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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). 4 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 7 (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)