THE RAFT February 2021
News and Updates about Our Work to Restore Sea Otters to Oregon's Coast
To learn more:
- Visit our website
- Listen to a podcast with leading experts on the ecological and cultural dimensions of sea otters, kelp and other associated marine life.
- Stay up to date on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
.   
|
|
|
Webinar Do-Over: Oregon's Lost Sea Otters: Restoring a Cultural Heritage and Ecological Keystone
***Due to some technical challenges we rescheduled this webinar for March 4th at 6:30om***
It is hard to appreciate the cultural importance and ecological significance of a species that vanished from Oregon’s coastal waters over a century ago. What has the loss of sea otters meant to Oregon’s indigenous peoples? What does their absence mean to the health of the nearshore ecosystems? What might be gained from the return of sea otters to Oregon? Join Peter Hatch and John Goodell, from the Elakha Alliance, as they discuss the history and possible future of sea otters in Oregon. Register here...
This webinar is presented by the MidCoast Watersheds Council on Thursday, March 4th at 6:30pm, as part of their virtual Community Meeting.
|
|
Great White Sharks, Sea Otters, and Climate Change
Some effects of climate change are expected, but in complex marine ecosystems, many challenges are impossible to predict before a crisis is revealed. A new paper uncovers the connection between climate change, great white sharks, and sea otters. The study appeared in the journal Scientific Reports, and was further covered by the Guardian.
In the last decade, bites from white sharks has become a leading source of sea otter mortality in California but the reasons behind this predator shift were puzzling. Responding to record ocean warming, young great white sharks who's northern range was limited by cold temperatures, began to move over 350 miles north, into coastal California waters that were previously too cold. What followed was a dramatic rise in sea otter mortalities due to great white shark bites. Explore the study....
.
|
|
|
Conservation Policy Leadership
The Elakha Alliance's vision extends beyond just sea otters, to a robust marine ecosystem and a thriving coastal economy. These values reflect a basic understanding that the interests of coastal communities converge with stable ecosystems, and those keystone species central to ecological health. Holistic ecosystem management is not just a nifty phrase.
Unfortunately state boundaries and agency jurisdictions often make holistic management difficult without big, bold ideas and strident leadership. Although times are challenging, our mission seems more achievable as conservation leaders step it up. Here are a few updates:
1. Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley announced his new post as Chair of the appropriations subcommittee that funds Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and Forest Service. The Subcommittee is gateway to critical conservation proposals that would benefit Oregon’s coastal natural resources and local communities.
2. GOP Senator Mike Simpson from eastern Idaho shook things up with his far-sighted legislative proposal to breach the four (still functional) dams on the lower Snake River. The $34 billion dollar proposal is sweeping in its scale and addresses not only fish restoration, but solutions for energy, agriculture, community redevelopment and more. A key dimension of Simpson's proposal embraces Columbian Basin tribes as full partners in salmonid population restoration. Environmentalist Andy Kerr discusses the Simpson proposal in his recent blog.
3. The Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act was signed into law last month. Thanks to the leadership of Oregon's Representative Suzanne Bonamici who serves as a Co-Chair of the Estuary Caucus, the Protect and Restore America's Estuary Act will fund the National Estuary Program until 2026 and nearly doubles the annual funding. The legislation has direct benefits to Tillamook Bay among others. Learn more about the Act and the National Estuary Program.
|
|
|
|
Senator Simpson explains the challenge and his proposal to breach the four lower Snake River dams and restore salmonid populations.
|
|
A New Way to Support the Elakha Alliance
We are happy to announce the Elakha Alliance is registered with Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative and are eligible for funding via the Containers for Change program as well as the Blue Bag program. You can search for us here.
Containers for Change
Want to donate your containers to the Elakha Alliance? Simply leave your bag tag sticker off of your Green Bag when you return it to BottleDrop.
Where can I learn more?
Visit the Containers for Change page
|
|
The Sunflower Sea Star Collapse Is Serious And Needs More Action
Check out this webinar presented by Sara Hamilton, a PhD Candidate at OSU. Sponsored by the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Sara stresses the dire circumstances of the sunflower sea star, and how conservation action is lagging in comparison with more "charismatic" wildlife.
|
|
|
|
The plight of the sunflower sea star remains a central threat to the health of Oregon's kelp ecosystem. If you have missed Sara's sea star talk at our last virtual symposium, check out this talk sponsored by OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center where Sara discusses the large-scale conservation emergency.
|
|
|
How You Can Help
Want to help the Elakha Alliance? Here's two ways for starters.
Donate: Your donation provides critical financial support so we can continue to expand our public outreach, general communications, and the scientific assessment we’ll also be focused on in 2021. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.
Spread the word: Forward this email to 5 friends who you think will be interested in helping restore sea otters to Oregon’s coast.
|
|
|
|
