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Oregon Coast News Briefs: Scientific Wonders Caught, Free Newport Shuttle, Clamming Ban

Faint and vague: however, Boothe did catch these two dots - the "flashing" phytoplankton

(Oregon Coast) – Two major – and extremely difficult to document – natural phenomena were photographed recently on the Oregon coast, creating a stir in Oregon's tourism and science worlds.

In Seaside, a 23-year-old woman managed to snap a picture of the extremely difficult “glowing sands” that has been wowing tourists to the Oregon coast this summer. In Newport, a restaurant owner snapped a shot of the rarely photographed “green flash” – and not just any green flash, but an exceptionally infrequent version of it.

Trusty's "green ray" photo, July 10, 2006

Tiffany Boothe, with the Seaside Aquarium, was able to get a picture – however faint and vague – of two microscopic bioluminescent creatures “flashing.” These are a form of phytoplankton which glow when disturbed. To the naked eye, they appear much more intensely, as thousands are activated in the sand, creating a bundle of sparks when seen on a nocturnal beach.

On the central Oregon coast, Bob Trusty, owner of Newport’s Village Market & Deli, caught a photo of the much-coveted “green flash” in July. The green flash, though fairly rare, is hardly ever photographed as you have to be at the right place at the right time. More often than not, it appears as a greenish blob at the top of the sun just before it dips below the horizon.

In Trusty’s case, he caught a version of the phenomenon known loosely as the “green rays,” where shafts of greenish, blue light are seen sprouting from an area of clouds. This version is much, much rarer, say authorities on the subject.

Due to technical difficulties, BeachConnection.net was only able to bring you the shorter version of this article. Click here to see the more complete version of the article.

Newport Has Free Shuttle Service

(Newport, Oregon) - The central Oregon coast resort town of Newport now has a free shuttle running from the Bayfront to Nye Beach.

Called the "Bay to Beach Shuttle," the bus service will operate 11 hours a day, seven days a week. From numerous park-and-ride locations, trips will be made from the Bayfront to Uptown Newport, Nye Beach and South Beach. Three parking spots will accommodate RVs. The bus also serves commuters in the Newport area.

Nye Beach

The shuttle runs through the end of September.

The route is approximately one hour long, stopping at the Aquarium, the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Aquarium Village, Don Davis Park, The Newport Performing Arts Center, The Nye Beach Turnaround, The Burrows House and Log Cabin Museum, Saturday Market, Chamber of Commerce, as well as three stops on the Bayfront: Mariner Square, Abbey Street Pier and the west end of the Bayfront near the Coast Guard Station.

For more information call Lincoln County Transportation Service District at 265-4900.

Cape Perpetua

Razor Clamming Ban Expanded

(Oregon Coast) – The harvesting of razor clams on the northern half of Oregon’s coast has now been prohibited for safety reasons by state officials, a ruling which applies to commercial or personal clamming.

The ban now applies from Cape Perpetua, just south of Yachats, to the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria – nearly 180 miles of Oregon’s 362-mile shoreline. The ban includes ocean spits, beaches and bays along that stretch of coastline.

Consuming shellfish contaminated with domoic acid, even at low levels, can cause minor illness within minutes to hours after eating the clams. Milder cases can create symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and headaches. In some cases, death or memory problems can occur because of the poison, however.

The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking, adding baking soda, or any other method.

The area of the Oregon coast south of Cape Perpetua is safe for clamming, say state officials.

Clams that were dug before the imposition of the closure on Friday are considered to be safe and do not need to be destroyed. Commercial razor clams on the market also are safe to eat, officials said.

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