Devil s Punchbowl intertidal area Gull Rock (offshore) 12. Gull Rock Site Description: Gull Rock is located approximately 0.4 miles offshore and about six miles north of Yaquina Head in Lincoln County, Oregon. Designation: The TSP designates Gull Rock a "priority rock" although the study needed to warrant additional management measures has not occurred, and Gull Rock is not specially designated by the state. However, Gull Rock is part of the USFWS Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Access: Access is by boat only. The Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge prohibits public access to all offshore rocks. Ownership: DSL owns submerged and submersible (intertidal) lands. USFWS owns offshore rocks above MHW. Key Resources: There has been no new seabird data published since the 1988 USFWS data, which was used to write the TSP resource section. The TSP notes six species of seabirds breed here including approximately 23,000 common murres and 550 Brandt s cormorants Bald eagles and brown pelicans (threatened and endangered species) use this site (OPAC, 1994). Harbor seals continue to use the rock as a haulout (ODFW, 2001). Visitor Use: The TSP reports that humans do not use the rock, and it is illegal for them to do so. People may be able to reach it by boats from local ports/harbors or via small vessels (e.g., kayaks) launched from nearby beaches such as Beverley Beach during calm weather. Table 14 lists allowed and prohibited uses. Management: USFWS manages the rock as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. 60
Impact Concerns: The TSP notes that the rock is located between two nearby ports, Yaquina Bay and Depoe Bay, and adjacent waters have substantial commercial and recreational nearshore fisheries. Low-flying aircraft are common in the area and an airport is located nearby. The potential disruption is still a concern, especially if use continues to increase. However, it is not possible, without further study, to tell if these users are affecting the wildlife. Management Objectives: The TSP objectives are to protect wildlife habitat values of the rock while allowing appropriate use of adjacent ocean waters. Management Prescriptions: The TSP does not make any management measures suggestions and no new ones are suggested at this time. Table 14. Allowed and prohibited uses at Gull Rock ALLOWED General recreational activities in nearby waters while staying appropriate distances (~500 feet) away from rocks, islands and cliffs Harvest of living species in adjacent waters by permit only and following appropriate fishing regulations Overflight, except that aircraft operators are asked to stay above 2000 feet to avoid disturbing protected birds and marine mammals PROHIBITED Climbing on offshore rocks (exposed and not connected to the land at mean high tide) Harassment of marine mammals pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and any species protected by the Endangered Species Act 61
13. Yaquina Head Site description: Yaquina Head is located approximately five miles north of Newport, in Lincoln County, Oregon. The rocky shoreline is a wide range of habitat types; rocky intertidal intermixed with sand and cobble/pebble beaches, basalt and sandstone cliffs, with associated submerged and submersible rocks and subtidal habitat, including kelp beds. Designation: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the entire Yaquina Head area as the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (YHONA). YHONA is managed for its outstanding natural resources, scenic values and public enjoyment. A 1.8-mile section of this coastline is a marine garden. The Yaquina Head Marine Garden encompasses all rocky areas, tide pools, and sand beaches situated between extreme high tide and extreme low tide lying between the sand beach on the north, and the sand beach on the south of Yaquina Head. It includes rocky areas abutting the sand beaches on the north and south sides of the headland (ODFW Marine Zone Fishing Regulations, 2006). Access: Several paved trails lead to the rocky shore. One of the trails, near the lighthouse parking area, includes a steep staircase and leads to the marine garden. Another trail, on the south end, leads to a handicap-accessible tidepool area (Quarry Cove). The area offers stunning views of the many offshore rocks, with some of the best at the overlook closest to the lighthouse. There is a vehicle entry fee. Ownership: DSL owns submerged and submersible (intertidal) lands. USFW owns offshore rocks above MHW. BLM owns the upland above MHW. Key Resources: There has been no new seabird data published since the 1988 USFWS data, which was used to write the TSP resource section. The TSP notes high use intertidal habitat, seabird colony sites including: common murres, pelagic and Brandt s cormorant, pigeon guillemots, western gulls, tufted puffins (occasionally), rhinoceros auklets, and black oystercatchers. Endangered brown pelicans and threatened bald eagles also use the area, as do harbor seals for pupping and haulout (OPAC, 1994). Yaquina Head is one of Oregon s largest seabird nesting areas. The American Bird Conservancy has designated it a Globally Important Bird Area. Grey whales occasionally spend time in areas very close to Yaquina Head. Visitor Use: This site is especially popular for exploring tidepools and watching whales, and birds. Many school groups come here on field trips. Because the northern end of the site is a marine garden, collecting intertidal shellfish and marine invertebrates there is prohibited. BLM staff is on site during most of the year s low tides to monitor intertidal visitor use and provide interpretive services. When BLM instituted a day-use fee in July 1997, visitor use decreased. Visitation appears to be slowly increasing; 342,687 visitors used the site in 2005 (Figure 19). Table 15 lists allowed and prohibited uses. 62
Day-Use Visitors 600000 500000 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Year Figure 19. Visitor use of Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area from 1992-2005 Management: ODFW manages the intertidal area as a marine garden jointly with BLM, which also manages the upland as an Outstanding Natural Area. USFWS manages offshore rocks above MHW as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. BLM enforces several types of restrictions including: no dogs past the parking lots, restrictions on cliff access to protect bird and mammal reproduction, and seasonal closures of sensitive intertidal and animal haulout and nesting areas. There is a reservation system for school groups, which need to contact BLM before visiting. BLM tries to allow fewer than 100 people at a time in the tidepools. Impact Concerns: The TSP lists overuse of the natural intertidal area; disturbance to seabirds and harbor seals on some rocks from illegal climbing at low tide as the primary impact concerns. Overuse of the readily accessible marine garden section is still the primary concern at this site. BLM staff monitor visitor use during spring and summer low tides to prevent illegal climbing. This has likely greatly reduced the disturbance of seabirds and marine mammals. Other BLM concerns include hang gliding and kite flying, which are not restricted, but may disturb marine mammals and seabirds. Management Objectives: The TSP objectives are to enhance enjoyment and appreciation of intertidal resources while protecting [the] intertidal area from effects of overuse; coordinate management of intertidal area[s] with management of nearby sites at Otter Crest and Seal Rocks. BLM s visitor s center and the increase of BLM staff at the tidepools during low tides have enhanced the enjoyment and appreciation of intertidal resources. It also has reduced disturbance to birds and marine mammals and illegal collecting. However, it is not know whether the effects of overuse such as trampling have been reduced as very high levels of use continue to occur. In some areas, no coordination between nearby sites occurs, except for the occasional redirection by BLM and staff for interested parties (e.g., school groups) to visit other locations when BLM staff are extremely busy. 63
Management Prescriptions: The TSP prescriptions are to develop strategies to control impacts including: prohibit harvest of intertidal marine algae (seaweeds); close monitoring of intertidal ecosystem health; rotational closures of intertidal areas as necessary to allow recovery from use; and seasonal access restrictions to cliff areas as necessary to protect bird and mammal reproduction. Status of Prescriptions: BLM signs tell visitors they may not collect anything except driftwood. OPRD discourages people from collecting marine algae in ODFW specially designated intertidal sites but collection is not officially prohibited. BLM visually inspects intertidal health and is developing a resource management plan. No scientific research projects have been done since the early 1990s. BLM does not close the entire intertidal area off at any time. It does confine use to areas closer to the beach as deemed necessary. BLM has put fences around most of the accessible cliff areas to protect bird and mammal reproduction. BLM rangers in the tidepools post signs and cones to prevent illegal access to offshore islands and cliffs during spring and summer low tides. Rangers move the cones depending on where the marine mammals are. Educational Opportunities: BLM provides on-site rangers and staffs a visitor s center, which it built in 1996. In the summer, usually three or four rangers work in the tidepools, answering questions, interpreting, and enforcing rules and area closures. Table 15. Allowed and prohibited uses at Yaquina Head Marine Garden ALLOWED General recreational activities (e.g., walking, tidepooling, bird watching) Single mussels may be taken for bait Environmental education/interpretation PROHIBITED Ocean Shore Recreation Area Prohibited Activities* Take of shellfish and other marine invertebrates Harassment of marine mammals pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and any species protected by the Endangered Species Act Climbing on offshore rocks (exposed and not connected to the land at mean high tide) Disturbance/collection of historic artifacts *1.) Fires in driftwood piles, dunes or near beach grass, 2.) Commercial activities without a permit, 3.) Motor vehicles where posted, 4.) Construction, removal of rock, sand, logs or marine algae without a permit, 5.) Trespassing or digging on sand cliffs Yaquina Head intertidal area 64
Mool ac k B ea ch Figure 20 Schooner Point Yaquina Head ONA Yaquina Head Agate Beach SRS Jumpoff Joe Agate Beach SRS Jumpoff Joe Yaquina Bay Kelp Beds Approx. Park Boundaries Marine Garden Rocky Intertidal!. [ [ Beach Access Marine Mammal Haulout Seabirds Yaquina Head and Newport 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles / Created in ArcGIS 9 using ArcMap Laurel Hillmann OPRD NOAA Coastal Fellow March 2006