Conservation. Advocacy. Engagement.
Between Cannon Beach’s spectacular coastline and its charming town lies a healthy, hardworking dune system. These dunes provide habitat for plants and animals, space for recreation, and vital protection against storms, flooding, and sand inundation. They are planted primarily with European and American beach grass, the only species shown to strongly anchor dunes where permanent structures such as homes, roads, and town infrastructure are located behind them. The beach grasses add both beauty and stability to the dunes and the community. Although European and American beach grass are invasive species, they remain the recommended dune-stabilizing plants because native plants do not build or maintain the protective dunes needed in developed areas. Using these species is a necessary compromise to protect both the dunes and the infrastructure behind them.
The dunes graded flat to improve oceanfront homeowners’ views, then replanted with European beach grass
Up to the late 1990s, the Cannon Beach foredunes had eroded so much that residents were concerned about losing them completely, leaving the town little protection against storms. But then the sand patterns shifted, as they do, and the dunes began to grow again, especially at the northern end of town.
An Updated Sand Study
The City commissioned the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) to conduct an expensive study of sand movement within the entire Cannon Beach littoral cell from Cape Falcon to Chapman Point Beach. The resulting paper explained the movement of sand within the littoral cell and offered various sand management options for the City to consider. Special Paper 49, Beach and shoreline dynamics in the Cannon Beach littoral cell: Implications for dune management, by Jonathan C. Allan, Fletcher E. O’Brien, and Laura L. Gabel. Download publication (30 MB, 118 p. PDF)
Success & Victory
In 2019, after this multi-year, and contentious process, the City Council adopted the updated Foredune Management Plan, and revised the City’s Comprehensive Plan removing the ability of property owners to dune grade our state-owned land to improve their views.
The Breakers Point and Chapman Point HOAs’ immediately appealed the City’s decision to the Oregon State Land Use Board of Appeals.
On March 3, 2021, The Land Use Board of Appeals issued an opinion upholding the City of Cannon Beach’s controversial decision to end all grading of sand dunes for view protection and/or enhancement.
Seven years of continuous, and conscientious advocacy finally paid off! We thank everyone who participated in this important process along with the City staff, Planning Commission and City Councilors for their efforts and thoughtful deliberation.