This weekend was a field trip that many of us had eagerly anticipated - a trip to the Oregon Coast. Our first stop was at Tillamook Bay, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Here, we spent our afternoon removing invasive plants from the wetlands. We then made our way to a small coastal town, Seaside, OR, where we spent the night.
My first impressions of the Oregon coast is unlike any coast I have been to before. Hailing from Singapore, I am used to tropical beaches and sunny weather. Instead, we were greeted by rolling fog and chilly winds. The Tillamook Head, a majestic hillside, towered over the waters. It was beautiful, in an otherworldly way. When the sun came up the next day and the weather warmed (slightly), we made our way to the beach. The first thing that struck me was the huge expanse of the beach, its sandy shores stretching endlessly on either side. This is because the Oregon coast is unlike any other - the entire coast is publicly owned. All beaches in Oregon are public, and hence is protected from any private or commercial developments that would have otherwise encroached on the coast. In fact, Oregon has been this way for over a 100 years, spearheaded by a landmark decision in 1913 by Governor Oswald West who declared the beaches a "birthright of the people" and hence irrevocable as public property. Without his foresight, we would perhaps not have been enjoying the beautiful, untouched coast that day.
In many ways, Oregonians have been a pioneer in land use, early to recognise the value of the land and to protect it through statewide land use laws and a shared commitment to the environment. Unlike many other conservation movements where results can be quantified or more rapidly realized, the benefits of land use planning require patience and unfold over a long time span. However, its rewards are just as many.
My first impressions of the Oregon coast is unlike any coast I have been to before. Hailing from Singapore, I am used to tropical beaches and sunny weather. Instead, we were greeted by rolling fog and chilly winds. The Tillamook Head, a majestic hillside, towered over the waters. It was beautiful, in an otherworldly way. When the sun came up the next day and the weather warmed (slightly), we made our way to the beach. The first thing that struck me was the huge expanse of the beach, its sandy shores stretching endlessly on either side. This is because the Oregon coast is unlike any other - the entire coast is publicly owned. All beaches in Oregon are public, and hence is protected from any private or commercial developments that would have otherwise encroached on the coast. In fact, Oregon has been this way for over a 100 years, spearheaded by a landmark decision in 1913 by Governor Oswald West who declared the beaches a "birthright of the people" and hence irrevocable as public property. Without his foresight, we would perhaps not have been enjoying the beautiful, untouched coast that day.
In many ways, Oregonians have been a pioneer in land use, early to recognise the value of the land and to protect it through statewide land use laws and a shared commitment to the environment. Unlike many other conservation movements where results can be quantified or more rapidly realized, the benefits of land use planning require patience and unfold over a long time span. However, its rewards are just as many.
Victoria Lim
21 Jul 2014