Cox Island, A Siuslaw River Sanctuary

Cox Island, Siuslaw River Sanctuary: Cox Island is in the middle of the Siuslaw River a few miles inland from Florence Oregon. Now owned by the Oregon Nature Conservancy, it is a prime example of an estuarine saltmarsh ecosystem. During high tides, the island is flooded by the rising tide. During low tides, the island's mudflats are revealed, supporting large colonies of shrimp and clams which great blue heron and other birds and mammals feast on. The island is dissected by a maze of channels, narrow but deep and not suitable for foot travel.

You can reach Cox Island by boat; it's an easy kayak and canoe paddle, particularly if you can time your trip by the tides, floating down to the island as the tide goes out and floating back to the ramp as the tide comes back in. If you want to rent a kayak or canoe, Central Coast Watersports on Highway 101 in the center of town can fix you right up. You can launch at the public boat ramp at Cushman, a few miles up 126 from the Florence city limits. Cox Island is a mile downstream. Land your boat on the northeast corner where the old house is. That's the safest spot. But be sure that your boat is tied up securely lest the tide take it all the way to the mouth of the Siuslaw, some seven miles away.

The best times to visit are during the Spring and Summer. There are over 80 species of birds to watch for including great egrets, phalaropes, whimbrels and short-billed dowitchers. Beaver, river otter, muskrat and mink call the island home. It is common to see bald eagles and hawks.

For more information, visit the Oregon Nature Conservancy.

This was first posted on the ActiveRain Real Estate Network under Localism

How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oregon: Docks, Wharves, Water Sport Stuctures, Oh My!

How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oreogon: I attended a seminar put on by the Oregon Department of State Lands this week and learned a lot about wetlands, submerged and submersible land and structures on them. Turns out, folks must register boat docks, floats, boat houses, floating cabins, water sport structures, revetments, attenuators and retaining walls that are on state-owned submerged and submersible land. Whew! That was sure a mouthful. The state has a way with words, doesn't it? Here's the easy skinny: A water sport structure includes water ski buoys, jumps and ramps; kayak race gates and so forth. The cost of registration ranges from $125 to $350 depending on the structure and its size. The registration must be renewed every 5 years. You have to submit the names and addresses of your neighbors, those owning riparian land within 200 feet of your structure, along with their comments for and against with your application. The department may deny your registration if your neighbor has a legitimate bone to pick with you, for example, that your dock interferes with their fishing or recreation. The state won't deny you if the neighbor doesn't like the color you picked, however. If your dock gets washed away, you can replace it with the same size and use structure. You can't make it bigger or change the location or way it was used. Gaming the system is "no win." You can even submit a registration for a structure that is shared with your neighbor, including a floating recreational cabin. If you need more info, take a look at http://www.oregonstatelands.us/. Florence Oregon has some 18 lakes plus the Siuslaw River, and the mighty Pacific beyond, all full of fish and fun to boat and float and have a home on. I have a pamphlet which describes all the lakes and the types of fish they have along with a photo of each lake. I can send you a copy by snail mail or better yet, take a look at the pamphlet on my website, http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/ Wondering about the photo? It's the beautiful Florence harbor, marina and boardwalk.