Otter Rock

The Otter Rock Marine Reserve is located off the central Oregon coast, near the unincorporated town of Otter Rock. This is Oregon’s smallest marine reserve at 1.2 square miles.

Marine Reserve

No take of animals or seaweeds. No ocean development.


What Makes Otter Rock Unique

Seafloor habitat map for Otter Rock Marine Reserve
Click on seafloor habitat map

Beneath the Surface
At the north end of the marine reserve you’ll find extensive rocky intertidal habitats along the shore. Rocky intertidal habitats are in the intertidal zone, a narrow band of shoreline that is covered by water during high tides and then exposed at low tides. Common species include mussels, sea stars, sea anemones, chitons, and a wide variety of seaweeds. Underwater, the reserve includes a shallow rocky reef, kelp beds, soft bottom habitats, and sand dollar beds.

From Land
The Otter Rock Marine Reserve can be accessed through the Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. In and around the site visitors can explore tidepools, view seals hauled out onto the rocks, and stroll along the long sandy beach at Beverly Beach State Park. Check out tips on tidepool etiquette and viewing seals to help protect these species and special places. Three offshore islands mark the west boundary of the marine reserve. Nearby towns and ports include Depoe Bay, Otter Rock, and Newport.

Planning a Visit?
For more Otter Rock activities, including hikes and viewpoints, visit this activity guide to plan your trip.

 

 

Kelp greenling

Harvest Restrictions Began January 1, 2012
Monitoring Began 2010
Size Reserve:   3 sq km   (1.2 sq mi)
Depth Range 0-18 m   (0-59 ft)
Habitats Emergent rocks, bedrock and boulders,
patches of kelp beds, areas of soft bottom,
and sand dollar beds. Rocky intertidal habitats.
Habitat Connectivity Rocky habitats extend beyond the reserve.
Prior Fishing Pressure Relatively low due to limited rocky reef
and shallow depths.
Monitoring Comparison Area Cape Foulweather

 


Design & Placement Matter

The ODFW Marine Reserves Program uses different monitoring tools tailored to each of Oregon’s marine reserves based on the reserve’s size, habitats, depths, prior fishing activities, and other unique characteristics of each reserve.

The Otter Rock Marine Reserve is a small — 1.2 sq mile — reserve found in shallow waters, less than 50 ft deep, with limited subtidal rock habitat. These characteristics along with the relatively low fishing pressure that occurred at the site prior to closure means we will likely not see changes as a direct result from marine reserve protections — no fishing — in the reserve compared to areas still open to fishing.

Sampling Approach  Although we anticipate minimal changes in the reserve compared to areas that are still fished, this is an important site for long-term data collection. We are sampling inside the reserve and outside the reserve — at Cape Foulweather — to look at changes to the marine communities through time. Long-term monitoring sites and data sets help us track and understand changes occurring in Oregon’s nearshore ocean environment. Understanding these changes is helpful information that can be used by marine resource managers.

Scientific Training Ground  This site provides local scientists with a perfect training ground to try out new approaches, hone skills, and learn more about nearshore ocean ecosystems in general. Volunteer scientific divers train in this area, our staff conducts pilot studies to help with methods refinement here, and Oregon State University scientists conduct juvenile fish settlement studies in this reserve.

Monitoring Activities

We are using the following tools and sampling intervals to monitor the reserve at Otter Rock based on the site’s unique characteristics.

In addition to these activities Our Partners at Oregon State University, PISCO, MARINe, and UC Santa Cruz are conducting juvenile fish settlement studies and rocky intertidal surveys at the site.

Find out more About the Science.

Otter Rock ecological monitoring tools

get involved

GET INVOLVED

Interested in finding ways to get involved? Or seeing what is happening in your local community?

GET CONNECTED

Our partners are a great resource for getting connected. Find them here. Go →

KEEP UP WITH US

Get the latest updates and research highlights by signing up for our eNewsletter. Go →


Videos & News