Coast Guard needs to minimize the damage it caused

In his column for the Umpaqu Post, accomplished fisherman and noted outdoor writer Pete Heley commented on the aggressive practices that the Douglas County Sheriff used enforcing the Coast Guard’s rules for crossing the Umpqua River Bar.

“Recently, there have been both troubling and encouraging statements regarding the new enforcement area associated with bar closures on the lower Umpqua River.

Statements by the Coast Guard affirming that they are the only enforcement agency with authority regarding the location of boats in the lower river was encouraging. A statement that anybody harassed about the location of their boats while on the lower river should call the Coast Guard (541-271-2138) was most encouraging.

Statements that the Coast Guard was only enforcing a river closure up to navigational aid 6 (the upriver end of the jetty) was even more encouraging. But a statement that there was almost the same number of bar closures as in recent years — and therefore, there was little change in enforcement procedure — was misleading and inaccurate.

When the amount of lower river that is attached to a bar closure is nearly doubled, it is a colossal change. The fact that it is not actively being enforced only works if all future users are aware of the practice. The fact is, a different agency, through aggressive use of authority that they didn’t have, has already done major harm to the future economy of Winchester Bay.

I, for one, actually think that the Coast Guard would like to be a good partner in the well-being of Winchester Bay.  But to fully minimize the damage that is already done, the Coast Guard needs to be able to convey more encouraging information to those would-be users from out of the area when they call to see if they can actually come over and participate in the water-based recreation of their choice. I certainly hope they figure out a way to do that. Ports from Charleston to Newport have recently benefited, at Winchester Bay’s expense.

For those of us who have been here for a number of years, there have been a number of changes that have largely gone under the radar — changes that have reduced Winchester Bay’s recreational opportunities.

It wasn’t very many years ago that the Coast Guard allowed salmon and some bottom fish anglers to fish along the upper end of the South Jetty while they waited for a bar restriction or closure to be lifted. It allowed anglers to quickly react to the opening of the bar instead of having to travel 10 miles from Reedsport to cross it.

Until recently, the number of bar closures to vessels more than 40 feet in length was rare. In the last week, the Umpqua River bar has had closures to vessels less than 60 feet in length and another closure to less than 80 feet in length.

One more thing before moving on to happier subjects. If safety is really an important aspect of these restrictions, anglers intending to fish out of Winchester Bay for halibut and tuna need to get an early start if they are going to return to port under safer conditions. In past years, it seems that these anglers were often allowed to leave Winchester Bay quite early, resulting in more pleasurable and safer trips. Can it be that way again?”  Bill Lackner for the Clam Diggers Association of Oregon