Hatfield, ODFW officials map out joint plan

Offer guidelines to beachcombers who find tsunami detritus

SOUTH BEACH - Marine scientists were aware that an unknown amount of debris washed into the ocean in the aftermath of the earthquake-generated tsunami that struck Japan March 11, 2011. They were also aware that an unknown but sizeable chunk of that debris would eventually wash up on Oregon shores. They even had what they considered a reasonable estimate of the arrival time.

Nature had other ideas as the ocean unexpectedly chucked a piece floating dock as big as a good-sized commercial fishing vessel onto Agate Beach on June 5 - several months earlier than anticipated.

The dock was a de facto island teeming with invasive plants and animals, including two - brown algae known as wakame kelp and northern Pacific sea stars - among the 100 worst invasive species, according to the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC).

For the complete article see the 07-04-2012 issue.

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