New
Carissa Oil Spill
From Response to Restoration
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New Carissa Oil Spill Natural Resource Trustees |
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![New Carissa on the water (USFWS).](Images/One.gif) |
Background
On February 4, 1999, the 640-foot
freighter New Carissa ran
aground on the Oregon coast during a major winter storm. The
vessel was carrying nearly 400,000 gallons of fuel oil and
diesel onboard. After 4 days in the heavy surf, the New
Carissa began
leaking oil. On 11 February, the New Carissa broke
in half, releasing an estimated 70,000-140,000 gallons of
fuel into the marine environment. |
![Biologist conducting a survey on the beach (USFWS).](Images/Two.gif) |
Responding
to the Spill
Biologists from the Bureau of Land Management,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and U.S. Forest Service went on-scene immediately and
began searching beaches for dead or injured wildlife. Search
teams helped capture 230 live birds, including 17 western snowy
plovers*, oiled during the incident. The birds were cleaned,
cared for and released back into the wild. |
![Dead seabird on the beach (USFWS).](Images/Three.gif) |
Assessing the Damage to Seabirds and Shorebirds
Search teams recovered more than 1,300 dead seabirds including
26 marbled murrelets*. Through
field studies and computer modeling, an assessment
team estimated that 2,453 seabirds (including 262
marbled murrelets) and 672 shorebirds (including 4 to 8
snowy plovers) were killed or injured by the spill. |
Restoring Seabirds and Shorebirds |
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Marbled Murrelets
The assessment team secured $26.7 million to purchase nearly
4,300 acres of coastal forest for threatened marbled murrelets. Two
parcels, equaling 3,851 acres, were given to the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians, who have strong cultural ties to
the area, and a 400-acre parcel will be added to the Siuslaw
National Forest. All three parcels will be managed for the
benefit and conservation of marbled murrelets. |
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Snowy Plovers
The assessment team also
secured funding to restore 30 acres of former nesting habitat
critical to western snowy plovers. After removal of
non-native European beachgrass, the restored area will be
maintained as nesting habitat for snowy plovers for the next
20 to 30 years. |
Natural Resource Trustees partner with Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge to Restore Seabirds and Shorebirds
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The assessment team worked closely with the Oregon Coast
National Wildlife Refuge and local conservation groups to
develop over $11 million in restoration and environmental
education projects that benefit other seabirds and shorebirds
species along the Oregon coast. Projects currently planned
include:
Shorebird
Projects - 672 shorebirds were lost due to the New Carissa oil
spill
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![Map](Images/Five.gif) |
Restore 400 acres of salt marsh for migrating and nesting shorebirds
at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. This will
be the largest project of its kind in Oregon. In addition
to the four agencies and two tribes that make up the assessment
team, a number of other organizations are involved in this
restoration effort including the Coquille Indian Tribe, Ducks
Unlimited, Cape Arago Audubon Society, Oregon Habitat Joint
Venture, Friends of Southern Oregon Coastal Refuges, South
Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, The Nature Conservancy,
The Archaeological Conservancy, Portland State University,
University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire,
Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University and the
Federal Highway Administration. |
![Shorebirds](Images/Six.gif) |
Seabird Projects - 2,203 seabirds were lost due to the New Carissa oil
spill
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![Common murres (USFWS)](Images/Nine.gif) |
Control of non-native predators on seabird colonies in southern Oregon. Red fox have recently moved into southern Oregon from California, resulting in the complete elimination of nesting seabirds from a number of colonies. The colonies are expected to fully recover once the predators are removed. The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon Parks and Recreation and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services will participate in the effort, which will protect the seabird colonies from predators for 30 years. |
![Poster depicting coastal programs.](Images/Ten.gif) |
Design,
fabricate and install educational panels at
beach access locations near seabird colonies. The
panels will raise public awareness of seabirds
nesting in the area and discuss how beachgoers
can avoid disturbing the sensitive colonies. Oregon
Parks and Recreation will assist in locating
and installing the panels. |
*These species are listed as threatened under
the Endangered Species Act. |
Lost or Diminished Recreation
Opportunities -
27,974 to 29,204 lost due to New Carissa oil spill
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During the grounding of the New Carissa on
the North Spit of the Coos River, the re-grounding at Governor
Patterson State Park, and the subsequent clean-up efforts,
which continued for several weeks, an estimated 27,974 to
29,204 public recreation trips were lost or diminished in
the affected areas. The value of the lost recreation opportunities
at sites managed by the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management and Oregon State Parks is estimated to be between
$395,756 and $413,056. Recreation managers for the affected
agencies have identified a series of projects (totaling $404,000)
to compensate for recreational losses resulting from the M/V
New Carissa incident.
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![Photo - Trail improvement workers (USDA Forest Service).](Images/Recreation-1.jpg) |
• Trail and Parking Lot Improvements at Governor Patterson
State Park
• Beach Signing to Minimize Recreation Impacts to Snowy
Plovers at Coos River North Spit and Oregon Dunes National Recreation
Area
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![Photo- New signage (USDA Forest Service).](Images/Recreation-2.jpg) |
• New Off-Highway Vehicle Staging Area and Vehicle
Management Fencing at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
• Trail, Sand Road, and Signing Improvements at North Spit
of Coos
• Improved Directional Signing and New Visitor Information
Kiosks at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and North Spit
of Coos |
![Photo - Facitlity improvements at campground (USDA Forest Service).](Images/Recreation-3.jpg) |
• New Campground Toilets and Fully Accessible Campsites
(for people with disabilities) at Oregon Dunes National Recreation
Area |
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