Geography 368: Field Seminar
Day 6 | Environmental Hazards & Tourism along Oregon's Coast
Oswald West State Park
The first stop of the day was Oswald West state park, where the class met with geographier Patrick Corcoran, a coastal natural-hazards specialist with Oregon Sea Grant associated with Oregon State University. Corcoran works mainly with hazards outreach program to warn residence of Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria of the impending Quakenami (earthquake that causes a tsunami.) The specialist had the class take a pre-survey determine what they knew before they would stroll down to the beach front.
Oswald State Park is located ten miles south of Cannon Beach, OR and lies on the Pacific Ocean. The class took the small sands trail down to the beach through an old-growth forest filled with Sitka Spruce, Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock. Along the way, Corcoran mentioned information that pertained to the events that would ensue during and after a Quakenami. For example, the towns along the pacific cannot prevent the natural event but can prepare to escape the wave and attempt to minimize the damage. Corcoran spoke about the continental-oceanic subduction that parallels coast. When the Continental plate slides underneath the oceanic plate it will cause tectonic uplift which would cause an earthquake and then a tsunami with rolling waves.
Photo 1: The coast of Oregon - taken by Adria Slade, Photo 2: Andrew peeping through a decaying tree as Doug approaches - Taken by Krista Emery, Photo 3: Decaying trees - Taken by Chase Mohrman, Photo 4: Patrick Corcoran teaching the class about environmental hazards - Taken by Ezra Zeitler, Photo 5: The class walking along the beach on the Oregon coast - taken by Ezra Zeitler, Photo 6: Paul taking in the beauty of the coast - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg, Photo 7: Paul getting the perfect shot - Taken by Ezra Zeitler.
Cannon Beach
The next stop was Cannon Beach, OR which signature asset is Haystack Rock. The class slowed down for lunch and then headed out to the beach to view the sea stack formation. As the class hiked out to the rock, Corcoran talked about how homes along the coast of Oregon are privately insured as they are not in mapped flood zones which would insure them through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Corcoran took the students up to the flood caches that exist on the top of the hills surrounding Cannon Beach. These caches contain supplies for when the Quakenami hits. However the caches are locked and the keys are held only by four residences of Cannon Beach, which Corcoran believes will only cause panic if the caches cannot be opened. He also stated that the caches are a privileged why to take care of a widespread problem.
​
Top Left: The students posing on the coast of Oregon - Taken by Ezra Zeitler. Top Right: A starfish found in the shallow ocean waters - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg. Bottom Left: A map showing tsunami evacuation zones - Taken by Carissa Dowden. Bottom Right: Patrick Corcoran showing off the padlocked containers full of supplies incase of an emergency. The locals can put whatever they feel necessary in these containers - Taken by Krista Emery.
Seaside
Seaside was a quick stop, as the class walked out to their famous Lewis and Clark round-a-about. Corcoran talked about the flood walls along the beach and how they are there to prevent the flooding of business during winter hightide. However, Corcoran explained that they would be easily overpowered when the quakenami would occur or even with a subtle rise in ocean levels.
One of the many hotels for tourists visiting the small town of Seaside, Oregon. In front, stands a statue of Lewis and Clark - Taken by Ezra Zeitler.
A view of the ocean from in from in front of the hotel pictured above - Taken by Carissa Dowden
Astoria
The Astoria Column - Taken by Chase Mohrman.
Photo 1: Astoria Column looking south - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg. Photo 2: A seal side-eyeing the photographer - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg. Photo 3: Sleeping seals on a cool autumn afternoon - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg. Photo 4: A museum of the old Bumble Bee Seafoods. - Taken by Caroline Saksefski. Photo 5: Students enjoying the view of the Columbia River in Astoria. - Taken by Haley Churchill. Photo 6: Students walking back to the hotel after a busy day on the coast of Oregon. - Taken by Adria Slade. Photo 7: Barges on the Columbia River as it meets the Pacific Ocean. - Taken by Katlyn Wettberg
The Astoria Column is a large monument built in 1926 by the great Northern Railway Company and Vincent Astor to commemorate the founding of oregon. The column stands 125 feet tall and has an observation deck of the top with view of the Columbia River and Washington state. Corcoran bought pine planes for the students to through off the top, of course this is allowed by the historic foundation at preserves the sight as they sell them in the gift shop.
Next was Dock 39, an old fishing dock that had been transformed into shops, offices, restaurants, and a cannery museum with gift shop. But before the class could reach the dock they were distracted by a large group of male sea lions. The California Sea Lions could not be contained as they took up many fishing docks that were designated as their perch. They barked all through the night. After reaching Dock 39, the class wandered through the cannery museum and then headed back to their hotel to check-in and prepare for dinner.