Bold claim: Protecting our watersheds is non-negotiable for healthy communities, now more than ever. But the road to stronger flood resilience and safer drinking water is nuanced and sometimes controversial. Here’s a fully rewritten, expanded version of the original content in clear, beginner-friendly language while preserving all key information.
North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection has a busy slate of upcoming events and important updates. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center will co-host a free webinar titled: Beyond the High Water Mark: A Call for Floodplain Management Reform to Ensure Compliance with Federal Law and Bolster Community Resilience to Flooding and Climate Change. To register, visit https://oregonshores.org/?post_type=event&p=51628&preview=true.
The timing is especially relevant given recent atmospheric river events and the choices cities and counties face regarding three proposed levels of FEMA floodplain codes. The session will explore how these codes influence local planning and protection efforts amid climate pressures.
A core focus will be the history of the court case Northwest Environmental Defense Center et al. v. Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has driven Oregon communities to update their floodplain management laws. The webinar will examine why timely, robust updates are necessary to ensure that local governments, developers, the State, and FEMA comply with federal law as they participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. It will also discuss how protecting floodplains can promote healthier ecosystems and, in turn, build more resilient communities capable of withstanding increasingly severe flood events.
Attendees will gain background on the reforms, including grassroots perspectives on the opportunities and potential impacts of each reform pathway. The aim is to support science-based decision-making that strengthens climate resilience and aligns with obligations under the Endangered Species Act and the National Flood Insurance Program.
Leading the discussion will be Mary Stites, Staff Attorney at the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Pacific Northwest’s natural resources. A graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, Mary has contributed to enforcing the Clean Water Act, safeguarding endangered species, and advocating against siting harmful industrial activities in sensitive areas.
NCCWP Astoria Chapter News: Our next monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please note we will not meet at our usual venue, KALA, due to holiday events. The meeting will take place at Necessary Magic, 333 10th Street in Astoria.
Looking ahead: On Tuesday, January 13, starting at 4:00 p.m., we will discuss talking points for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Forest Management Plan (FMP). This gathering will be in Astoria at KALA and also accessible virtually. Chili and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. A week later, on Tuesday, January 20 at 5:30 p.m., an in-person ODF FMP meeting with opportunities to present testimony will be held at the Tillamook ODF offices, 5005 3rd St.
Save Our Wetlands update: LUBA No. 2025-069 Nedonna Development v. City of Rockaway Beach. The Rockaway Beach City Council unanimously reversed prior approvals for a 28-lot Planned Unit Development in Nedonna Beach. Nedonna Development LLC has appealed that reversal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). The intervenors, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection, will be represented by the Crag Law Center.
For those who want to learn more about pesticide monitoring, check out the new Interactive FERNS Pesticide Application Map from Beyond Toxics. Pesticide applications occur across Oregon’s forestlands, and this map compiles records from 2014–2024 using data from the Forestry Electronic Registry Notification System (FERNS). The tool lets users filter by chemical type, application method, date range, and more. Beyond Toxics partnered with the University of Oregon’s InfoGraphics Lab to develop this resource, which is hosted at https://www.beyondtoxics.org/work/pesticides-and-communities/pesticide-map/ and will be updated as new data become available.
If you missed Beyond Toxics’ December 9 webinar introducing the FERNS map, a recording is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/UnJRO763ggM.
A值得关注的读物: The Science Shows Glyphosate Must be Banned. This month, NCCWP extends thanks to Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, Beyond Toxics, the Wild Salmon Center, and the Crag Law Center for their collaboration. NCCWP remains committed to protecting drinking water sources from logging and pesticide use, regardless of land ownership, and to reducing pesticide drift near where people live, work, and play. Clean drinking water and clean air are public trusts we all deserve. To learn more or get involved, visit www.healthywatershed.org or https://www.facebook.com/NCCWATERSHEDPROTECTION.
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