Planning for a healthy and prosperous Yaquina Bay
Photo by Jonathan Robinson
The draft Estuary Management Plan update is complete.
The estuary management plan for Yaquina Bay ensures the bay is managed for the benefit of the public and natural resources in a way that meets the development needs of the community. Lincoln County, in partnership with the Cities of Newport and Toledo, have been working to update the estuary management plan (EMP) for Yaquina Bay. The current Plan was written in 1982. The update is needed in order to ensure that decisions about managing estuarine resources are based on the best available information, maps, and understanding of how estuaries fit into communities.
As part of the update process, the draft Plan update was shared with the public for review and feedback. That feedback was considered and incorporated into the final version of the Plan update to be considered for plan amendment adoption by the County.
Yaquina Bay Estuary - a center of ecological, economic, and cultural values
Estuaries are the mixing of saltwater and freshwater where rivers meet the tide. Estuaries are an amazing place for plants, animals, and people. They are critical habitat for native salmon, birds, and plants. Healthy estuaries are not only critical for biodiversity, but for our enjoyment of the coastline, and the productivity of our fishing and tourism industries. Yaquina Bay, where the Yaquina River meets the Pacific Ocean, is one of Oregon’s 22 major estuaries and is the cornerstone of the area’s cultural, ecological, and economic future.
About the Estuary Management Plan
Estuary management plans balance the need to protect estuarine resources with the need to allow an appropriate level of development in estuarine and shoreline areas. Changes to Yaquina’s Estuary Management Plan may result in changes to local Comprehensive Plans as well as allowable uses and activities in areas of the bay.
Upcoming events.
To create an Estuary Management Plan for the community, we need to work with the people who live in, work on, and love Yaquina Bay. We’ll be connecting with the community members through town hall meetings, community conversations, and an expert speaker series.
