A big thanks to all the awesome volunteers that came out for last weekend's cleanup. The haul pulled in lots of debris, chiefly from the high recreational use in the area...a reminder for us all to pack it out at Short Sands! A special thanks and shout out to our sponsor ReRack of Portland, who stoked out the volunteers with a fun BBQ and raffle following the cleanup.
Short Sands Beach is at the heart of the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and Protected Areas. Being one of the highest visited day-use areas and state parks on Oregon's coast, there's a strong need for people to recreate responsibly in this area. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT! And that includes your dog's poo! Besides the considerable litter and debris that gets into our oceans, recreational users in this area commonly bring along their furry friends, but often fail to pick up after them. Surfrider Foundation Portland Chapter urges you to pick up after yourself and your pets, especially in this area! Given the sensitive nature of the small creeks and streams nearby and their connection to the ecologically important Cape Falcon Marine Reserve in the nearshore and our strong interest to recreate in clean, healthy ocean waters, it only makes since for us to care of this special place. With this weekend's cleanup coming together with some stellar weather and high visitor use in the area, it was a sobering reality of where our sources of debris all too often come from.
As a founding member of the Newport, OR Chapter, Charlie has greatly advanced Surfrider's mission through ocean conservation as the Oregon Policy Manager. He’s led a critical role in ocean protection through strategic engagement of our Oregon chapter network in policy initiatives, grassroots campaigns, and community-based projects. With a BS in Marine Biology and as a member of the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council, Charlie’s ties to the ocean reach far and wide.