Tsunami Debris...

[Discover Paragliding!]

Just got the notice below from Flashalert. Stuff has definitely started washing up on shore in the last few days. Mostly stuff that rides high in the water and is more subject to winds than currents. The heavier stuff is likely still a couple months or more out.

I brought home a couple of large fishing floats, and actually helped load the two items pictured below onto the state parks trucks to remove them from the beach here. Big worry for everyone is invasive species. Not sure what's going to be done to stop it, but no one is ready to give up without a fight.

It's going to be an interesting summer, always wondering what tomorrow will bring. This time, in a more literal sense than usual.

Come on out and do some early morning beach combing. Could be interesting! :-)

Brad

See you up there,

Brad and Maren
Your 'Couple' of Instructors
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
503-861-2772 (W) 503-440-0733 (c)

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Bids received to remove the Agate Beach dock
Date:	Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:46:10 -0700 (PDT)
From:	in...@flashalert.net
Reply-To:	con...@flashalert.net
To:	in...@discoverparagliding.com

News Release from: Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
BIDS RECEIVED TO REMOVE THE AGATE BEACH DOCK
Posted: June 13th, 2012 4:45 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-06/1303/55221/float-02.JPG (Example of recent beach debris, origin not confirmed, recovered from Sunset Beach in Clatsop County)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-06/1303/55221/float-01.jpg (Example of recent beach debris, origin not confirmed, recovered from Sunset Beach in Clatsop County)

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has received six bids to remove the derelict dock at Agate Beach. The period for accepting bids closed as planned at 3 p.m., June 13, 2012. The dock is debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan and landed at the beach 1 mile north of Newport on Tuesday, June 5. The bidders are:

Liquidvision Technology, Inc.
Klamath Falls OR

Cedar Creek Quarries
Newport OR

Ballard Diving & Salvage
Vancouver WA

Fred Devine Diving & Salvage
Portland OR

Billeter Marine
Coos Bay OR

Statewide Contract Services
Springfield OR

Reviewing the bids and checking references may take a couple of days, at which time the department will release an update on how and when the work will be done.

Since Tuesday last week, the Agate Beach parking lot has recorded 12,791 vehicles. Traffic for the same week in 2011 totaled 2,077.

Smaller pieces of debris of different kinds -- mostly styrofoam and plastic -- are also washing up on the Oregon coast. The department and other partners are working on a coastwide plan for disposal of tsunami debris, and exploring longer term funding for this effort, but details are not yet final. Cities, counties, federal, and state officials along with many volunteers are working together to handle this challenge. The outpouring of support shows just how much Oregonians care about their beaches and ocean resources.

Coast visitors and residents can help if they find large amounts of debris they think may be from the tsunami:

+ Litter and other typical marine debris. Examples: Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, buoys, Styrofoam.
If practical, we encourage you to remove the debris and recycle as much of it as possible. Use your judgment -- if you see a significant amount of debris or anything you think might be related to the tsunami, send an email with the date, location and photos to beach....@state.or.us.

+ Derelict vessel or other large debris item. Examples: Adrift fishing boat, shipping containers.
Contact 911. If the debris is a hazard to navigation, contact the US Coast Guard Pacific Area Command at 510-437-3701 for assistance. Do not attempt to move or remove vessels.

+ Mementos or possessions. Examples: Items with unique identifiers, names, or markings.
If an item can 1) be traced back to an individual or group and 2) has personal or monetary value, contact the department at 1-888-953-7677 or by email at beach....@state.or.us so we can make appropriate arrangements for return of items to Japan.

+ Potential hazardous materials. Examples: Oil or chemical drums, gas cans, propane tanks.
Call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 to report the item with as much information as possible. Do not touch the item or attempt to move it.

We want to thank all the Oregonians who already have volunteered time and effort to keep our beaches clean.  By working together, we can overcome this challenge created by this terrible disaster.

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