The Estuary

Estuaries are the mixing of saltwater and freshwater where rivers meet the tide. Estuaries are an amazing place for plants, animals, and people! They are critical habitat for native salmon, birds, and plants. Healthy estuaries are not only critical for biodiversity, but our enjoyment of the coastline, and the productivity of our fishing and tourism industries. Yaquina Bay, where the Yaquina River meets the Pacific Ocean, is one of Oregon’s 22 major estuaries. Yaquina Bay is the cornerstone of the area’s cultural, ecological, and economic future.

Cultural Significance

Yaquina Bay and the surrounding area have been home to the people of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians since time immemorial, who still have a thriving, active cultural presence in the region today. The Bay today is home to approximately 15,000 people who live, work, and play in the area. Natural recreation attractions—including the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Natural Area and South Beach State Park—provide spaces for hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. Yaquina Bay is also a popular place for shellfish harvesting and fishing, supports a thriving and diverse economy, and attracts well over a million visitors every year to attractions like the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Newport Discovery Zoo.

Eel grass

Ecology

Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water – a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater. They are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Many animals rely on estuaries for food, places to breed, and as migration stopovers. Estuaries are delicate ecosystems that provide essential habitat for wildlife.

The Yaquina Bay estuary is home to tidal wetlands, riparian areas, and forests that are critical habitats for over 30 species of conservation concern from steelhead to the spotted owl. Eelgrass beds and native oyster beds also play an important role in sustaining a number of different fish, shellfish, and bird populations.

Resources

What is an estuary?

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/estuary.html , https://www.epa.gov/nep/basic-information-about-estuaries

Yaquina Bay Estuary information

https://oregonconservationstrategy.org/conservation-opportunity-area/yaquina-bay/

Economy

Yaquina Bay communities’ local economies are inherently tied to the health and beauty of the Bay. Tourists flock to the shoreline for whale watching, boating, birding, and other activities, supporting the local restaurants, shops, lodging, and other associated businesses. With the City of Newport named the Dungeness Crab capital of the world, crabs, fish, and oysters are major industries and job centers in Yaquina Bay as seafood is caught, processed, and exported across the world. In addition to commercial fishing, the ports of Newport and Toledo support a range of shipping and storage activities. 

Resources

Newport Chamber of Commerce https://www.newportchamber.org/

Toledo Chamber of Commerce https://toledooregon.org/