Table 29. Allowed and prohibited uses at Orford Reef 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, except for the restrictions listed below (right) Overflight, except that aircraft operators are asked to stay above 2000 feet to avoid disturbance of 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 Long Brown and Needle, Orford Reef: Invertebrate harvest (voluntary) within 1000 ft during summer months. 29. Redfish s/island Site Description: Slightly south of Port Orford in Curry County, Oregon, lie the six-rock Redfish s complex (approximately two miles northwest of Humbug Mountain) and Island rock, about 1.5 miles west of the mountain s base. Redfish s and Island are both offshore of Humbug Mountain State Park (Figure 38). Designation: The TSP designated Redfish s/island a priority rock/reef. The offshore rocks/islands are part of the USFWS Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The TSP notes, Redfish s and Island are designated as a "priority rock/reef" site for monitoring and possible study leading to additional management measures. Access: The only access is by boat, although access to offshore rocks is prohibited because they are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Most people use the Port of Port Orford boat launch or the public boat launch (also known as the 12 street boat ramp). Ownership: DSL owns submerged and submersible (intertidal) lands. USFWS owns rocks above MHW. Key Resources: No new seabird data has been published since the 1988 USFWS data, which was used to write the TSP resource section. The TSP notes that there are seven species of seabirds breeding at Redfish s including approximately 22,300 common murres and more than 600 cormorants. On Island there are 11 species of seabirds breeding including more than 21,600 common murres, 1,000 cormorants, 1,500 western gulls, and 300 tufted puffins. Visitor Use: People use submerged rocks to commercially harvest urchins, and some use the water around the rocks for commercial and recreational fishing (e.g., lingcod, Sebastes). Table 30 lists allowed and prohibited uses. 117
Management: USFWS manages the rocks as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. OPRD manages some of the landward property (Humbug Mountain State Park), which is in OPRD Region 3 and the Cape Blanco Management Unit. Impact Concerns: The TSP notes potential concerns include boat and aircraft traffic, particularly during late spring and summer seabird nesting and rearing seasons. Disruption is still a concern, especially if use continues to increase. Management Objectives: The TSP objective is to protect wildlife habitat values of the rocks while allowing appropriate use of adjacent ocean waters. Management Prescriptions: The TSP does not list any. Table 30. Allowed and prohibited uses at Redfish and Island s 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, except for the restrictions listed below (right) Overflight, except that aircraft operators are asked to stay above 2,000 feet to avoid disturbance of 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 Redfish rocks (looking south from Port Orford) 118
Figure 38 Paradise Point SRS Port Orford Heads SP Battle Tichenor Cove Nellie's Cove Port Orford Heads SP Port Orford Port Orford Humbug Mt State Park y Pt Island Redfish s Coal Pt Humbug Mt State Park Island!. [ [ Approx. Park Boundaries Kelp Beds y Intertidal Beach/Visual Access Marine Mammal Haulout Seabirds Port Orford Heads to Humbug Mountain 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles / Created in ArcGIS 9 using ArcMap Laurel Hillmann OPRD NOAA Coastal Fellow March 2006
30. Humbug Mountain/Lookout Site Description: 5.4 miles of intertidal habitat located south of the westerly tip of Humbug Mountain approximately six miles southwest of Port Orford, in Curry County, Oregon (Figure 38). Designation: The TSP designates this site a research reserve. However, ODFW has not designated it. Access: Unchanged. As the TSP notes, several informal and somewhat difficult trails from Highway 101. Approximately six miles south of Port Orford is the turnoff for Humbug Mountain State Park. The easiest access to the beach and a small portion of the rocky shore immediately north of the site is via the campground parking area (follow the road through the campground and signs to the B/C loop). There is no day-use parking so this is not an option for non-campers. From the campground, a short, level walk on a gravel path, under the bridge, leads to the beach. The day-use trailhead parking area for Humbug Mountain is on the west side of U.S. Hwy. 101 just north of the campground turn-off. Some people may park in the small ODOT turnoff (42.6893 N, 124.4465 W) just north of the bridge over Brush Creek and walk a few hundred feet along the side of the highway barrier to a moderately steep slope volunteer trail down to the beach. From this point it is possible to cross the highway and follow what appears to be an old road (although it is grown over with brush) that joins the campground trail to the beach. Just slightly south of the boundary of the state park, a small ODOT pulloff offers views of Island (42.6493 N, 124.4063 W). From the pulloff, there are several informal, moderately difficult (climb through brush, uneven, steep in sections) trails to shore on the north end of the Lookout section of the site. A similar ODOT pulloff to the south reaches the Lookout area, but no trespassing signs are posted. Ownership: DSL owns submerged and submersible (intertidal) lands. USFWS owns several small offshore rocks above Mean High Water. OPRD owns portions of adjacent uplands (Humbug Mountain State Park). Other adjacent uplands are privately owned. Key Resources: The primary natural resources are intertidal communities and extensive offshore kelp beds. Species include: a great blue heron, sea palms (Postelsia palmaeformis), harbor seals, algae (Ulva sp., Fucus sp., Mastocarpus papillatus, kelp, encrusting pink/red coralline algae, branching upright pink coralline algae, two species of filamentous upright branching red algae, pine needle like algae (Neohodomela sp.?)), surfgrass, bright orange encrusting sponge and a yellow sponge, chitons (Tonicella lineata,cryptochiton stelleri), Hemigrapsus nudus, Styela montereyensis, sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus, Henricia leviuscula?, Pycnopodia helianthodes), anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica, Anthopleura elegantissima), Katharina tunicata, bryozoans (pale yellow encrusting species, Bugula sp.?), whelks, barnacles (Balanus sp. and Pollicipes polymerus), limpets (Lottia digitalis), Mytilus sp., Littorina sp., ocutopus and nemerteans (both white and red ribbon worms). 120
Visitor Use: There is very low visitor use of the intertidal area. Most visitors use the site for camping, hiking, and sport fishing from shore. A campground borders the site. ODOT uses highway pulloffs next to the site to store equipment. Area day-use figures show visitor use increasing slightly (Figure 39). Table 31 lists allowed and prohibited uses. Day-Use Visitors 200000 180000 160000 140000 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 Year Figure 39. Visitors to Humbug Mountain State Park from 1965-2005 Management: The TSP states that this site is unmanaged. OPRD manages parts of the adjacent uplands (Humbug Mountain State Park), which are part of OPRD Region 3 and the Cape Blanco Management Unit. Impact Concerns: The TSP notes no impact concerns; however, there is the potential for species collection at accessible areas within the Lookout area. Management Objectives: The TSP objective for this site is to maintain the ecological integrity of the site for long-term research projects; allow continued level of use that does not interfere with research objectives. Management Prescriptions: The TSP prescriptions are to continue low-level of use of the area, to make no improvements to access trails or parking on public lands, work with private landowners to discourage access improvements, prohibit recreational and commercial harvest of intertidal plants and invertebrates (except single mussels as bait), and allow research collection of intertidal invertebrates and marine algae (seaweeds) by permits. Management Prescriptions Status: No trails have been improved. The Humbug Mountain campground trail has been maintained. Collecting invertebrates and harvesting algae is not prohibited. ODFW fishing regulations require people to obtain permits to collect shellfish. People can collect up to ten specimens of miscellaneous marine invertebrates 121
without a permit (see ODFW fishing regulations). OPRD allows people to collect recreationally small amounts of algae (seaweed) along the ocean shore for personal use. OPRD and ODFW issue collection permits to researchers. The public is generally unaware of OPRD permit requirements. Educational Opportunities: The TSP does not list any. An Oregon Geology interpretive sign is posted on the beach path from the campground. Since people can only reach the limited intertidal habitat at extreme low tides and visitor use of the site is relatively low, this would not be a priority site for rocky shore interpretive program and tidepool walks. However, if use increases, the campground provides a good place to do offer those programs. Table 31. Allowed and prohibited uses at Humbug Mountain State Park ALLOWED General recreational activities (e.g., walking, photography, bird and wildlife watching) Harvest of shellfish (with appropriate ODFW permits) and other marine invertebrates (10 in aggregate). Be sure to be aware of and follow all fishing regulations. Personal collection of small amounts of marine algae (seaweed) Scientific research (by permit only) Environmental education/interpretation PROHIBITED Park Regulations (e.g., dogs off leash, disturbance/collection of historic artifacts, hunting) 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) Recommendations for Humbug Mountain State Park The coastline next to (and south of) Humbug Mountain State Park is home to diverse, rich intertidal communities and extensive offshore kelp beds. Few people visit the site because it is remote and hard to reach. Recommendations for improving rocky shore management and TSP compliance at Humbug Mountain State Park include: Natural Resources Prohibit intertidal algae collection except by scientific research permit within the TSP designated research reserve from Humbug Mountain to Lookout Discourage DSL from issuing kelp leases offshore of the TSP designated research reserve from Humbug Mountain to Lookout. 122
Humbug Mountain (top) Lookout tidepool (bottom) y shoreline near Lookout 31. Sisters /Devil's Backbone Site Description: 2.7 miles of cliffs, offshore rocks, and rocky intertidal habitat located about midway between Port Orford and Gold Beach (approximately six miles south of Humbug Mountain State Park) in Curry County Oregon (Figure 40). Designation: This TSP lists this site as not yet designated and notes, this area needs more detailed study and assessment before designation into one or more rocky shore management categories. No study or assessment has been done. Access: The access is primarily unchanged; however, the short gravel road noted in the TSP is no longer vehicle accessible. Most of the area to the south continues to be privately owned, with restricted access. Pedestrian access to the area is still from a gravel road off U.S. Hwy. 101, approximately six miles south of Humbug Mountain State Park. However, a gate blocks cars from the gravel road. The section of the road leading up to the gate is in very poor condition and it is easy to get stuck in one of the numerous potholes, especially during heavy rains. Parking is available in highway pull-off south of the site. A section of the Oregon Coast Trail leads from the southern pull-off down to meet the old gravel road. Ownership: Since the TSP was published, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department acquired the Sisters property (Sisters State Natural Area). DSL owns 123