What I’m doing this summer as an OSG Intern:

My internship this summer is driven by two primary roles: 1) assist in leading summer science camps for kids K-12 and 2) work on the creation of a touch-screen water quality exhibit at the South Slough Interpretive Center. The exhibit will be used to show how different water quality parameters are closely tied to the success of local ecosystems and how those same parameters can change.

What I’ve been doing in the first couple weeks of my internship:

As I am living in Corvallis, all of the work I do on non-camp weeks is remote. Last week was a non-camp week and so I was primarily working on establishing the layout of the water quality exhibit and how it will be organised for visitors to interact with.

This week, however, was a camp week… much more exciting! On Monday, for a non-camp related educational workshop, I collected animals off of the docks of Charleston with my mentor, Jaime Belanger, and brought them to Reedsport Elementary in oxygenated tanks. There, we taught the kids about local sea life and how to make observations.

On Tuesday, our Megalops Camp (for 2nd and 3rd graders) started. During camp this week, I lead educational hikes and activities, maintained a safe learning environment, drove campers from place to place, and taught lessons about how the major habitats that can be found at the South Slough.

Each day of camp is different, but everyday involved tasks like leading hikes with specific educational goals in mind, catching animals for the kids to observe, creating and leading educational games (i.e. South Slough Jeopardy), handing out snacks, cleaning up, preparing supplies for various activities, etc.

Is COVID-19 affecting my work routine this summer?

While we still need to where masks during camps, COVID has played less of a role in how camps can be conducted this summer, compared to last summer, my first as an OSG intern. There are still many regulations we have to follow when leading the camps, but there is more freedom now in where we can take kids to learn.

What is my favorite on-the-job activity so far?

My favorite moments this past week were all associated with seeing the faces on campers when they saw and interacted with animals. When I got to lead an activity on the docks, the kids were stoked to see and touch kelp crabs, jellyfish, starfish, etc. They would see an animal and scream for me to catch it. Shortly after catching the critters, I’d let them go, but it was great to see the enthusiasm in the kids.

There was also a moment yesterday when all of the campers got to see two parent tree swallows feed their big baby that had not yet fledged. We all creeped towards the nest quietly and then stood still for a couple of minutes. After patiently waiting, they were rewarded with a pretty cool sight!

Thanks for reading!

In my last blog post, I talked about Goal 18 and the regulation of erosion control structures on the Oregon coast. For this post, I will provide some more details on the typical erosion control mechanisms used in Oregon. As I started writing, I thought it would be useful to present these in the context of a flow chart to show what erosion control mechanisms are appropriate in various situations. The flowchart is below and has notes for further explanation. Note that this flowchart is not official or comprehensive, but just a format I find useful to visualize the connection between site and regulatory conditions and the most common erosion control mechanisms in Oregon. For better quality, click on the image. Enjoy!

1. Only properties that were developed as of January 1, 1977 are eligible for structural erosion control under Goal 18.
2. Structural erosion control, or a beachfront protective structure (BPS), is unofficially defined by DLCD as “A static structure that is intended to remain in a fixed position with the purpose of redirecting wave energy and to minimize or eliminate coastal erosion risk to development. BPS are purposefully constructed and intended to maintain that form over time. This includes, but is not limited to, rip-rap revetments, seawalls groins, breakwaters, jetties, bulkheads, geotextile sandbags, sand burritos, gabions, and concrete or mortar reinforcement such as shotcrete. Beachfront protective structures do not include dynamic treatments such as sand nourishment, cobble revetments, and similar non-structural or non-fixed erosion mitigation measures.”
3. Even if properties are eligible for structural erosion control, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will only permit them if the permit application provides an analysis of why other methods to mitigate the hazard will not work. OPRD also evaluates permit applications on the degree to which they are compatible with the surrounding environment, which means generally that structural erosion control mechanisms will not be considered until the applicant has proven that nature-based nonstructural erosion control options are not viable.
4. Vegetated soil burritos are an alternative to riprap in some places on the Oregon coast. While not as resilient as riprap, there are two vegetative stabilization projects in Cannon Beach that have been effective in mitigating erosion. Stabilizing the bluff front with native vegetation rather than riprap has better scenic value and is less harmful to the ocean shore. Because the biodegradable fabric used to do the initial stabilization is expected to disappear as the plants establish themselves, this method is considered a non-structural form of erosion control.
5. Some erosion control methods don’t work well for small single-home lots, and can only work when they are applied over a large area.
6. OPRD permitting criteria includes the requirement that the erosion control structure blend in with its surroundings. Some erosion control structures, like dynamic revetments, are only appropriate on beaches where their construction material (cobbles) already exist to some extent on the beach.
7. Dynamic revetments are artificially constructed cobble berms. The cobbles provide protection and absorb wave energy as the berm reshapes in response to wave conditions. Dynamic revetments tend to be cheaper and more easily constructible alternatives to traditional riprap; however, they do need to be maintained over time. Because dynamic revetments can change shape in response to wave conditions, they are not considered structural erosion control.
8. Beach nourishments are a widely used and effective erosion control option in many places in the world, but Oregon’s conditions make beach nourishment difficult and costly. However, there is one example of a beach nourishment project on the Oregon coast that could be used as an example. The Army Corps of Engineers uses sand collected during dredging of the Columbia River to nourish the beaches around the jetties. This is possible because of the scale of dredge operations, the compatibility of the removed sand to the shoreface, and Army Corps resources for navigating the complex permitting environment. Because of the high-energy wave climate in Oregon and lack of suitable sand, beach nourishment is only viable under specific conditions.
9. If you’ve gotten to this point in the flow chart, most of the options for controlling erosion have been exhausted. However, there are a few other strategies that could mitigate the effects of erosion and subsequent flooding.
10. While it is not common on the Oregon coast, elevating homes can provide some relief from properties subject to regular flooding due to wave overtopping. FEMA has a multitude of resources on the process of home elevation.
11. In cases where the house is in danger of toppling off a bluff, the house can be moved back on the lot. This has been successfully done in Oregon for a house in Coos Bay – the story can be found here. There have been others in the past, as well.
12. Riprap is the most widely used erosion control structure on the Oregon coast. It is made of large boulders carefully fitted together and embedded in the sand. Riprap has been tried, tested, and proven in the high-energy wave environment of the Oregon coast. However, by fixing the shoreline in place and reflecting wave energy, riprap causes the beach to narrow as sea level rises, limiting north-south beach access. Riprap structures are intended to remain in place for a long period of time to protect bluffs and berms against erosion; therefore, they are considered structures and only allowed on Goal 18-eligible properties.

If none of these options are suitable for a property, and riprap is considered the only solution for a property not eligible for structural protection, a Goal 18 exception must be pursued. This process is currently in the public hearing phase in both Lincoln County and Tillamook County. More information can be found on their respective planning commission websites.

This flowchart is a simple way of visualizing this information; however, these erosion control mechanisms have endless variations and combinations possible to fit site conditions. Hopefully, this provides some context for the reasons why different projects might be selected for different places on the Oregon coast.

My project is working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife analyzing the socioeconomic impacts of marine reserves on local and visitor communities. Throughout these past two weeks, we have been continuing data collection by surveying people. From there, we then have been putting these responses into a database. I have been able to check out many beautiful spots along the coast, I have been making awesome connections, and have been gaining many skills throughout these couple of weeks. While one individual is entering data or conducting visitor surveys, the other two individuals are out interacting with the public and conducting visitor surveys. In order to stay motivated, I stay in touch with family and friends, and enjoy the scenery. In addition to work, I have been able to explore outside of of Newport. I, along with my intern-friend, Jessica, went to Drift Creek Falls. There was an interesting suspension bridge that went over the creek and waterfall. It was a bit muddy and slippery closer to the bridge; nonetheless, it was a great time. I look forward to the next couple of weeks.

P.S. I named this blog Gravity Falls because it reminds me of how GF is based in Oregon and because of the waterfall in my photo.

Hi again everyone! This is Mikay, the summer scholar working for the Eat Oregon Seafood (EOS) initiative. My role this summer is to expand the media platforms of Eat Oregon Seafood in an effort to promote local seafood consumption. Since my last post, quite a bit has happened! I hashed out drafts for a video project and social media campaign for EOS. I also did site visits and met both of my mentors, Jamie and Angee, in person!

My work schedule varies quite a bit day-to-day depending on if I am working virtually or visiting a site. So far I have been more virtual than in-person, but as the summer goes on I will be visiting different businesses across Oregon for interviews for my “Oregon Seafood Journey” media campaign. When I am visiting a coastal site, I usually work from 9 to 5 (cue Dolly Parton) from my desk at home. Much of my day is computer work involving anything from making infographics to editing videos to doing research online. I have been perfecting the platforms “Canva” and “DaVinci 17” for my infographic and video making. I would highly recommend using Canva to anyone who wants to spice up their research posters, presentations, or really any other form of science communication. It is very user-friendly and can make very professional media. DaVinci has a much larger learning curve, but once you figure it out it is great to use for short or long video projects.

In addition to computer work, I am able to interact with people daily for my job. I have team meetings with my mentors once a week but often end up emailing them daily to send media drafts and get advice on various aspects of the projects I am working on. Angee and Jamie are full of great advice and are always happy to help! I have also been connecting with a range of businesses across the coast and setting up interviews. My first interview will be with “South Bay Wild”, a restaurant that sells locally caught seafood out of Astoria, Oregon. I plan to meet with them tomorrow and hear all about their business! I was also able to visit both Newport and Coos Bay to meet Angee and Jamie. We toured the docks at both locations, visited with some of the other fishery-related extension workers, and discussed the challenges that each fishing community is facing. In Coos Bay, I was able to try out some fancy camera equipment in order to shoot some film for introductory seafood videos I am working on for the EOS website. I have been working on the videos, but they are still not quite where I want them to be. Hopefully, I can get some fun shots in Astoria this weekend!

COVID has made this work much more virtual than most years, but one thing I am most looking forward to is “Shop at the Docks”. Starting July 23rd Newport will be hosting tours of the docks to try and help people buy fresh seafood directly from fishermen. I am super excited to interact with both local consumers and fishermen in order to try and build up these relationships and increase local buy-in into seafood.

One of the non-work-related items I have been working on daily is getting my knee back to normal. I tore my ACL earlier this year while playing ultimate frisbee. I ended up not having enough time to get surgery and recover before leaving for my master’s program, so I have been going all out with physical therapy to try and get my knee working normally again. I usually start or end (when I don’t get out of bed early enough to make it home before 9) my workday with one or two hours at the gym. The exercise also helps me focus and re-energize which I find keeps me more productive during work.

These first four weeks have been fun, but I am even more excited for the weeks to come!

I can’t believe we are almost halfway through the Summer Scholars program! As an intern at OCOIN (Oregon Coastal and Ocean Information Network) my days often begin with a zoom meeting. The type of meeting changes daily, depending whether it is the technical, outreach, or executive team checking in. We discuss progress on projects like updating research in our Coastal Research Explorer tool, creating newsletters for the OCOIN network, and drafting budget proposals. Often after meetings, I meet with my summer scholar colleague, Joshua, over zoom and work together on our daily tasks. Bouncing ideas off each other over zoom is my favorite part of the job so far!

OCOIN is based in Oregon, yet steering committee members are scattered around the world; our zoom meetings bridge the distance between cities throughout Oregon to as far away as Bermuda, New York, and California. While the time zone differences can sometimes make scheduling difficult, I really enjoy how working remotely can still connect the OCOIN team.

Throughout the last two weeks, my project has begun to take on a more definitive shape. I am learning that through trial and error, more ideas have come and more ideas have been pivoted, but ultimately these pivots have provided me with a more streamlined point of focus. During my first week, I had a very broad idea of what I would be doing, and over the past weeks I have been actively working with The Friends of Haystack Rock, a graduate student from OSU, and with my primary host, The Haystack Rock Awareness Program. While they all have different pieces of the puzzle that is my project, ultimately, they all have the general basis of strengthening science communication efforts to maximize engagement and interest in marine life and health.  

My routine at first was pretty monotonous during the first weeks because I was reading paper after paper about science communication and marine conservation. As we wrap up week 4, my days and weeks have been looking differently. Some days I’m on the beach talking to the visitors of Haystack Rock, or I’m helping out with an event like the Puffin Watch that was broadcasted on Facebook Live. Some days I spend the entirety of the day inside the office reading and writing about my project. As far as meetings go, I have a weekly check-in on Wednesday with my supervisor and working meetings throughout the week with the graduate student and Friends of Haystack Rock. This week I will be sharing my progress at a board meeting and doing some collaboration with the communications coordinator at  HRAP for some ideas I’ve come up with. What I’ve been really enjoying about this internship is the flexibility and immense opportunity in engaging in activities outside of my project. I saw the opportunity to assist on a field trip for Spanish speakers and decided to take it on! While it might not entirely align with my project, I believe this will provide me with an incredible opportunity. One of my favorite on-the-job activities currently is when I’m out by the tidepools and seeing what’s different for the day. Sometimes I look for the biggest Giant Green Anemone and sometimes I try to see how many puffins I can see flying over me. Somehow inventory of these things makes me feel more tied to my project and gives me perspective on what the overarching goal is. This is really important when you are balancing multiple small projects at the same time. 

The supervisor at HRAP, Kelli Enis, has been incredibly supportive and has provided me with multiple opportunities to connect with others in fields that I am interested in. This past week we drove down to Newport and met up with a few people from the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Service. This meeting gave me incredible insight as to what I should be doing and what I should look for moving forward with my career. 

To stay motivated and energized after the afternoon slump I like to walk down to one of the local coffee shops and try a different drink. Different in my own definition just means choosing an iced americano with oat milk as opposed to a cold brew with oat milk. Still a fun activity nonetheless! Another fun activity is watching the puffins and the dogs at the beach. As of this morning, I have a newfound appreciation for watching puffins flying off cliffs. They look like they’re jumping off into the sea, but just as you think they won’t swim, they catch the wind and start flying.  Overall, my day in life as a summer scholar at Haystack Rock Awareness looks really fun! Even when I’m reading or writing for most of the day.