The Tillamook Bay Watershed Council’s 2018 Speaker Series resumes on Tuesday, October 30th with a very special presentation exploring the underwater world of Oregon’s Marine Reserves. Cristen Don, Marine Reserves Program Leader at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), will give a virtual underwater tour of all five of the state’s reserves, with an emphasis on the Cape Falcon reserve in north Tillamook County. In addition to the visual tour, Don’s presentation will include an overview of the ongoing conservation and research efforts conducted by the department and its many partners since the creation of the reserves in 2007. She will also touch on ODFW’s new Site Management Plan for Cape Falcon, to which the department is seeking public input this fall.

Oregon’s five marine reserves include Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua, and Redfish Rocks, each named for local natural landmarks. Within these reserves all removal of marine life is prohibited, as is ocean development. ODFW is charged with overseeing the stewardship, management and scientific monitoring of these areas. Over the past 15 years, Cristen Don has worked on a variety of ocean policy and management topics including alternative ocean energy, nearshore fisheries, and marine reserves and protected areas. She has worked on ODFW’s Marine Reserves Program since 2007.

The October 30th presentation will be held in the Hatfield Room at the Tillamook County Library in downtown Tillamook, and is made possible by a partnership with the Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve. The Council’s regular monthly business meeting will follow the presentation, with updates on Council activities and local habitat restoration projects. Doors will open at 5:30PM and the presentation will start at 6:00PM. Light refreshments will be served. As with all TBWC events, this event is free and open to the public.

The TBWC holds regular public meetings of our all-volunteer board on the last Tuesday of each month at the library, and we are always seeking new members from the community. The Council’s work includes on-the-ground habitat restoration projects, educational outreach programs, and other community-engagement activities like our popular Speaker Series. For more information, visit our website at: https//tillamookbay.org or call 503-322-0002.

What: Oregon’s Marine Reserve Virtual Tour & TBWC Monthly Meeting

Where: Tillamook County Library, 1716 Third Street in downtown Tillamook

When: Tuesday, October 30th from 6:00PM to 8:30PM

Why: Because we love the Tillamook Bay Watershed!