at select coastal parks.
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OPRD will work with other resource management agencies on habitat restoration, predator
management, snowy plover population monitoring, snowy plover research, and public outreach, where
appropriate to achieve cost efficiencies.
OPRD will develop strategies that compliment the habitat needs of other ocean shore wildlife (e.g.,
shorebirds, marine mammals, seabirds) in addition to snowy plover.
OPRD will use future research as one of the criteria for guiding adaptive management to achieve the
desired outcome of recovery of the species.
OPRD will seek assurances from USFWS regarding future human use of the Oregons beaches
through the completion of a Section 10 Habitat Conservation Plan.
When agreement is reached between OPRD and USFWS on the Habitat Conservation Plan, the parties will
enter into an implementation agreement and USFWS will issue an incidental take permit. OPRD will then
begin implementation of the HCP.
Snowy Plover Conservation Goals
The goals of the Habitat Conservation Plan are:
Assist USFWS and ODFW with the recovery of the snowy plover, which ultimately would lead to
delisting of the species.
Decrease conflicts between beach users and snowy plovers through a variety of management actions.
Alter habitat in select state park areas historically used or have the potential for use by snowy plovers
for breeding and wintering to encourage use of those areas in the future.
Reduce snowy plover mortality from mammalian and avian predation.
Increase snowy plover nesting and fledging success through a combination of the above actions
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Conservation Strategy
The Oregon Western Snowy Plover Working Team developed conservation principles for the snowy plover.
Currently snowy plovers nest on the central and south coast of Oregon. Concern has been raised that if some
natural catastrophic event should occur during the snowy plover breeding season in the areas where snowy
plovers nest, most of Oregons snowy plover population could be lost. Therefore, it was important to ensure
there were sufficient sites located along the north coast, as well as the central and south coasts of Oregon to
ensure that if such an event were to happen, there would be snowy plovers in other coastal areas in Oregon
that would ensure continuation of the population. Also important was having enough sites located along the
coast to allow for dispersal of the birds, and that each of these sites needed to have habitat sufficient for
nesting, foraging, roosting, courtship, and brood rearing for at least two pairs, if not more. Based on these
conservation principles, 23 emphasis areas were selected.
Snowy Plover Conservation Principles
To assist the Working Team in identifying where snowy plover management should be focused, the Working
Team came up with a set of conservation principles. Based on these principles, the emphasis areas identified
below were established.
Establish emphasis areas that provide breeding and wintering habitat for multiple pairs of snowy
plovers within emphasis areas.
Larger areas (wider) are better than linear ones
Emphasis areas should be located geographically to provide for a well-distributed snowy plover
population
Emphasis areas should be closer together to facilitate snowy plover dispersal between occupied and
unoccupied areas
Areas should provide all necessary habitat components (courtship, nesting, roosting, foraging and
brood rearing).
Manage for quality habitat in sufficient amounts to minimize impacts of tides, weather, predators, and
human use of the ocean shore
Emphasis areas should be established in locations that will provide ongoing and future management
certainty. For example, federal and state-owned land is more certain than privately owned land.
The approach should be flexible so it can be adaptively managed as new information becomes
available
Seek state and local community support
Emphasis Areas
Twenty-three areas located along Oregons coast that have been designated as areas where snowy plover
recovery will be emphasized (Figure 8.1). These sites are located from the Columbia River South Jetty to
Pistol River south of Gold Beach, and range in size from 0.58 miles in length to 6.69 miles. Eight of these sites
are currently being utilized for snowy plover during the breeding season (see Table 8.1 below). Most, if not all,
of these areas have been utilized by snowy plovers in the past both during the breeding season and during
winter.
The goal of these emphasis areas is to restore sufficient habitat for snowy plover nesting to occur, reduce the
amount of predators present, and keep human disturbance to a minimum. While human use can continue in
these emphasis areas, the type of use that can occur will be restricted to reduce the potential disturbance to
the birds.
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The Draft Recovery Plan identified 19 recovery areas within Oregon for snowy plover recovery. These 19
recovery areas totaled approximately 130 miles of coastline, approximately 56% of the 230 miles of Oregons
sandy beaches. The emphasis areas total mileage is approximately 57 miles, approximately 25% of the sandy
beaches. Table 8.1 is a listing of the 23 emphasis areas.
Table 8.1 Oregon Snowy Plover Emphasis Areas
Recovery
Unit
Emphasis Area Site Name* Land Ownership Miles County
OR-1 Columbia River South Jetty Spit Army Corps of
Engineers (ACOE);
leased by OPRD
0.62 Clatsop
OR-1 Camp Rilea Army National Guard 1.68 Clatsop
OR-1 Necanicum Spit OPRD, City of Gearhart 0.74 Clatsop
OR2 Nehalem Spit OPRD 2.11 Tillamook
OR3 Bayocean Spit ACOE, Tillamook
County
1.73 Tillamook
OR-4 Netarts Spit OPRD 2.01 Tillamook
OR-5 Sand Lake Spit North USFS, Tillamook
County
0.58 Tillamook
OR-5 Sand Lake Spit South Private 1.44 Tillamook
OR-6 Nestucca Spit OPRD 1.90 Tillamook
OR-8 Sutton/Baker Beach
Forest Service (USFS) 4.00 Lane
OR-9 Siltcoos USFS 1.82 Lane
OR-10 Dunes Overlook/Tahkenitch USFS 5.05 Douglas
OR-10 Tahkenitch South USFS 2.00 Douglas
OR - 11 North Umpqua River USFS, Division of State
Lands
3.00 Douglas
OR-12 Tenmile estuary USFS 4.20 Coos
OR-13 Coos Bay North Spit
Bureau of Land
Management (BLM),
ACOE
3.37 Coos
OR-14 Bullards Beach OPRD 2.19 Coos
OR-15 Bandon State Natural Area
OPRD/Coos County/
Private
6.69 Coos
OR-15 New River to Floras Lake
BLM, Curry County/
Private
6.09 Coos, Curry
OR-19 Sixes River OPRD 0.83 Curry
OR-18 Elk River Private 2.27 Curry
OR-16 Euchre River Private 1.13 Curry
OR-17 Pistol River OPRD 1.87 Curry
TOTAL 57.32
Bold Emphasis Area are currently occupied by snowy plover
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Section 15: Management Actions
A. Management Approach
There are approximately 230 miles of sandy beach along the Oregon Coast. A subcommittee of the Oregon
Western Snowy Plover Working Team has identified twenty-three (23) current and potential areas for recovery
of the Pacific coastal population of the western snowy plover. These areas are referred to as emphasis
areas. Eight of these emphasis areas are currently occupied nesting sites with the remaining 15 sites
currently unoccupied. How the emphasis areas will be managed will be based upon whether they are occupied
by snowy plovers or not. Occupied emphasis areas will have greater management than will unoccupied
emphasis areas.
1. Occupied Emphasis Areas
Occupied emphasis areas are those areas where birds have nested within the past two years. If nesting
should cease to occur for two years in a row, then the emphasis areas will be considered unoccupied
emphasis areas and managed accordingly.
The eight occupied emphasis areas are:
Necanicum
Sutton/Baker Beach
Siltcoos
Dunes Overlook/Tahkenitch
Tenmile
Coos Bay North Spit
Bandon
New River/Floras Lake
2. Unoccupied Emphasis Areas: Future Breeding Sites
Unoccupied emphasis areas are those sites where snowy plover may have nested in the past, but not within
the past two years. Once nesting occurs at these emphasis areas they will be considered occupied emphasis
areas and managed accordingly.
In unoccupied areas, if at least two plovers are present and/or nest scraping is discovered, the site will be
considered occupied and managed accordingly. If no nests are found by July 15th, then the emphasis area will
be managed as unoccupied. If a nest is found, then the emphasis area will continue to be managed as an
occupied area and will be recognized the next year as occupied.
These 15 unoccupied emphasis areas have been prioritized based on a number of factors. These factors
include:
Quality of exiting habitat or restoration potential
Previous use of the areas by snowy plovers
Ability of landowner to undertake management actions
Location of sites north coast emphasis
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For Oregon Parks and Recreation Department owned emphasis areas, the department will prepare site
management plans that will outline the management actions that Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
will undertake within these unoccupied areas.
The department is dedicated to assisting in the recovery of the snowy plover and will make a concerted effort
to implement the actions outlined in the site management plan. Site management plans will address the sites
characteristics, current and historic plover use, management issues, and management actions the department
will undertake, including staffing and an implementation schedule. The department will develop and finalize
site management plans at least one year prior to the dates identified in Table 15.1. However, implementation
of these plans will be conditional, and will depend upon requisite funding and staffing resources.
The HCP will use a phased approach to implement recreation use and permitting management actions. This
approach is based on prioritizing unoccupied sites into three categories: high, medium and low.
High Priority sites are those that require:
the least amount of habitat restoration or enhancement to create suitable habitat,
are close to other occupied sites or will result in a more distributed population,
were previously used by plovers,
and/or where the landowner has shown a willingness to undertake management actions.
Medium Priority emphasis areas are those areas where:
some restoration work is needed to make the site suitable for nesting snowy plover.
HCP management actions proposed for Medium Priority emphasis areas will be evaluated by the
department and the USFWS prior to 2011 to determine the suitability of these areas for snowy plover
recovery.
Low Priority emphasis areas are those where:
significant habitat restoration will be needed to create suitable habitat,
more distant from currently occupied sites,
where no or little previous use by plovers was documented,
and/or where the landowner willingness to implementation actions is uncertain.
Prior to 2016, the department and USFWS will re-evaluate Low Priority emphasis areas to determine whether
the HCP management actions for these areas are necessary or suitable for snowy plover recovery.
Table 15.1 Management Priority for Unoccupied Sites
Priority A Priority B Priority C
2005-2010 2011-2015 2016-2020
Columbia River South Jetty Nehalem Spit Camp Rilea
Bayocean Spit Netarts Spit North Umpqua
Nestucca Spit Sand Lake North Bullards
Elk River Sand Lake South Sixes River
Pistol River Euchre Creek
Tahkenitch South
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OPRD has ownership or manages all or a portion of the following emphasis areas:
Columbia River South Jetty (Fort Stevens State Park)
Nestucca Spit (Bob Straub State Park)
Pistol River (Pistol River State Park)
Nehalem Spit (Nehalem Bay State Park)
Bullards (Bullards Beach State Park)
Sixes River (Cape Blanco State Park)
3. Non-Emphasis Areas
If a snowy plover should nest outside an emphasis area, the department will work with the USFWS and the
landowner to monitor the nest and to exclose the nest and/or provide a minimal buffer around the nest to
reduce the potential for human disturbance. Otherwise, no active management would occur in these areas.
No protection of the brood will occur. Many of these areas receive high recreation use and the probability of
snowy plover using these areas is quite low.
Snowy Plover Management
Effects of HCP Implementation on Department Management Activities
Table 15.2 sets forth the various types of management actions for OPRD managed activities on the ocean
shore proposed for occupied and unoccupied emphasis areas and whether they will be implemented on a
year-round or seasonal basis (March 15-September 15). Non-park upland landowners will be encouraged to
develop site management plans in cooperation with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that are
consistent with the departments management actions for the ocean shore portion of the emphasis area.
Management Actions
To avoid, minimize and mitigate for potential impacts to snowy plover OPRD will undertake a variety of
management actions (listed below) on property under its jurisdiction. Listed below are the types of
management actions that may be undertaken for an emphasis area. These management actions are not listed
in any priority order.
Habitat Restoration
Goals: Increase the amount and quality of available habitat for nesting and wintering snowy plovers at OPRD
owned emphasis areas.
Historically snowy plovers likely nested and/or wintered at over 24 sites along the Oregon coast. Snowy plover
nest primarily along the sandy beaches or spits. In many cases, those beaches were much wider than they
are today, with little adjacent foredune. Much of the snowy plovers habitat has been lost due to the
introduction and spread of European beachgrass. With the removal of this invasive species (and others), and
the re-contouring of dunal areas (including lowering of the foredune where necessary), snowy plover may once
again begin to use these areas for nesting and wintering activities. Some level of habitat restoration is needed
at most of the emphasis areas.
Habitat restoration has been successful at creating habitat for nesting snowy plover at Bandon State Natural
Area, Coos Bay North Spit, the Dunes Overlook, and New River.
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Action: This management action essentially involves restoring the coastal dune habitat, through the removal
of invasive species, e.g., European beachgrass and gorse, as well as lowering the foredune or creation of
overwash areas. This work would be done in areas that would not impact existing structures or cultural
resources.
Property owned or managed by OPRD where habitat restoration efforts could occur include:
Columbia River South Jetty
Necanicum Spit
Nehalem State Park
Netarts Spit/Cape Lookout State Park
Nestucca Spit/Bob Straub State Park
Bullards Beach State Park
Bandon State Natural Area
Sixes River
Pistol River State Park
The amount (number of acres) and location of where work will be accomplished will be specified in a site
management plan to be developed for the emphasis areas. For the Columbia River South Jetty site owned by
the Army Corps of Engineers, OPRD will work with the ACOE to obtain approval and consent to do any
necessary restoration work. Likewise, at Necanicum, part of the Emphasis Area is owned by the City of
Gearhart. Any restoration work would be accomplished upon the approval and consent of the City. Habitat
restoration in the remaining 14 emphasis areas will be the responsibility of the landowner.
Predator Management
Goal: Improve nesting success of snowy plover.
Predators are a major cause of the loss of snowy plover adults, eggs, and chicks. Predator management
efforts began in 199 and have increased in intensity over the last few years. In 2001, an interagency Predator
Management Plan was prepared for the snowy plover. From this plan, the working team develops an annual
action plan to address predator management at occupied emphasis areas.
Predator management activities may include the following lethal and non-lethal control methods:
Non-lethal control
Increased or improved trash management
Special trash receptacles (critter-proof trash cans)
Relocation of live trapped animals (abandoned domestic animals, such as cats and dogs)
Aversion methods that harass or deter predators such as pyrotechnics electronic calls, vehicle
harassment, repellants, effigies, electrified or non-electrified exclusionary nest site fencing and
exclosures, and habitat removal.
Prohibiting fish cleaning on the beach
Removal of beached marine mammals and seabirds
Exclosures
Public education
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Lethal control
Shooting
Euthanasia
Snares/Traps
Denning
Avicide
Egg Oiling
Snap Traps
Rodenticide
Each year representatives from BLM, USFS, ODFW, USFWS and OPRD, in conjunction with APHIS-Wildlife
Services, prepare a predator management action plan to address the predator issues at occupied emphasis
areas. At unoccupied emphasis areas, the primary predator management goal is the removal of garbage,
which may attract predators to the site.
Predator management activities vary at each site depending upon the type of predators present. The site
management plans should address what predator species are present, the extent of the problem, and what
efforts will be undertaken to address the problem.
Action: Continue to participate in the development and implementation of an annual predator management
action plan. OPRD will provide financial assistance for predator management activities on lands it owns, and
will assist in the predator management efforts through a cooperative agreement with APHIS, Wildlife Services
or a similar organization for all lethal control methods. Exclosures will continue to be used where necessary.
Predator management undertaken by the department will be done at the 9 OPRD Emphasis Areas. For the
remaining 14 emphasis areas, predator management will be the responsibility of the landowner.
Monitoring
Monitoring is an important component of any program involving the recovery of a listed species or for habitat
management purposes. Establishing a baseline before management actions begin, will serve as the starting
point for knowing whether goals and objectives are being met. Three types of monitoring will occur: breeding
population monitoring, detect/non-detect monitoring, and compliance monitoring.
Breeding Population Monitoring
Goal: Determine the nesting success of the breeding population of snowy plovers on Oregons coastal
beaches.
Several state and federal agencies participate in a joint effort to monitor the breeding population of the snowy
plover. This monitoring occurs each year beginning around April 1 and continuing through September 15th.
Each of the agencies: OPRD, ODFW, USFWS, BLM, and USFS, all commit financial resources for monitoring
activities. Breeding population surveys are currently conducted for OPRD at Bandon State Natural Area.
Action: OPRD will continue to participate in the funding of monitoring activities of the Oregon snowy plover
breeding populations at Bandon State Natural Area. Once snowy plover begin nesting at unoccupied
emphasis areas under OPRD ownership, the department will undertake snowy plover breeding population
monitoring at those areas.
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Detect/Non-Detect
Goal: Determine whether snowy plovers are dispersing to unoccupied emphasis areas either for nesting or
wintering.
Action: OPRD will perform regularly scheduled detect/non-detect monitoring in the following unoccupied
emphasis areas. These surveys will be conducted pursuant to any USFWS established protocol and will be
performed by qualified OPRD or ODFW staff, or qualified volunteers.
Columbia River South Jetty
Necanicum Spit
Nehalem Spit (Nehalem Bay State Park)
Netarts Spit (Cape Lookout State Park)
Nestucca Spit (Bob Straub State Park)
Bullards Beach State Park
Sixes River (Cape Blanco State Park)
Pistol River State Park
The frequency of the monitoring will be set forth in the site management plans established by the department,
but will occur at least twelve times per year for each area. During these surveys, the monitor also will record
existing habitat quality, presence of predators or sign, recreation use, and snowy plover food availability. Once
birds begin nesting at these locations, breeding population surveys will begin and a winter only detect/nondetect
survey will be undertaken.
Compliance Monitoring
Goal: Determine whether the recreating public is complying with the recreational beach restrictions.
Action: Compliance monitoring will be conducted regularly to determine whether recreational users in an
occupied emphasis area are complying with recreational beach restrictions. Monitors will note footprints,
vehicle tracks, and animal tracks just within the restricted areas. Monitors will also note any human or animals
located within the roped off areas.
Recreation Management
Goal: Reduce the potential for impacts to snowy plover by recreational users.
Certain recreation activities have a greater potential threat to snowy plover and their habitat than other types of
recreation activities. For instance, dogs off leash have the potential to crush snowy plover eggs and chicks.
Dogs off leash can flush snowy plovers off their nest. If the adult snowy plover is off the nest too long, the
eggs can be buried by sand, over heat, or get cold killing the embryo.
Other recreation activities that may pose a threat to snowy plovers include, but are not limited to:
Flying kites
Driftwood collection
Vehicles on the beach
Camping on the beach
Fires on the beach
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Horses
Bikes
Fireworks
See Appendix B for a complete list of recreation activities occurring on the ocean shore, all which have the
potential to directly or indirectly impact snowy plovers.
OPRD has recreation management responsibility over both the dry and wet sand, and the authority to adopt
rules and regulations governing activities on the sandy beach. OPRD proposes the following restrictions
regarding certain recreation use on the ocean shore in occupied and /or unoccupied emphasis areas during
the breeding season (March 15 September 15).
Pets
Action: In all emphasis areas, dogs will be prohibited.
Camping
Action: In all emphasis areas, camping will be prohibited, except in specially designated areas and by OPRD
permit.
Fireworks
Action: Fireworks are prohibited on Oregons coastal beaches without a permit from OPRD. No permits will
be issued for any emphasis areas.
Fires
Action: In all emphasis areas, fires will be prohibited, except for specially designated areas and by OPRD
permit.
Vehicles
Action: In all emphasis areas, driving on the beach will be prohibited without a permit from OPRD or for
emergency related purposes. Driving permits will be issued for limited purposes, such as snowy plover related
activities.
Driftwood Collection
Action: In all emphasis areas, drive-on-beach permits generally will not be issued for driftwood collection. In
limited circumstances if too much driftwood is present within an emphasis area, OPRD may allow limited entry
into the emphasis area to remove the excess driftwood. Driftwood collection for souvenir purposes will be
allowed.
Kites
Action: In occupied emphasis areas, kite flying will be prohibited.
Horses
Action: In all emphasis areas, horseback riding will be restricted to the wet sand.
Bikes
Action: In occupied emphasis areas, bike riding will be prohibited.
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Pedestrian Traffic
Action: In occupied emphasis areas, pedestrian traffic will be limited to the wet sand areas.
Beach Access Modifications
Goal: Reduce the potential for impacts to snowy plover by temporarily closing or moving beach access points
located on OPRD properties within or near emphasis areas while continuing to provide public beach access on
the Oregon coast.
Action: No new access points will be created within emphasis areas unless it involves the re-routing of an
existing access point to move it away from a snowy plover nesting area. Additionally, several beach access
points are located near or within emphasis areas. Under this management option those access points will
either be permanently closed or temporarily closed during the breeding season, when occupied. The following
access points have been identified for potential temporary or permanent closure:
China Creek Parking Lot Bandon State Natural Area Close the parking lot during the nesting
season.
Pistol River South Parking Lot Pistol River State Park Closed the parking lot during the nesting
season (when occupied). Individuals will still have access to the beach at other access points along
Highway 101.
Columbia River South Jetty road and access to beach front the river. This access would be
permanently closed.
Sixes River Close trail at the parking area near the Sixes River during the nesting season (when
occupied).
Bob Straub State Park Reduce the number of trails to the beach from the inland trail.
Beach Restrictions
Goal: Reduce the potential impacts to snowy plover during the nesting season by recreation users.
OPRD, has authority to restrict use of the ocean shore under ORS 390.660, OAR 730-021-0040(3), and has
been issuing seasonal beach restrictions since 1994. The number of miles of beach restricted has varied from
year to year, ranging from 0.5 miles (1994) to 19.8 miles (1998). In 2003, OPRD approved requests from the
USFS, BLM, ODFW, and Curry County to restrict use of the dry sand portion on approximately 17.8 miles of
beach, and wet sand vehicle closures. Beach restrictions include installation of symbolic fencing on certain
sections of the beach where snowy plover nest and raise their young. Symbolic fencing usually consists of a
single or double strand of rope or cable strung around an area where snowy plovers are nesting or around an
area that is suitable nesting habitat. Signs are placed on the fencing to notify the public of the reasons for the
restrictions. In many cases only a portion of the restricted areas will have symbolic fencing installed. Due to
the weather on the coast, regular inspection of the ropes and signs is necessary to ensure that high tides or
wind blown sand does not impact the fencing.
Restrictions are from March 15 to September 15th. This is the time period for snowy plover breeding activities
from pair bonding to nest scraping to egg laying to egg hatching to chick rearing. These restrictions may be
reconsidered based on what is learned through the adaptive management process.
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In the future unoccupied areas may require the imposition of beach restrictions. These restrictions could be for
the dry sand portion of the beach, for the wet sand portion of the beach, or for both the dry and wet sand
portions of the beach (total restriction no recreation use, motorized or non-motorized).
Action: In occupied emphasis areas, dry sand beach restrictions will be imposed during the nesting season.
Any landowner wishing to install symbolic fencing must obtain a miscellaneous use permit from the
department. These permits will be used for 5-10 years, but will be conditioned upon the emphasis area
meeting the requirements of occupied. Any landowner wishing to have wet sand closures will be required to
put a request in writing with justification for the request. The department will analyze the request to determine
whether justified or not.
Public Outreach and Education
Goal: Inform coastal park staff, volunteers, and the general public of the ecology of the snowy plover.
The Oregon Western Snowy Plover Working Team has a public outreach/education subcommittee. This
subcommittee coordinates the development of outreach and education materials for use by working team
members. OPRD has representatives on this subcommittee.
Action: OPRD will work with the outreach/education subcommittee in the development and implementation of
outreach and education materials. Materials the department may use to reach its goal include:
1. Interpretive programs/ interpretive panels
2. Brochures
3. Webpage
4. Signs at Kiosks/Sign Clusters
5. Give-aways (e.g., pencils, leashes, book marks)
6. Emphasis Area signage
7. Reservation cards (card notifying campground user of beach restrictions)
OPRD will train staff about the ecology of the snowy plover. In turn, field staff will be the front line in
educating the public about snowy plovers. OPRD will solicit volunteers to help in public outreach and
education efforts.
Law Enforcement/Beach Patrol
Goal: Ensure the public adheres to OPRD rules and regulations governing Oregons sandy beaches.
Action: OPRD will allocate at a minimum, 3 staff positions (one each for the north, central, and south coast)
to patrol the beach to inform and educate beach users of park rules governing the ocean shore and about
beach resources including the snowy plover. Where necessary, warnings and/or citations will be issued.
Additionally, OPRD will contract with the Oregon State Police and/or local law enforcement (County Sheriff)
office to provide additional support.
Adaptive Management
Goal: An HCP that is flexible to allow for changing conditions or circumstances.
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Action: There is a lot of information we still do not know about the snowy plover and its habitat. Adaptive
management is a framework that seeks to focus research on specific management questions and then refine
the management approach based on what is learned. Future research could include wintering habitat
requirements, impacts from recreational users (specific to Oregon), impacts from predators such as corvids
(crows and ravens), and breeding territory requirements. Research efforts would be undertaken through joint
efforts with the other entities involved in snowy plover recovery efforts the USFS, BLM, USFWS, and ODFW.
This information will assist in further refining the requirements of the Habitat Conservation Plan and will be
implemented through the adaptive management framework.
Habitat Preservation
Goal: Preserve habitat or potential habitat in OPRD emphasis areas by limiting the development of new
facilities located in or within one mile of emphasis areas.
No development that will increase the capacity of existing facilities will occur in an emphasis area. Proposed
development of facilities near an emphasis area will be reviewed by the departments Natural Resource staff,
in cooperation with ODFW and USFWS, to determine whether the proposed development has the potential to
result in impacts to snowy plover or their habitat. If so, then the facility will not be built or will be modified so as
to avoid or minimize the impacts.
Action: Whenever OPRD staff desire to develop a facility within one mile of an emphasis area, OPRD Natural
Resource Section Staff shall inspect the area, review the proposed project, and determine whether the
development could potentially impact snowy plover.
Coordination
Goal: Improve efficiencies and cost of implementation by working with other agencies through cooperative
efforts.
Action: Work with land and resource managers on predator management, habitat restoration, monitoring, and
public outreach and education. The Oregon Working Team for the Western Snowy Plover will meet yearly to
provide input into updated site management plans. Coordinate actions with USFWS and ODFW.
In addition to recreation management, OPRD has responsibility for issuing permits for non-recreational
activities on the ocean shore.
Permitting
Goal: Reduce the impacts that permitted activities may cause snowy plover or their habitat.
Ocean Shore Alteration Permits
Ocean shore alteration permits are issued to landowners who desire to protect existing structures. Most
existing and historic snowy plover habitat is located in areas owned by either the state or federal government,
and in areas with few or no structures. In order to qualify for a permit, the property must have been developed
prior to 1977. Only three emphasis areas: Elk River, Euchre, and South Sand Lake are privately owned.
Action: If a permit is needed for preservation of a structure within any of the emphasis areas, OPRD will seek
comments of the proposed action from the USFWS and ODFW prior to the issuance of a permit. Permits
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issued will be limited to projects related to snowy plover recovery (such as dune restoration projects) and
public health and safety. All permits are conditioned upon compliance with state and federal laws.
Miscellaneous Use Permitting
Action: Miscellaneous use permits may be issued for activities within emphasis areas during the breeding
season, primarily for resource management related purposes. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will
seek comments of the proposed action from the USFWS and ODFW.
Drive-on-Beach Permits
Action: Drive-on-beach permits will not be issued to the general public in emphasis areas during the breeding
season. Permits may be issued to individuals participating in snowy plover related activities, including, but not
limited to: monitoring, law enforcement, research, and predator management, or for safety related purposes.
Permits also may be issued to other local, state, or federal agencies for agency-related activities on a case-bycase
basis. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will seek comments of the proposed action from the
USFWS and ODFW.
Beach Salvage Permits
Action: Beach salvage permits may be issued within occupied emphasis areas during the breeding season.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will seek comments of the proposed actions from the USFWS and
ODFW.
Scientific Research and Collection Permits
Action: Scientific research and collection permits may be issued for activities within occupied emphasis areas
during the breeding season. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will seek comments of the proposed
action from the USFWS and ODFW.
Non-Breeding Season Management
Goal: Enhance survival of the wintering population of snowy plover.
Action: Snowy plovers remain in Oregon throughout the year. Snowy plovers that nest in other parts of the
range may winter along the Oregon coast. Although snowy plover are less susceptible to recreation impacts
during the non-breeding season, they can be negatively impacted by activities that disrupt or destroy foraging
areas or unnecessarily disturb birds that are roosting or foraging. OPRD will work with ODFW and USFWS to
identify mitigation measures.
Table 15.2 Proposed Management Actions for Covered Activities
Activities Occupied Emphasis Areas Season Unoccupied Emphasis Area* Season
Recreation
Camping Prohibited except in designated areas and by permit only Year-round Prohibited except in designated areas and by permit only Breeding
Dogs Prohibited (dry and wet sand) Breeding Prohibited Breeding
Pedestrian Traffic Prohibited - dry sand Breeding Allowed Year-round
ATV/OHV Prohibited (dry and wet sand) Year-round Prohibited Year-round
Equestrian Prohibited - dry sand; permit required wet sand Breeding Allowed; permit required Year-round
Fireworks Prohibited Year-round Prohibited Year-round
Driftwood Collection and Removal Prohibited without a permit Year-round Prohibited without a permit Year-round
Motor Vehicles Prohibited Breeding Prohibited Breeding
Kiteflying Prohibited Breeding Allowed Year-round
Other dry-sand activities Prohibited Breeding Allowed Year-round
Other wet-sand activities Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Permitting
Ocean Shore: Structural Alterations Prohibited except for safety related purposes - coordinate with USFWS Year-round Prohibited except for safety related purposes - consult with USFWS Year-round
Ocean Shore: Sand Alterations Prohibited Breeding Prohibited Breeding
Ocean Shore: Natural Product Removal Prohibited Year-round Prohibited Year-round
Ocean Shore: Marine Algae Collection Prohibited Year-round Prohibited Year-round
Miscellaneous Use Prohibited except for plover related purposes Breeding Prohibited except for plover related purposes Breeding
Drive-on-Beach Prohibited except for limited purposes Year-round In closed areas, prohibited except for Government or scientific purposes Year-round
Beach Salvage Prohibited except for safety related purposes - coordinate with USFWS Year-round Prohibited except for safety related purposes - consult with USFWS Year-round
Scientific Collection and Research Allowed in limited circumstances Year-round Allowed Year-round
Beach Management*
Sign Management Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Marine Mammal Strandings and Burials Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Public Safety Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Beach Cleanup Allowed, wet sand only Breeding Allowed Year-round
Law Enforcement Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Security Issues Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
* coordination with USFWS or ODFW will occur whenever necessary for the undertaking of these activities during the breeding season in occupied emphasis areas.
Natural Resource Management
Habitat Restoration Allowed Wintering Allowed Year-round
Invasive Species Removal Allowed Wintering Allowed Year-round
Predator Management Allowed Year-round Allowed Year-round
Scientific Research Allowed in limited circumstances Year-round Allowed Year-round
Monitoring Allowed in limited circumstances Year-round Allowed Year-round
Development (within or near)/Habitat Protection
New Access Points near Emphasis Areas Prohibited NA Prohibited NA
New Access Points within emphasis areas Prohibited NA Prohibited NA
Existing Parking Access Points - Use Close Breeding Allowed Year-round
Facilities within an Emphasis Area
Prohibited if development would resutl in impacts to snowy plover or their
habitat NA Prohibited if development would result in impacts to snowy plover or their habitat NA
Facilities or structures adjacent to emphasis area
Prohibited if development would result in impacts to snowy plover or their
habitat NA Prohibited if development would result in impacts to snowy plover or their habitat NA
* (phased in based on priority levels)
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