Estuary Planning Requirements

Statewide Planning Goal 16 (Estuarine Resources) establishes detailed requirements for the planning and management of Oregon's estuaries. The overall objective of Goal 16 is to "recognize and protect the unique environmental, economic and social values of each estuary and associated wetlands, and to protect, maintain, where appropriate develop and restore the long-term environmental, economic, and social values, diversity and benefits of Oregon's estuaries." To accomplish this, the Goal sets broad requirements for preparation of plans and for review of individual projects. The Goal calls for coordinated action by all local, state and federal agencies that regulate or have an interest in Oregon's estuaries.

Goal 16 provides for management of estuaries in three ways. First, LCDC has established a coastwide classification system to maintain diversity between and among the state's estuaries. Second, individual estuary plans designate appropriate uses for different management units with in each estuary. Third, local plans must provide for review of estuarine alterations to assure that they are as compatible as possible with the protection of estuarine values.

Most Goal 16 requirements are not implemented through locally adopted plans, but some are applied by state agencies through their review of permit applications. Both state and federal agencies assist in implementing estuary plans through review of specific projects.

Oregon estuary classification Estuary Classification
To maintain diversity among Oregon's estuaries, Goal 16 directs the Land Conservation and Development Commission to set overall limits on the amount of development that can occur in each estuary. The classification sets an upper limit on the types and intensities of development that can occur and serves as a guide to preparation of plans for each estuary.

Management Unit Designation
Plans are prepared for each estuary by the affected cities and counties with input from the public and other interested units of government. Plans divide each estuary into a number of different zones or areas called management units. Plans identify appropriate uses for each management unit. Goals 16 directs what kinds of areas are to be included in each management unit and what kinds of uses can be allowed in each type of management unit.

Project Review
Goal 16 also requires that estuary plans include procedures and standards for review of proposed estuarine developments. Project review requirements are designed to ensure that new uses or alterations are compatible with resources in the area and that harmful effects are minimized. Most project review requirements are applied through review of permits for specific development projects.

Estuary classification

LCDC adopted an estuary classification system which defines the overall level of development permitted in each estuary. This system is designed to preserve diversity among Oregon's estuaries and guide development to estuaries that have been altered and which can support more development.

Major estuaries

Major Estuaries	Classification	Definition
	NATURAL Sand Lake Salmon River Elk River* Sixes River* Pistol River*	Estuaries lacking maintained jetties or channels, and which are usually little developed for residential, commercial or industrial uses. They may have altered shorelines, provided that these altered shorelines are not adjacent to an urban area. Shorelands around natural estuaries are generally used for agriculture, forestry, recreation and other rural uses. Natural estuaries have only natural management units.
	CONSERVATION Necanicum River Netarts Bay Nestucca River Siletz Bay Alsea Bay Winchuck River*	Estuaries lacking maintained jetties or channels, but which are within or adjacent to urban areas which have altered shorelines adjacent to the estuary. Conservation estuaries shall have conservation and natural management units.
	SHALLOW DRAFT DEVELOPMENT Nehalem Bay Tillamook Bay Depoe Bay* Siuslaw River Umpqua River Coquille River Rogue River Chetco River	Estuaries with maintained jetties and a main channel (not entrance channel) maintained by dredging at 22 feet or less. Shallow draft development estuaries have development, conservation and natural management units.
	DEEP DRAFT DEVELOPMENT Columbia River Yaquina Bay Coos Bay	Estuaries with maintained jetties and a main channel maintained by dredging to deeper than 22 feet. Deep draft development estuaries have development, conservation and natural management units.
* Because of their small size, little study has been done of these estuaries. ODFW habitat maps are not available, so these estuaries have been excluded from this document.

Minor estuaries

County	Estuary	Classification	Size¹
Clatsop	Ecola Creek²	Conservation	50 acres
Tillamook	Neskowin Creek	Conservation	30 acres
Lincoln	Big Creek Beaver Creek Yachats River³	Natural Conservation Conservation	20 acres 35 acres 40 acres
Lane	Tenmile Creek Big Creek Berry Creek Siltcoos River Sutton River	Natural Natural Natural Natural Natural	35 acres 35 acres 30 acres 45 acres 45 acres
Douglas	Tahkenitch Creek	Natural	25 acres
Coos	Tenmile Creek Twomile Creek Fourmile Creek / New R.	Natural Natural Natural	35 acres 20 acres 20 acres
Curry	Floras Creek / New R. Euchre Creek Hunter	Natural Natural Natural	125 acres 45 acres 50 acres
¹ The figures listed are very general estimates based on local maps and head-of-tide data. ² Ecola Creek is largely within the City of Cannon Beach. ³ Yachats River estuary is largely within the City of Yachats.

The Oregon Estuary Plan Book covers Oregon's seventeen largest estuaries. Four smaller "major" estuaries and seventeen "minor" estuaries are not covered because detailed mapping and habitat information is not available for them.

Minor estuaries are formed where smaller rivers and creeks meet the ocean. Despite their small size, most minor estuaries do have valuable estuarine habitat and support anadromous fish runs. In addition, most of them are largely unaltered by human development. Minor estuaries are required to be placed in either a conservation or natural classification in an estuary plan.