Download CRC and nom form - Siuslaw Watershed Council

SECTION 2: PROPOSAL INFORMATION
PLEASE
PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE: Please
attach your answers using as many additional sheets as necessary. Be sure to fill‐ in the
table in question four and submit with your proposal.
1. Where is the site located? What are its boundaries? How many nautical miles does
the site extend: a) along the coastline, and b) offshore? Please use common place
names, latitude/longitude, and geographic references to identify the site. Your
proposal must include a map showing the proposed boundaries of the site.
Please use the proposal maps available on the Oregon Marine Reserves website to draw
the proposed boundaries of the site (http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net). You may
also obtain the maps by contacting Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (541)
867‐ 0300 x284 or [email protected].
The proposed site stretches from Howard Point (North of Yachats) southwards to Berry Creek
(South of Heceta Head). See map attached.
2. Describe how the size, location, and characteristics of this site allows for scientific
evaluation of ecological benefits.
Heceta Head and Cape Perpetua
Marine Reference Reserve (HPRR)
Oregon continues to face increased pressure to utilize living marine resources of
nearshore subtidal rocky reef areas. Much of the increase has resulted from a shift
toward nearshore reef fisheries due, initially, to the dramatic decrease in traditional
salmon harvest, and now to a reduction of traditional groundfish fishing opportunities.
At the same time the live-fish fishery and the sport bottom-fish fishery focus effort in this
rocky reef habitat, and the effect these fisheries have on fish populations within this
limited space has not been fully assessed.
Statewide nearshore rocky reef environments comprise an area where fishing pressure
continues to increase, stocks appear to be declining, and ODFW has little information
upon which to base management decisions (ODFW, 2001, Nearshore Rocky Reef
Assessment)
A suite of management tools are needed to effectively manage Oregon’s complex mixed
stock marine resources. Traditional fisheries management techniques should rely on stock
assessments and an understanding of behavior, physiology and life history as well as
ecosystem interactions and habitat. This information is relatively sparse so management
must be conducted with the best available science and absent information, in a
precautionary manner. Of the nearshore species prosecuted for fisheries (or impacted by
fisheries and other environmental impacts), only a few species have stock assessments
that inform regulatory decisions. At present, only 8 of 43 ODFW managed species have
been assessed and two of those (canary and yelloweye rockfish) are in over-fished status.
A general principle of Oregon’s Native Fish Conservation Policy is that, absent
information to inform management, a precautionary management approach should be
used. Setting aside no-take critical habitat types is a tool that could work in conjunction
with the existing array of current precautionary fishery regulations. Of course, marine
reserves alone are inadequate to unilaterally enhance stocks or to manage all aspects our
fisheries. (ODFW, 2007)
Resource managers and scientists need to develop ‘reference area no-take reserves’ in
order to ensure sound resource management decisions as they continue with existing
fishing regulations in Oregon’s state waters. The Ocean Policy Advisory Council has
defined an ecological reference area to be an area that provides a baseline to compare
with non-reserve areas, specifically to evaluate changes in habitat, species abundance,
and species composition due to natural changes, fishing impacts and other human effects.
The Heceta Perpetua RR would compliment existing conservation efforts to protect
depleted stocks in Federal waters at Heceta Banks by providing inshore-offshore
connectivity of both highly diverse and ecologically rich regions.
Ecological benefits
There are multiple benefits associated to this conservation effort now underway in
Oregon coastal environment. Protection of key habitats, natural diversity and ecosystem
function, as well as improving recreation, educational and research opportunities, all of
which will result from a coast-wide designation of a system of marine reserves in
Oregon’s Territorial Sea.
Worldwide scientific research has clearly documented the link between the protection of
key habitats through a network of marine reserve to the increase in marine biodiversity,
biomass and the size and abundance of exploited species in areas adjacent to reserves.
And in 2003 the American Fisheries Society, Oregon Chapter released a white paper on
marine reserves which states “There is growing evidence that marine reserves can be an
effective tool for conservation of species and biodiversity, serving the same purpose that
national and state parks and wilderness areas do for some terrestrial species and habitat
types.” The Oregon AFS chapter states that marine reserves have benefits to fisheries
beyond the protected area including helping rebuild depleted rockfishes and enhancing
surrounding areas, stating, “we expect spillover would be likely for many of our West
Coast species” and “we expect these reserves to contribute to the conservation and
rebuilding of several rockfish species” (Oregon AFS 2003).
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And in 2003 Roberts et al stated in their paper, ‘The role of marine reserves in achieving
sustainable fisheries’ “Many fishery management tools currently in use have
conservation value. They are designed to maintain stocks of commercially important
species above target levels. However, their limitations are evident from continuing
declines in fish stocks throughout the world. We make the case that to reverse fishery
declines, safeguard marine life and sustain ecosystem processes, extensive marine
reserves that are off limits to fishing must become part of the management strategy.
Marine reserves should be incorporated into modern fishery management because they
can achieve many things that conventional tools cannot. Only complete and permanent
protection from fishing can protect the most sensitive habitats and vulnerable species.
Only reserves will allow the development of natural, extended age structures of target
species, maintain their genetic variability and prevent deleterious evolutionary change
from the effects of fishing. Species with natural age structures will sustain higher rates of
reproduction and will be more resilient to environmental variability. Higher stock levels
maintained by reserves will provide insurance against management failure, including
risk-prone quota setting, provided the broader conservation role of reserves is firmly
established and legislatively protected. Fishery management measures outside protected
areas are necessary to complement the protection offered by marine reserves, but cannot
substitute for it.”
2002. Report submitted to the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council and the
California Fish and Game Commission.
FISHERY EFFECTS OF EXISTING WEST COAST MARINE RESERVES:
THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
compiled by Dr. Mark Hixon, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University
(541-737-5364, [email protected])
In a 2002 Report submitted to OPAC and California Fish and Game Commission by Dr.
Mark Hixon on Fishery Effects of Existing West Coast Marine Reserves: The Scientific
Evidence states, “The predicted fishery benefits of fully-protected reserves are twofold:
(1) the "seeding effect," whereby reserves function as a source of eggs and larvae that
replenish fish and shellfish populations outside reserves via dispersal in ocean currents,
and (2) the "spillover effect," whereby reserves function as a source of juvenile and adult
emigrants that literally swim or crawl out of reserves into adjacent fished areas. The
seeding effect occurs only if the number and especially the size of organisms inside
reserves is substantially greater than outside, so that abundant eggs and larvae produced
inside reserves can effectively seed a large area outside. The spillover effect occurs if (a)
the number of mobile animals inside reserves becomes great enough that crowding occurs
and a substantial number of animals consequently emigrates to adjacent fished areas or
(b) the life history of mobile animals is such that they gradually move from habitat to
habitat as they grow, so that the early stages of the life history can be protected within
reserves, and the animals later move into fished areas.
Overall, for a wide variety of fished species along the U.S. West Coast, available
data indicate that the existing few and small marine reserves are effective in
supporting substantially more abundant, larger, and more fecund animals (i.e.,
more eggs) than comparable fished areas outside. Moreover, many groundfish move
sufficiently during their lifetimes to allow for spillover to occur from reserves of
substantial size. These results are consistent with the prediction that a scaled-up
network of numerous larger reserves would produce detectable fishery benefits via
both the spillover and seeding effects.”
The unique ecological benefit related to the Heceta Head/Cape Perpetua Marine
Reference Reserve is it’s connectivity to both the Heceta Banks located on the
continental shelf west of the proposed nearshore marine reserve as well as being adjacent
to the relative pristine uplands which includes both Cummins and Rock Creek
Wildernesses. This area is in fact one of the best opportunities to create land-sea
conservation strategy that links ecological hotspots in Oregon’s coastal environment.
At Cape Perpetua, a reef complex consisting of over 60 small disjunct rocky patches
scattered among a sand and gravel seafloor has been the site of multiple year research by
ODFW and as such we have significant base of knowledge of species in this nearshore
area. They have found a relationships between habitat patch size and rockfish species
composition and abundance (Fox, et al. 2000). A high diversity of nearshore rockfish species
use the diverse habitat features at Cape Perpetua Reef complex. For example, ODFW reef surveys
in 2000 and 2001 documented overfished yelloweye rockfish, depleted canary rockfish, plus
black rockfish, blue rockfish, brown rockfish, china rockfish, quillback rockfish, copper
rockfish, plus others including kelp greenling, surf perch, cabezon, wool eels and others
(ODFW 2001).
As a result of personal communication with the fishing community an area known to be a
squid spawning area has been identified in this area and would be protected as a result of
a marine reserve designation. It was also acknowledged that the disjunct rocky patches
change with sand transport within this littoral cell, and that the 25 fathom curve creates a
unique dynamic feature that can be very productive.
Heceta Bank, a 50 km long shoal on the shelf of central Oregon is the largest rocky reef
of the Pacific Northwest. The unique morphology of this rugged area with rocky
pinnacles and deep valleys provides specialized habitat for many species of rockfishes,
groundfish and invertebrates. Because of the rugged bottom topography the shallow
portions of the offshore bank it is relatively pristine and an important reference area
where species compositions, age structure and ecological interactions among species are
still intact. Many scientific studies have already been conducted on Heceta Bank, mainly
with submersibles, and have revealed an extremely diverse and rich area (Pearcy et al.
1989, See citation Appendix 1). Large rockfishes abound as well as juveniles. It is
obviously a nursery area. Offshore Heceta Bank was considered by NOAA as a
candidate the National Marine Sanctuary Program in the past. Offshore Heceta Banks as
been identified as a Rockfish Conservation Area: Essential Fish Habitat Conservation
Area by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC 2003) and approximately 160
sq miles is closed to all bottom trawling in order to protect the by-catch of depleted
species such as canary and Yelloweye rockfish.
Milton Love et al in 1990 states that current knowledge of substrate-associated juvenile
Sebastes in general, recruit to shallower depths than those occupied by conspecific
adults. Habitat use by newly recruited rockfish differs markedly among species. There is
little known on recruitment of deeper dwellers. 2 This ocean-scape linkage from the
Heceta Banks to the proposed no-take reference marine reserve nearshore waters would
enable ODFW to establish long-term research areas in both the nearshore and the offshore Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA). This effort would also build on past
OSU/ODFW/NOAA research efforts in Heceta Stonewall area.
When one is considering ecological benefits and habitat features it is essential that
oceanographic features be included; ie upwelling areas, retentions zones; as well as
disjunct rocky areas, sandy bottom/soft ocean and the intertidal zone. This oceanscape
has on-going research in the intertidal, nearshore as well as oceanographic research in the
offshore Heceta Banks area.
Research efforts by a variety of entities have documented the richness of the area. In the
intertidal zone at Strawberry Hill State Park by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary
Studies Coastal Oceans (PISCO), nearshore habitat and species relationships by ODFW
and oceanographic features by Oregon State University, other universities and NOAA. In
regards to ocean productivity, upwelling areas and retention zones we would like to draw
attention to just a few of the many research papers that document the special features of
the nearshore/offshore relationship;.
1) “A productive fishery is associated with Heceta Bank [Pearcy et al., 1989] and cold,
chlorophyll- rich upwelled water has been observed well seaward of the continental
shelf break south of the bank [Barth et al., 2005].”
“The separation of the equatorward coastal upwelling jet from the coast as it follows
the widening midshelf isobaths defining the Heceta Bank complex off central Oregon
is the key to the coastal ocean response in this region.”
“Flow-topography interaction as described above leads to elevated primary
production over Heceta Bank…. Elevated primary production fuels the coastal
ecosystem as reflected by elevated levels of zooplankton [Lamb and Peterson, 2005]
and fish, birds and whales [Batchelder et al., 2002]. High production is also consistent
with the highly successful fisheries in the Heceta Bank region [Pearcy et al., 1989].
Lastly, mussel recruitment rates and phytoplankton concentration observed in the
rocky intertidal are consistently higher inshore of the bank (Cape Perpetua, 44.25 N)
than north of Heceta Bank (Cape Foulweather, 44.88 N) [Menge et al., 2002].”
“the flow-topography interaction results in a profound effect on the coastal ecosystem
associated with Heceta Bank. High phytoplankton concentrations in the lee region
inshore of the deflected coastal upwelling jet fuel a productive oceanic food chain.”
a) An excellent article by Barth et al review the upwelling off Heceta Head which
contributes to the increased phytoplankton biomass which in turn allows for a
more productive food web ecosystem in the nearshore.
b) Source: J. A. Barth, S. D. Pierce, and R. M. Castelao, Time-dependent, winddriven flow over a shallow midshelf submarine bank. Journal of Geophysical
Research, 10, (27 October 2005).
c) Found at: http://damp.coas.oregonstate.edu/coast/pubs/2004JC002761.pdf
2) “The effect of bottom topography on currents on the central Oregon shelf could be the
single most important factor in zooplankton retention during upwelling…. Our most
southern Cape Perpetua transect line is located on the northern portion of Heceta
Bank, which is the widest portion of the Oregon shelf,….Thus during light winds or
during downwelling events, there is a counterclockwise recirculation over the
southern Heceta Bank. This eddy-like feature is persistent, and could possibly be a
cause for the high biomass observed in this bank ecosystem.”
a) Another article explaining the importance of the features on the Heceta Bank and
how that pertains to the plankton (a MAJOR food web source contributing to
marine ecosystems) in that area.
b) Source: Lamb, J., and W. Peterson (2005), Ecological zonation of zooplankton in
the COAST study region off central Oregon in June and August 2001 with
consideration of retention mechanisms, J. Geophys. Res., 110.
The Land-Sea connection
The terrestrial landscape from Cape Perpetua to the Heceta Head area encompasses two
major basalt headlands and includes the two wildernesses. This landscape unit contains a
forest of extraordinary ecological importance: it is the largest intact stand of coastal
temperate rain forest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock in the lower 48 states.
Recognized by numerous federal agencies as a priority area for protection and
restoration, it is home to the federally listed marbled murrelet, silverspot butterfly and
northern spotted owl, Roosevelt elk, black tailed deer, cougar, black bear, the threatened
bald eagle, and other birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon. Some of the anadromous
species present in these ocean tributaries include; ESA listed Coho salmon, Chinook
salmon, searun cutthroat, Pacific Lamprey, eulachon, and steelhead trout.
Cummins Creek Wilderness Area (9,300 acres) and the Rock Creek Wilderness Area
(7,400 acres), which together with Ten Mile Creek form the Cummins Creek/Ten Mile
Landscape Unit—a distinct area of coastal basins in Oregon’s mid-coastal region. The
Ten Mile Creek Basin provides the critical link between these two Wilderness areas,
offering a continuous intact forest canopy across five watershed basins. Over the past 18
years a partnership with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW, Research),
National Audubon Society, the USFS and local landowners has formed to work on
terrestrial and aquatic conservation efforts. (See Attachment 2 - summary of
accomplishments of the terrestrial protection and restoration strategy, USFS, 2003) This
linkage from a relatively pristine forested landscape to an offshore ocean environment,
Cape Perpetua Reef complex and Heceta Banks, creates a unique ‘land – sea’ connection
that is linked from the uplands to the continental shelf.
This Landscape Unit has been designated by the Audubon Society of Portland’s
Important Bird Area’s (IBA) Technical Team as the Central Coast IBA for the Marbled
Murrelet. The Murrelet an ESA Listed seabird has the unique life-history of being a
seabird that is linked to old growth forests for their nesting habitat as well as linked to
health of forage fish in the nearshore. A USFWS funded project by Crescent Research
Studies, 2008 indicates that the nearshore area between Waldport and Florence to be the
highest concentration of the ESA listed Murrelet in the state3.(Strong, C.S. 2008)
Also, the Audubon’s IBA Program has designated three ‘at-sea’ Important Bird Areas
coastwide - off the central coast, the Heceta Banks IBA which includes Heceta Bank,
Perpetua Bank, Stonewall Bank, and surrounding waters. Heceta Bank is an underwater
seamount approximately 10 miles wide (east-west) and 15 miles long (north-south) at a
depth of about 30-60 fathoms. Perpetua Bank and Stonewall Bank are less dramatic
features of the same large ridge extending southwest from Newport. Upwelling caused by
the interaction of sea currents and seafloor topography, as well as the activity of fishing
boats, are suspected to be responsible for bringing food to the surface and drawing the
diversity of seabirds found here.
Outstanding Features for seabirds
Large numbers of many seabirds can be found in this area. Highlights and peak numbers
(primarily from chartered pelagic trips) include three records of Short-tailed Albatross
(12/1961, 10/21/2000, 3/24/2001); 400 Black-footed Albatross (8/25/2001); 456 Blackfooted Albatross (10/7/2000); 999 and 3450 Pink-footed Shearwater (9/12/1998,
9/2/2000); 2500 and 3610 Northern Fulmar (10/26/2002, 10/7/2000); 10,000 Cassin's
Auklet (10/19/2002).
From Briggs et al. 1992: "Several sections of the upper continental slope seemed to
support substantial numbers of albatrosses more consistently than others: . . . Heceta
Bank."
From Ainley et al. 2005: "The high seabird density in the Heceta Bank and Cape Blanco
areas indicates them to be refuges contrasting the low seabird densities currently found in
most other parts of the CCS, following decline during the recent warm regime of the
Pacific Decadal Oscillation." And, "Given that the Sooty Shearwater, by far the most
abundant species in the CCS (and which contributes immensely to overall biomass),
declined by 90% in the CCS since 1976..., our results are surprising. We expected to
encounter significantly fewer numbers and biomass than was present, as we have noted in
central California studies.... It is possible that in addition to their overall decline in the
CCS, the shearwaters have become more confined to those regions that still provide high
food availability. If so, the areas around Cape Blanco and Heceta Bank have apparently
retained their importance to seabirds regardless of the apparent overall decline of
zooplankton and presumably micronekton in the CCS...."
Within the HPRR area there are five large seabirds colonies nine medium and five small
colonies – some of the species include; pelagic cormorants, pidgeon guillemots, common
murre and the rocky intertidal habitats are important overwintering areas for Harlequin
Ducks. This species is currently listed by ODFW as a sensitive species and is a candidate
for federal listing as a threatened species. Brandt’s cormorant is the dominant nesting
seabird on Conical Rock and adjacent cliffs,. This series of colonies includes the largest
mainland breeding colony in the world. (USFWS 1988) Other species include; black
oystercatcher, western gull, tufted puffin, double crested cormorant and rhinoceros
auklet. The threatened brown pelican also is a common site loafing from spring, summer
and fall.
ODFW’s research at Perpetua reef……
This proposed Marine Reference Reserve meets and exceeds the STAC size and spacing
guidelines, and given the amount of sandy bottom habitat between the proposed HPRR
site and Cape Arago to the south, this area is very important for protection from a
North/South connectivity perspective.
3. How does this site avoid significant adverse economic and social impacts on ocean
users and coastal communities? Describe existing and potential future uses/users of the
site, and estimate the degree they will be positively or negatively affected. Describe how
the site is designed to be compatible with the needs of coastal communities.
This site is a significant distance from the Port of Newport as well as the Port of Siuslaw,
and receives considerably less fishing pressure than other portions of the coast. This
area protects important habitat types within this region, while still leaving the vast
majority of the ocean open to existing commercial and recreational uses. (See ODFW
Nearshore Plan, Figure 6, Major Oregon commercial and recreational fishing ports,
Attachment 5)
ODFW’s Nearshore Stock Status presentation indicates that by Port area the majority of
nearshore commercial fishing is in the Port Orford and the recreational fishing effort is
in Newport and Garibaldi so we see little economic impact to the recreational, charter
or commercial fishing fleet.
The USFWS 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Assocated Recreation
indicates that Wildlife Watching to be of significant economic value to the State’s
economy – increasing participation for both away-from-home and around-the-home
wildlife watching, while both fishing and hunting participation has decreased for a
number of reasons. Protecting habitat and species that depend on it will ensure these
recreational users will have excellent opportunities to enjoy the state’s unique wildlife
species. ( US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDepartment of
Commerce, US Census Bureau. 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated Recreation)
Over 450K visitors stop at a number of State Parks and waysides within the HPRR area
annually. They come here to see and enjoy the wildlife and unigue landscape, geological
features and pristine beaches. There are numerous opportunities to hike and view the
beaches and forests adjacent to ocean. A nearshore protection strategy that
compliments the terrestrial protection and restoration on the lands managed by the
Siuslaw National Forest will ensure species and habitats will remain a draw for the many
visitors to the central coast. We believe there will in fact immediate economic benefits
associated with the designation. Also, we believe a marketing strategy that
incorporates the designation the marine reserve system will benefit the fishing
communities as being truly a sustainable program.
Forage Species
Forage species are small schooling fish and invertebrates that play a critical role as prey
for marine life such as commercial and recreationally important fish, seabirds and marine
mammals. Forage species are a vital link in the marine food web and the play an
essential role in maintaining ecosystem health. For example, common murres that nest
on the Oregon coast use nearshore coastal waters to feed on northern anchovy, juvenile
rockfish, euphasiids (krill), whitebait smelt, Pacific herring, Pacific sandlance and others
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(Manuwal and Carter 2001). As stated in the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on
Ocean Health, forage species play an essential role in maintaining ecosystem health and,
“Precautionary measures should be taken to ensure their protection” (Kulongoski,
Gregoire and Schwarzenegger 2008).
No active commercial fisheries for forage fish have been identified within this site. It is
our understanding that the vast majority of forage species harvest takes place outside of
three miles. Therefore while there is no known economic impact by closing this area to
the commercial harvest of forage species, there are potential ecological benefits by
ensuring protections for forage species and dependent marine life.
4. To your knowledge, what habitat type(s) are present within the site? Please check
each appropriate box. If known, provide the approximate percentage of the area
represented by each habitat type. Provide any additional information about habitat(s) at
the site.
Habitat Type
Rocky Intertidal
(EHTL –
ELTL)
Intertidal
ELTL ‐ 25 m
deep
(ELTL ‐ 14 fm
or 82 ft)
> 25 m
deep
(> 14 fm or
> 82 ft)
10 % □
Rocky Subtidal with
Canopy‐ Forming Kelp
0% □
Rocky Subtidal (without
canopy‐ forming kelp)
2% □
13% □
Soft Bottom Subtidal
20% □
55% □
Special natural features or characteristics, and/or other habitat types
(please describe):
Note: EHTL ‐ extreme high tide line. ELTL ‐ extreme low tide line.
5. List animal and plant species you know exist at this site. If known, provide
statements about the relative abundance of species. Please indicate how knowledge
of species and abundances was obtained (e.g., as a user of this site, scientific
research you have conducted at this site, based on a study someone else has
conducted at this site).
Fish
Rockfishes:
Black
Blue
Quillback
Copper
China
Grass
Brown
Gopher
Canary
Yelloweye
Tiger
Vermillion
Yellowtail
Other Groundfish:
Cabezon
Lingcod
Green Sturgeon
White Sturgeon
Kelp Greenling
Rock Greenling
Pile Perch
Redtail Surfperch
Shiner Perch
Striped Perch
Brown Irish Lord
Red Irish Lord
Buffalo Sculpin
Giant Wrymouth
Monkeyface Prickleback
Gunnells
Pacific Staghorn sculpin
Sculpin spp.
Striped Bass (Non-native)
Forage Fishes:
Eulachon
Northern Anchovy
Pacific Herring
Surf Smelt
Topsmelt
Night smelt
Pacific Sand lance
Pacific Sardine
Flatfishes:
Starry Flounder
Butter Sole
Curlfin Turbot
English Sole
Flathead Sole
Pacific Sanddab
Speckled Sanddab?
Pacific Sandfish
Rock Sole
Sand Sole
Dover Sole
Petrale Sole
Cartilaginous Fishes:
Big Skate
Spiny dogfish
Blue shark
Brown smoothhound
California skate
Common thresher
Leopard shark
Pacific angel shark
Salmon shark
Shortfin mako shark
Soupfin shark
Spotted ratfish
White shark
Marine Mammals
California sea lion
Stellar sea lion
Pacific harbor seal
Harbor porpoise
Gray Whale
Minke Whale
Humpback Whale
Sperm Whale
Orca
River Otter
Seabirds
Nineteen seabird colony sites between Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head including double
crested cormorant, pelagic cormorant, Brandt’s cormorant, common murre, pigeon
guillemot, western/ glaucous-winged gulls, black oystercatcher, and tufted puffin
(Naughton et al. 2007).
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorant
Marbled Murrelet
Tufted Puffin
Black Oystercatcher
Pigeon Guillemot
Rhinoceros Aucklet
Brown Pelican
Western Gull
Common Murre
Harlequin Duck
Perigrine Falcon
Bald Eagle
(Others???) Leaches petrel?
Invertebrates
Dungeness crab
Red rock crab
Sand crab
Kelp crab
Brown rock crab
Razor Clam
Cockle clam
California mussel
Ochre sea star
Giant octopus
Purple sea urchin
Red sea urchin
Rock scallop
California sea cucumber
Coonstripe shrimp
Flap-tipped paddock
Market squid
Oregon triton
Gumboot chiton
Barnacle
Whelk spp.
Limpet spp.
Sponges
Aggregating anemone
Sea anemone
Gooseneck barnacle
Flat and Pinto abalone???
Algae
Bull kelp
Sea palm
Surf grass
Rockweed
Coralline red algae
(need more info here, talk with Cynthia Towbridge)
6. How was enforcement/compliance of future marine reserve regulations considered in
the design of this site?
The MPA and MR boundaries for the HPRR site were identified with consideration of
ecological as well as social implications including enforcement. The local communities
of Yachats and Florence have a long history of working with OSP on terrestrial
enforcement efforts. The design of the site and the proximity to Hwy 101 scenic
overlooks, waysides, state parks, and viewing areas creates a rather easily accessable
enforcement strategy when coupled with existing US Coast Guard daily transects and
OSP commitment to monitoring of federal waters.
7. What is the community support for this proposal? Please list the people, groups,
and/or organizations that have worked to develop and support this proposal. Briefly,
describe the steps you took to develop this proposal, to collaborate with coastal
community members, ocean users, and other interested parties, and to gather
support.
City of Yachats- unanimous support for resolution in favor of marine reserve establishment
Businesses- ongoing outreach
People- Yachats and Florence Ocean Conservation Action Teams
USFS- Siuslaw National Forest
The View of the Future, The Perpetua Foundation, McKenzie River Trust, Native Fish Society, The
Coast Range Association
8. List potential research opportunities at this site, including opportunities for
collaborative and cooperative research with ocean users.
SCUBA Habitat transect surveys in sub-tidal areas
ROV and submersible habitat transect surveys in areas deeper than 30 ft.
High Resolution Habitat Mapping
Seabird productivity in relations to ocean productivity especially for ESA listed species such as
the Murrelet.
Marine Mammal foraging studies, predation by apex predators on pinnepeds
Social Studies of behavioral adaptations to implementation of Marine Reserve
As stated earlier, the offshore bank has been studied extensively and has provided important
scientific contributions to the understanding of species composition; diversity and structure
of this area (see publications).
We see the opportunity to conduct long-term
collaborative research to utilize the expertise of
both scientists and fishermen to better
understand the health of the fish stocks and
marine ecosystems in Oregon using the
oceanscape from Heceta Head to Cape Perpetua
as a reference area to better understand
assemblages and habitat relationship from the
terrestrial landscape through the nearshore and
continental shelf to Heceta and Stonewall Banks
in federal waters.
o
o
o
o
to utilize the extensive expertise of fishermen and skippers to develop and
execute a scientifically sound research program;
to collect data to assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas and
marine reserves on the nearshore fish assemblage;
to collect data that can be utilized in federal stock assessments of nearshore
species;
to engage the public in research and education about marine conservation
and stewardship.
The HPRR site has multiple small estuaries that could be researched in relation to their
importance as indicators of climate changes, their role as refugia, as well as a reference site
to improve scientific information that will help address the development pressures now
underway within this dynamic coastline.
9. Are there areas with similar habitats and other characteristics to this site,
reasonably close by, that could be used as a non‐ reserve research comparison
area? If so, where are they located? A map indicating the area is preferred.
Yes, Seal Rock Reef to the North has some great rocky reef and sandy bottom habitat that is
close in proximity to the Port of Newport and research vessels. This area can provide
valuable comparisons between marine reserve and non-marine reserve, which can be used
to measure the effectiveness of current fisheries management strategies.
10. Please provide additional site characteristics, including:
a) What existing or proposed infrastructure/developments are located within or adjacent
to this site? (e.g., a submarine cable, dredge spoil disposal site, wave energy
project, port, ocean outfall)
City of Yachats Wastewater treatment outfall
b) What land or watershed activities/conditions exist adjacent to this site? (e.g., land
development and use, river or estuary use, other pollution sources)
The adjacent watersheds provide an excellent opportunity for implementing a “Ridgetop to
Reef” conservation strategy with more than 80% of the watershed in public ownership,
including 17% designated as wilderness. See Table below for acreage and percentage estimates
for the two fifth field watersheds that drain most directly into the proposed study area, Yachats
River and Mercer Lake Frontal. See Figure (lable) for a map of the adjacent land managers and
other terrestrial resources.
Estimated
Acres
Percentage
559
0.58%
Wilderness
16,659
17.30%
Private
18,430
19.14%
STATE
294
0.30%
STATE ODFW
124
0.13%
STATE PARKS
2,257
2.34%
12
0.01%
57,629
59.86%
313
0.33%
96,277
100.00%
Land Management
BLM
The Nature Conservancy
USFS
WATER
Total Area
c) What protected areas exist in the terrestrial or marine environment adjacent to or
within this site? (e.g., state park, marine garden, National Wildlife Refuge rock or
island, area‐ based fishery regulations) See Attachment 1 & 3
Siuslaw National Forest
Cummins Creek Wilderness
Rock Creek Wilderness
Smelt Sands State Wayside
Yachats State Park
Yachats Ocean State Wayside
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and Marine Garden
Devil’s Churn State Wayside
Neptune State Park
Stonefield Beach State Wayside
Squaw Creek State Wayside
Ocean Beach Wayside
Rock Creek Campground
Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial Wayside
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
Conical Rock and Cox Rock portions of the Oregon Islands Wilderness off of Heceta Head
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint
Oregon Islands Wildlife Refuge off Heceta Head
Devil’s Elbow State Park
Sea Lion Caves- world’s largest sea cave and only remaining home of Stellar Sea Lions on the
mainland
Offshore Heceta Banks as been identified as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and a Rockfish
COnsesrvation Area by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC 2003)
d) Other characteristics of the site or adjacent area you wish to describe.
The cliffs and nearshore rocks adjacent to Heceta Head support numerous seabird nesting
colonies and a large sea lion haulout. The largest colonies are on Conical Rock and adjacent
cliffs, Parrot Rock, Sea Lion Point, and Cox Rock. This series of colonies includes the largest
mainland breeding colony of Brandt’s Cormorant in the world-USFS 1988??(still true - checking
this)??. A 2006 census counted 3,796 breeding pair of Common Murres in this area. Other
nesting seabirds here include Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Black
Oystercatcher, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted puffin, and Western Gull. The
availability of forage fish, including anchovies, herring, and smelt?? in the nearshore waters are
critical to supporting these large breeding colonies
??More info? Other population estimates and portions of Pacific populations nesting here at
Heceta Head??
Sea Lion rookeries and haul-out areas.
Whale migrations/residents.
Marbled Murrelet population and adjacent habitat.
Appendix 1
Heceta Banks, Perpetua Reef Complex and the nearshore intertidal has had numerous
reseach projects over the past decades. We believe there is an excellent baseline
established on species composition for the HHCP Reference Reserve. Here are a few of
the past efforts completed by federal, state and universities.
Hixon, M. A., B. N. Tissot, and W. G. Pearcy. 1991. Fish assemblages of rocky
banks of the Pacific Northwest [Heceta, Coquille, and Daisy Banks]. USDI
Minerals Management Service, OCS Study MMS 91-0052, Camarillo, CA.
Nasby-Lucas, N. M., B. W. Embley, M. A. Hixon, S. G. Merle, B. N. Tissot, and D. J.
Wright. 2002. Integration of submersible transect data and high-resolution multibeam
sonar imagery for a habitat-based groundfish assessment of Heceta Bank, Oregon.
Fishery Bulletin 100:739-751.
Pearcy, W. G. 1992. Movements of acoustically-tagged yellowtail rockfish Sebastes
flavidus on Heceta Bank, Oregon. Fishery Bulletin 90:726-735.
Pearcy, W. G., D. L. Stein, M. A. Hixon, E. K. Pikitch, W. H. Barss, and R. M. Starr.
1989. Submersible observations of deep-reef fishes of Heceta Bank, Oregon. Fishery
Bulletin 87:955-965.
Stein, D. L., B. N. Tissot, M. A. Hixon, and W. Barss. 1992. Fish-habitat associations on
a deep reef at the edge of the Oregon continental shelf. Fishery Bulletin 90:540-551.
Tissot, B. N., M. A. Hixon, and D. L. Stein. 2007. Habitat-based submersible assessment
of marco-invertebrate and groundfish assemblages at Heceta Bank, Oregon, from 1988
to 1990. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 352:50-64.
Wakefield, W. W., C. E. Whitmire, J. E. R. Clemons, and B. N. Tissot. 2005. Fish habitat
studies: combining high-resolution geological and biological data. American Fisheries
Society Symposium 41:119-138.
Callum M. Roberts_, Julie P. Hawkins and Fiona R. Gelly
Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
‘ The role of marine reserves in achieving sustainable fisheries’
Citations
Berkeley, S.A. 2006. Pacific rockfish management: are we circling the wagons around
the wrong paradigm? Bulletin of Marine Science 78(3): 655-668.
Cada, G., J. Ahlgrimm, M. Bahleda, T. Bigford, S.D. Stavrakas, D. Hall, R. Moursund,
M. Sale. 2007. Potential impacts of hydrokinetic and wave energy conversion
technologies on aquatic environments. Fisheries. 32(4): 174-181.
Cowen, R.K. G. Gawarkiewicz, J. Pineda, S.R. Thorrold, and F.E. Werner. 2007.
Population Connectivity in Marine Systems, an Overview. Oceanography. 20(3): 1421.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 2008. www.ferc.gov (web search,
September 4, 2008). Oregon Wave Energy Preliminary Permit Sites GIS data
available at: http://pacoos.coas.oregonstate.edu/
Freese, L., Auster, P.J., Heifetz, J., and B.L. Wing. 1999. Effects of trawling on seafloor
habitat and associated invertebrate taxa in the Gulf of Alaska. Mar Ecol Prog Ser.,
182: 119-126.
Gerber, L.R., M. Beger, M.A. McCarthy, and H.P. Possingham. 2005. A theory for
optimal
monitoring of marine reserves. Ecology Letters. 8:829-837.
Halpern, B. 2003. The impact of marine reserves: do reserves work and does reserve size
matter? Ecological Applications 13(1, supplement): S117-S137.
12
Hixon, M. and B. Tissot. 2007. Comparison of trawled vs. untrawled mud seafloor
assemblages of fishes and macroinvertebrates at Coquille Bank, Oregon. Journal of
Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 344: 23-34.
Kulongoski, T.R., Gregoire, C.O., Schwarzenegger, A. 2008. West Coast Governors’
Agreement on Ocean Health. Action Plan. The Offices of the Governors. Oregon,
Washington, and California. May 2008.
Manuwal. D.A., and H.R. Carter. Natural History of the common murre (Uria aalge
californica). Pages 1-32 in D.A. Manuwal, H.R. Carter, T.S. Zimmerman, and D.L.
Orthmeyer, editors. Biology and conservation of the common murre in California,
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Vol. 1. Natural history and population
trends. U.S. Geological Survey, Washington D.C.
Naughton, M.B., D.S. Pitkin, R.W. Lowe, K.J. So, and C.S. Strong. 2007. Catalog of
Oregon Seabird Colonies. U.S. Department of Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service,
Biological Technical Publication. FWS/BTP-R1009-2007
Ocean Policy Advisory Council Scientific Technical Advisory Committee (OPAC
STAC). Preliminary Report to MRWG on STAC Size and Spacing Workshop. April
21, 2008. Prepared by Jack Barth, Selina Heppell and Craig Young for STAC.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). 2001. 2001 Nearshore Rocky Reef
Assessment ROV Survey. Final Report for 2001 Grant Cooperative Agreement.
PS01053. Prepared by Mark Amend, Dave Fox and Chris Romsos. Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, December 28, 2001.
Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO). 2007. The Science
of Marine Reserves (2nd Edition, United States Version). www.piscoweb.org. 22
pages.
Pacific Fishery Management Council Scientific and Statistical Committee (PFMC SSC).
2004. White Paper: Marine Reserves: Objectives, Rationales, Fishery Management
Implications, and Regulatory Requirements. www.pcouncil.org. September 2004
Roberts, C.M., J.A. Bohnsack, F. Gell, J.P. Hawkins and R. Goodrigde. 2001. Effects of
Marine Reserves on Adjacent Fisheries. Science. 294:1920-1923.
DRAFT Proposal for Site Nomination: Site 5: Cape Perpetua/ Heceta Head
September 16, 2008
13
Stone, R.P., M.M. Masuda, and P.W. Malecha. 2005. Effects of trawling on softsediment
epibenthic communities in the Gulf of Alaska. Amercian Fisheries Society
Symposium 41:461-475.
11. Optional: Potential economic development opportunity If economic development
money is made available to a coastal community, please describe a community
project that you would be interested in pursuing.
- Upgrading the waste water treatment plant
- In order to protect and improve coastal water quality we see the potential for developing bioswales, storm-water management improvements at parking areas that my impact nearshore
habitats. Low impact development(LID) strategies need to be developed and shared with all
coastal communities
- With the understanding that over 450K visitors stop at multiple sites within the HPRR we
believe there are opportunities to enhance interpretation. We see the need to coordinate
with the Siuslaw National Forest, Cape Perpetua Visitors Center, OPRD and the City of
Yachats. 3 staff for enhanced educational / interpretive efforts for the Cape P. visitors
center and Heceta Head LH and Yachats State Park
- cooperative research/see attachment 4
-Enhanced recreational opportunities (kayaking, bird-watching, whale watching, scuba diving)
12. Optional: Please describe any other reasons you think this site warrants further
evaluation and study as a potential marine reserve site
Connecting an existing terrestrial conservation strategy that has many partners including federal
and state agencies, NGOs, communities creates a unique opportunity for partnership.
Protection of key habitats, restoration, research as well as a precautionary approach are key
components to responsible resource management. Reference areas (undisturbed areas that
can be used as templates for species diversity and richness and habitat conditions) are
nonexistent in both our terrestrial and marine environment. This HPRR area gives us the
best opportunity to link critical offshore habitats to the nearshore and uplands. (see
Attachment 1) There has been research in the nearshore for over 10 years PISCO (see
Attachment 3)
Attachment 2: Summary of past protection and restoration actions at the basin and landscape
scale.
Yachats River/Cummins/Ten Mile Watersheds • 86 square miles
• 100 miles of fish bearing streams
• 9 Key Watersheds
• ESA listed species: coho salmon, marbled murrelet, spotted owl, silverspot butterfly
• Other fish species: chinook, chum, steelhead, cutthroat, pacific lamprey,
western brook lamprey, sculpin, eulacon
The Siuslaw National Forest and ODFW have used the wildernesses as reference sites to
improve understanding of ecological processes and natural variability of species and
habitat conditions.
About 75% of the 85,000 acre Yachats/Cummins/Ten Mile area is in Key Watersheds.
Key watersheds are highest priority for protection and restoration. Vegetative succession
and landslide frequency are the main processes that determine aquatic habitat conditions
in the Yachats/Cummins/Ten Mile Area.
Restoration Accomplishments
Restoration activities were designed to restore ecological processes that have been altered
by recent (last 150 yrs) human activities. Linkages among processes, restoration
objectives and activities are outlined in Table 1.
Table 1. Linkage among key processes, watershed analysis, restoration, and monitoring.
Process
Watershed
Analysis Findings
Higher Rate
Less Wood
Restoration Objective
Vegetative
Succession
Low Abundance
Of Large Conifers
Wood Dynamics
In Streams
Low Abundance
Of Large Wood
Aquatic Habitat
Development
Low Complexity
And Diversity Of
Habitats
Landslides
Restoration
Activity
Road Stabilization
Decommission
Monitoring
Activity
Landslide Area
Road Densities
Accelerate
Development Of Late
Successional
Conditions
Restore Processes
Associated With Large
Wood
Thinning
Under-story
Release
Planting
Wood Additions
Increase Salmonid
Freshwater Survival
Rates
Wood Additions
Move Riparian
Campsites
Vegetative
Composition
Survival
Growth
Basin-Wide
Habitat Survey
Channel Maps
Wood
Movement
Overwinter
Survival,
Smolt
Production
Reduce Management
Related Landslides
Restoration activities included land acquisition, road stabilization and decommission,
plantation thinning, riparian planting, under-story release, and additions of large wood to
streams (Figure 2 and Table 2). Activities were focused in key areas that have the greatest
potential to restore watershed processes.
Table 2. Major Restoration Accomplishments between 1994 and 2002
Activity
Accomplishments
Land Acquisition 1150 acres - 5.5 miles adjacent to Ten Mile Creek - Siuslaw NF
160 acres - 1.0 miles adjacent to Ten Mile Creek - Audubon
100 acres - Pine Tree Conservation Society
89 acres - .5 miles adjacent to Ten Mile Creek – Siuslaw NF
Road Stabilization 116 miles stabilized (53% of total; 63% of Forest Service)
• 72 miles decommissioned
• 40 miles water-barred
• 4 miles re-aligned with side cast pull back
125 stream channels re-connected
3
Plantation
Thinning
Riparian Planting
and
Under-story
Release
Wood Additions
to
Stream Channels
Develop Trust
And
Understanding
48,000 yd of road fill removed from stream channels
1100 acres of commercial thinning
adjacent to 25 miles of stream
2050 acres of non-commercial thinning
adjacent to 40 miles of stream
150 acres of riparian planting and under-story release
adjacent to 10 miles of Ten Mile, Big and Cape Creeks
241 pieces added to 3.5 miles of Ten Mile Creek
50 pieces added to 1.0 miles of Cape Creek
Discuss watershed processes and function, restoration, and
monitoring among partners and other interested people
Future Projects Planned
• Acquire key parcels
• Assess and document stability of remaining road network and upgrade where
needed
• Thin plantations
• Remove or limit dispersal of exotic plant species, such as knotweed in Big
Creek
• Add wood to lower Cape Creek
• Write monitoring report
• Continue to monitor and adjust management as needed
Monitoring Results
• Road decommissioning, reconstruction, and water-barring have stabilized 53%
of the roads (63% of Forest Service roads)
o Mid-slope and valley bottom road density has decreased 40%
• In Ten Mile Creek, the February 1996 flood recruited about as much large wood
from mature riparian areas (natural) as was added in fall 1996 (project)
• Large wood additions have substantially increased stream retention of wood,
leaves and sediment
• Pieces of wood that moved downstream continue to function as important
structural elements that develop and maintain aquatic and riparian habitats
• The area of deep pools with complex wood cover tripled following wood
additions (project and natural) in Ten Mile Creek
• Over winter survival of coho and steelhead have significantly increased in Tenmile
Creek since large wood was added (project and natural), while the no treatment
control basin remained unchanged
• Steelhead smolt production has doubled since large wood was added (project and
natural) to Tenmile Creek
• Coho smolt production did not change after large wood was added to Tenmile Creek
due to low abundance of spawning adults
Table 3. Estimated Costs 1994-2003
Activity
Costs
Planning
650,000
Land Acquisition
2,500,000
Road Stabilization
700,000
Pre-Commercial Thinning
400,000
Thinning (KV receipts)
+1,165,000
Planting and Under-story Release
50,000
Wood Additions
170,000
Monitoring (habitat & fish surveys, smolt trapping, wood mapping, etc.)
1,800,000
5,105,000
Total
Lessons Learned
• Holistic watershed restoration requires collaborative planning and implementation
among interested people, landowners, watershed councils, and government agencies
• Large wood (4-6’ dbh) is needed to restore large basins (>10,000 acre)
o Since whole pieces this large cannot be transported they must be grown
in source areas (stream adjacent and upslope)
• Land acquisition is one of the most effective restoration activities
• Social risks, or perceived risks, limit restoration potential
• Restoration is restoring ecological processes not creating static conditions
• Protection is more effective than restoration
Partners in the Project
Ten Mile Creek Landowners
Ten Mile Creek Association
National Audubon Society
Audubon Society of Portland
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-Research
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-Management
Siuslaw National Forest
Trust for Public Lands
McKenzie River Trust
Mid-Coast Watersheds Council
Yachats Area Watersheds Council
Angel Job Corps - Forest Service
Oregon Youth Conservation Corps
Region 6 Regional Office - Forest Service
PNW Research - Forest Service
National Aquatic Monitoring Center- Forest Service
Lane County Road Department
Jobs in the Woods-Salem
Hire the Fisher-Newport
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Pine Tree Conservation Society
Trout Unlimited
Boy Scouts-Lincoln City
Georgia Pacific
Volunteers
13. Optional: What other information would you like us to have about this site or your
proposal (e.g., available baseline data, how system‐ wide criteria are addressed if you
are submitting more than one proposal).
Research related to unique characteristics of the nearshore/offshore linkages
The spatial distribution of euphausiid aggregations in the Northern California
Current during August 2000
Patrick H. Resslera,
,
, Richard D. Brodeura, William T. Petersona, Stephen D.
Piercec, P. Mitchell Vanceb, Anders Røstadb and John A. Barthc
a
National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Fishery
Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division, 2032 SE OSU Drive, Newport, OR 973655275, USA bCooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State
University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, USA cCollege of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Abstract
The location and size of euphausiid aggregations (patches) were identified using acoustic
volume backscattering strength at 38 and 120 kHz and vertically stratified MOCNESS
sampling during a US GLOBEC cruise off southern Oregon and northern California in
August 2000. Euphausiid patches were clustered inshore of Heceta Bank (44.0°N) and
off Cape Blanco (42.8°N), but were not common elsewhere. The distribution of
euphausiid patches throughout the study area was correlated with that of near-surface
chlorophyll. We suggest that Heceta Bank and Cape Blanco were zones of plankton
retention and concentration along the shelf and slope, and also that large offshore
meanders in the equatorward upwelling jet carried upwelled water, chlorophyll, and
euphausiids offshore. In particular, the complex interaction of mesoscale physical
features, shoaling bottom topography, and diel vertical migration created large patches of
euphausiids. These euphausiid patches, probably persisting on timescales of days to
weeks, could function as relatively large and persistent resources for euphausiid
predators.
Cetacean distributions relative to ocean processes in the northern California
Current System
Cynthia T. Tynana,
,
, David G. Ainleyb, John A. Barthc, Timothy J. Cowlesc,
Stephen D. Piercec and Larry B. Spearb
a
Department of Physical Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods
Hole, MA 02543, USA bH.T. Harvey and Associates, San Jose, CA 95118, USA cCollege
of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 973315503, USA
During spring, latitude, sea surface salinity, and thermocline gradient were the most
important predictors. During summer, latitude and distance to the inshore edge of the
upwelling front were the most important variables. Typically a coastal species, harbor
porpoises extended their distribution farther offshore at Heceta Bank and at Cape Blanco,
where they were associated with the higher chlorophyll concentrations in these regions.
Pacific white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens was the most numerous small
cetacean in early June, but was rare during August. The model explained 44.5% of the
variation in their occurrence pattern, which was best described by distance to the
upwelling front and acoustic backscatter at 38 kHz. The model of the occurrence pattern
of Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli was more successful when mesoscale variability in
the CCS was higher during summer. Thus, the responses of cetaceans to biophysical
features and upwelling processes in the northern CCS were both seasonally and spatially
specific. Heceta Bank and associated flow-topography interactions were very important
to a cascade of trophic dynamics that ultimately influenced the distribution of foraging
cetaceans.
As a result of significant efforts by federal. Universities, and state research strategies we believe
this site should move forward in the Pilot marine reserve process.
(See Attachment 2: excerpts from the Natural Resource Inventory, 1994, Yachats, Cape
Perpetua, and Heceta Head Cells)