Back to Aid 6
Winchester Bay has a dedicated and hardworking group of merchants who offer services to folks that regularly make the trek to Salmon Harbor to enjoy the great fishing and crabbing opportunities in the estuary of the Umpqua River and, over the bar, in the near-shore ocean.
For many years, recreational fishers have been restricted during heavy weather to stay east of Aid 6, located just west of Half Moon Bay. That restriction worked well as it allowed fishing and crabbing to continue in Half Moon and Windy Bays and up the river, despite bar conditions.
Toward the end of 2009, the US Coast Guard announced changes to their regulations when weather conditions made the bar of the Umpqua dangerous. The new rule moved restricted access from Aid 6 to Aid 8, located at Osprey Point right outside of the West Basin of Salmon Harbor, effectively doubling the area that was off limits during bad bar conditions.
Word quickly spread amongst the recreational fishers (these folks are VERY internet savvy!) that they could make the long trek to Winchester Bay and only be able to go upriver from the harbor. Lots of folks were talking about changing their destination to Charleston, and avoiding the new uncertainty of the Umpqua.
At the request of the Harbormaster and the Winchester Bay merchants, the Coast Guard held a meeting in late February of 2010. Over 150 citizens attended and made their case to roll the restriction back to Aid 6. It was an outstanding meeting. Individuals expressed themselves eloquently and respectfully. Well thought out questions were asked, and much fact based information changed hands. A great many of the speakers expressed their appreciation of the work the Coast Guard does to keep them safe. The Coast Guard understood and acknowledged the problems with Aid 8.
On March 16, the Coast Guard announced that they were moving the line back to Aid 6, and were rushing the new rule through their regulatory process. In their press release they acknowledged the potential adverse economic impacts of Aid 8 restrictions, and saluted the local citizens that brought their concerns forward.
My hat is off to all the great people of Winchester Bay and Reedsport that stepped up and effectively worked with the Coast Guard. My hat is off to the Coast Guard for quickly solving a real problem for Winchester Bay. High fives all around!
Susan always welcomes your questions or comments. Please contact her by email at morgan@co.douglas.or.us; by mail at Douglas County Courthouse, Room 217, 1036 SE Douglas, Roseburg, 97470; or by phone at 440-4201.