Unauthorized cutting in Seaside dunes
Published 8:30 am Friday, September 23, 2022
- An area of the dunes near Avenue S in Seaside recently cut and mowed without authorization.
Trees were removed and dune grass illegally mowed between Avenue S and Lewis and Clark Way, Jeff Flory, the city planner, said on Sept. 22.
He said while the city hasn’t confirmed an exact timeframe, the foredunes cutting likely occurred Sept. 17 or Sept. 18.
“It has been reported to the city and we are looking into who did the work,” he said.
At first look, it appears beach grass, Scotch broom and salal were cut along with the removal and topping of shore pine, Flory said. The area is still vegetated although the vegetation has been cut close to the ground.
Seaside resident Michael Burger said he noticed the damage on Monday. “They went well into state land,” he said. “They took a machine down there and they mowed it down.”
If the city can determine who did the unauthorized work, staff will work with them or their contractor to come up with a remediation plan, Flory said.
“City of Seaside staff is actively investigating the unauthorized work that was performed,” Flory said.
Historically, property owners in this area have contacted the city to obtain authorization to perform vegetation maintenance in the dunes, he said. This includes removing invasive species such as Scotch broom, blackberries or the trimming of trees.
Typically this is done by hand or with saws, and not done by mowing. The removal or cutting of dune grass is discouraged in order to maintain the stability of the dunes.
“You can see they left some of the shrubs, they left some of the trees, they topped and trimmed some of the trees out there,” Flory said on a site walk. “The best I can tell that’s past the statutory vegetation line, which is 160 feet from here.”
Vegetation maintenance is only authorized from the Prom to the statutory vegetation line about 160 feet from the Prom. Any maintenance beyond the vegetation line requires approval from Oregon State Parks, who will meet with Flory next week.
He estimated the impacted area covers about 1.5 acres.
After investigation, compliance could be required or penalties assessed in accordance with the city’s zoning code.
