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Alsea Bay
This IBA includes all tidelands and submerged lands in Alsea Bay from where Drift Creek flows into the Alsea River downstream to the river mouth.
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Alsea Bay
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This IBA includes all tidelands and submerged lands in Alsea Bay from where Drift Creek flows into the Alsea River downstream to the river mouth.
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Location:
On the central Oregon coast where the Alsea River meets the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Waldport, southern Lincoln County. Vicinity maps: TopoZone, USGS.Description: Alsea Bay is one of the most pristine estuaries on the Oregon Coast. The Alsea River watershed drains approximately 475 square miles, and is home to healthy fall Chinook salmon, elk and river otter. It also contains a number of “haul-outs”, or places where harbor seals can be viewed at low tide digesting food, basking in the sun and resting, giving birth, or nursing young. The bay offers amazing recreational opportunities such as birding, camping, fishing and boating. The Alsea Bay IBA includes all tidelands and submerged lands of the Alsea River, downstream from its confluence with Drift Creek.
Bird Highlights: The numbers of birds observed in season that surpass threshold requirements include (over): 50 Caspian Terns, 100 endangered Brown Pelicans, 1,000 shorebirds, and 5,000 waterfowl. Other species of interest include, Belted Kingfisher, American Coot, and the Great Blue Heron as well as the listed Bald Eagle and Marbled Murrelet, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Owners/Managers: Oregon Division of State Lands owns submerged lands. Ownership of upper tidal areas and marshes has not yet been determined.
Land Use: Known major land uses include fisheries, tourism/recreation, water management, agriculture, forestry, grazing/pastureland, and urban/industrial. Approximately 1/2 of the basin is managed by the BLM/U.S. Forest Service/Siuslaw National Forest, much of which is designated Late-Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan.
Management Plan: Alsea Bay was designated a Conservation Estuary under the Oregon Estuary Classification System and the Alsea Bay Estuary Plan was completed in 1987. This plan addresses significant resources and their management for Alsea Bay.
Conservation Issues: The highest threats are considered to be the abandonment of and reduction in land management conservation plans, the consequential disturbance to birds, and a filling in of wetlands.Link:
• Summary Page of Audubon Society of Portland data in National Audubon Society database
• Alsea Bay Designated as 'Important Bird Area' article in Newport News Times
• Article on Oregon coastal IBAs (Newport News Times)
• Alsea Bay, Oregon Coastal Atlas photos, maps, data.
• Alsea Bay interactive GIS (Inforain).
• City of Waldport.
For more information on Alsea Bay contact:
Paul Engelmeyer, Coastal IBA Coordinator, (541) 547-4097 - 44.435505 -124.057291
Location:
On the central Oregon coast where the Alsea River
meets the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Waldport, southern Lincoln County.
Vicinity maps: TopoZone, USGS.
Description: Alsea Bay is one of the most pristine estuaries on the Oregon Coast. The Alsea River watershed drains approximately 475 square miles, and is home to healthy fall Chinook salmon, elk and river otter. It also contains a number of “haul-outs”, or places where harbor seals can be viewed at low tide digesting food, basking in the sun and resting, giving birth, or nursing young. The bay offers amazing recreational opportunities such as birding, camping, fishing and boating. The Alsea Bay IBA includes all tidelands and submerged lands of the Alsea River, downstream from its confluence with Drift Creek.
Bird Highlights: The numbers of birds observed in season that surpass threshold requirements include (over): 50 Caspian Terns, 100 endangered Brown Pelicans, 1,000 shorebirds, and 5,000 waterfowl. Other species of interest include, Belted Kingfisher, American Coot, and the Great Blue Heron as well as the listed Bald Eagle and Marbled Murrelet, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Owners/Managers: Oregon Division of State Lands owns submerged lands. Ownership of upper tidal areas and marshes has not yet been determined.
Land Use: Known major land uses include fisheries, tourism/recreation, water management, agriculture, forestry, grazing/pastureland, and urban/industrial. Approximately 1/2 of the basin is managed by the BLM/U.S. Forest Service/Siuslaw National Forest, much of which is designated Late-Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan.
Management Plan: Alsea Bay was designated a Conservation Estuary under the Oregon Estuary Classification System and the Alsea Bay Estuary Plan was completed in 1987. This plan addresses significant resources and their management for Alsea Bay.
Conservation Issues: The highest threats are considered to be the abandonment of and reduction in land management conservation plans, the consequential disturbance to birds, and a filling in of wetlands.
Link:
• Summary Page of Audubon Society of Portland data in National Audubon Society database
• Alsea Bay Designated as 'Important Bird Area' article in Newport News Times
• Article on Oregon coastal IBAs (Newport News Times)
• Alsea Bay, Oregon Coastal Atlas photos, maps, data.
• Alsea Bay interactive GIS (Inforain).
• City of Waldport.
For more information on Alsea Bay contact:
Paul Engelmeyer, Coastal IBA Coordinator, (541) 547-4097
