Background. The Newport Field Office opened in 1995 bringing our Ecological Services staff to the coastal community.  The office is co-located with the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex Office near the Mark O. Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. We work in all of Oregon's coastal counties: Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties.

What We Do. Working in the local community, we collaborate with federal, state, tribal, county, local agencies, watershed councils, as well as private entities to address natural resource issues.  We provide technical and financial assistance for watershed assessment, restoration, management, and Endangered Species Act consultation.

Current activities:

• Species Recovery. We are working to recover and conserve listed and sensitive species, including Western snowy plover, Oregon silverspot butterfly, and Western lily.  
• ESA Consultations. We conduct ESA (Endangered Species Act) consultations for projects that may affect listed species.
• Coastal Program. Through our Coastal Program we work to restore fish and wildlife habitat on federal, state, tribal, county and private lands. Restoration projects primarily occur in seven Focus Areas that span the length of the Oregon coast line (map).  Enhancement of salmon habitat is a high priority.
• Species Monitoring.  The Western snowy plover (Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center Annual Report) and the Oregon silverspot butterfly are monitored annually to evaluate species recovery.   
• Conservation Planning. We recently approved a draft Habitat Conservation Plan developed by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to protect and restore habitat and boost the population of Western snowy plovers on State Parks land. We also finalized a Safe Harbor Agreement to help private property owners recover Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat on their land.
• Volunteers. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteers provide invaluable support through their participation in annual Beach Cleanups at plover nesting areas and by conducting coastwide Black Oystercatcher surveys.  Volunteers assist in captive rearing Oregon silverspot butterflies at the Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo for their release at breeding sites.

Species of Interest in Coastal Oregon

Items of Note

Western Snowy Plover

Key Information Page

Black Oystercatcher

Results of the latest Black Oystercatcher Survey

Seabirds

Catalogue of Oregon Seabird Colonies
[Large PDF file 16 KB]

Shorebirds

Shorebird Projects in Coastal Oregon and Washington - 2004

Regional Shorebirds Conservation Plan

Western Snowy Plover

Educational Coloring Book
[PDF 23 pages]