Because Haystack Rock is a Marine Garden (1990) and a National Wildlife Refuge
(1976), there are rules that the Department of Fish and Wildlife enforces and
that many others (like HRAP) enforce on their behalf. If you can remember three
things when you visit Haystack Rock, remember:
- NO COLLECTING
- NO
CLIMBING and
- NO HARASSING
That last "NO" might need an explanation: harassing is any activity
that causes an animal (or plant) undue stress, injury, or death. Common
examples of harassment are: poking anemones, stepping on barnacle rocks, and
prying mussel shells
and sea stars (starfish) off the rocks. Other kinds of harassment include:
trampling tidepools, entering the refuge (especially during nesting season)
or approaching seals/seal pups that are resting near the rocks or on the beach.
The Haystack
Rock Awareness Program has a special "Temporary Collection" permit
that allows us to collect in the Marine Garden on the condition that
all animals and plants we collect are retuned before the tide comes
in. Additionally, the HRAP policy is to only collect plants and animals
that can be handled easily and that can stay in our temporary holding
tanks without harm or stress.
What
are the boundaries of the Marine Garden?
The Marine Garden includes the rocky area in front of the Haystack Rock that
is exposed at low tide AND all tide pools and sand beaches situated between
the extreme high tide line and extreme low tide line within a 300-yard radius
from the base of Haystack Rock. This entire area is closed to collecting. Keep
in mind that 300 yards about as long as THREE football fields.
What
are the Refuge boundaries?
The Refuge starts at about eye-level* and goes all the way up to 500 feet above
the rock. This means that all climbing is prohibited on Haystack Rock- as is
operating low flying aircraft (including gliders) near the rock. This rule
has been in place for the past 25 years to protect people from climbing hazards
and falling rock. It also protects the seabirds (especially ground-nesting
seabirds) that nest on the rock.
*According
to the technical definition the lower boundary of the refuge is the
extreme high-tide line, or the barnacle line. Ask us about this when
you see us at the rock if this is unclear.
Violations
Most violations of the wildlife laws and regulations are Class A Misdemeanors,
punishable by a maximum $5000 fine and a maximum sentence of confinement
to the county jail of one year. There is no scheduled bail, and a mandatory
court appearance is required if the violation is charged as a Class A Misdemeanor. Violations
not charged as Class A Misdemeanors due to the absence of culpable mental
state, or at the direction of the district attorney, have the following
bail schedule:
$75 Violations
that do not involve the "taking" of wildlife
$150 Violations
that involve the "taking" of non-game animals or game birds,
and size or quantity limits for fish and shellfish, except salmon,
steelhead and sturgeon.
$299 Violations
that involve the "taking" of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon,
and wildlife not otherwise provided and all other wildlife offenses.
A
Blast from the Past
Click
here for a PDF of a Seaside Signal article from October 10, 1968 detailing
the dynamiting of our beloved monolith. "Haystack Rock will be more
difficult for the novice mountain climber as a result of the blast," it
reads, "that knocked off the lower end of the ledge by which most
climbers started up the rock." The blast was done to protect climbers
from themselves, and nesting shttp://www.cannon-beach.net/cbhs/eabirds
from human disturbance.
Click
here for PDF of a July 9, 1968 Oregonian photo showing the establishment
of signs prohibiting climbing on the Rock.
Many thanks
to the Cannon Beach Historical
Society for these wonderful windows to the past.
Return
to HRAP's main program page
|
