Public comments will be taken, regarding moving the Natural Resources boundary line at Johnson Creek in order
for more housing in the Ocean Terrace development,
on June 2nd.
Bandon City Council Meeting, 7 pm
in Council Chambers at City Hall.
About Johnson Creek
It is almost 38 acres of wetland, old sand dunes, and uplifted bluffs from which water seeps out year around. Conifers and alder trees claim the higher spaces that were not converted into golf course decades ago. Native asters, Yellow-eyed Grass and Cow Clover persist amongst the non-native turf grasses. A man-made pond collects water from springs and the seeping bluffs and provides habitat for wildlife, including waterfowl and migratory birds.
The People's Vision
The City of Bandon acquired this property in 2019. In September of 2023, the City held a public event to ask neighbors and other citizens what use they would prefer for this acreage, Overwhelmingly, the people wanted it left natural, maintaining wildlife habitat with a few walking trails for people to access. The Johnson Creek property's designation as a Natural Area was accepted by the Bandon City Council on October 7, 2024.
Gorse has invaded the property over the years and the City has worked with the Gorse Action Group to reclaim some of these areas, spraying and mowing. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 local citizens planted donated native trees and shrubs along the high-water line of the delineated floodplain, aiming to improve habitat. A permit for people to plant native shrubs in November of 2024 was denied by the City.
50 Pacific Ninebark, an excellent wildlife shrub, were added in November, 2022.
50 Western Red cedar planted January 1, 2021
Current Threat to Johnson Creek
Our coast has lost 90% of its wetlands to development over the years. Can we protect our local Johnson Creek Natural Area? A housing developer is proposing to the City to move the Natural Resource boundary so that 25 houses can be built. It is on the planning commission agenda , rescheduled for April 3rd at 7 pm.
Link - https://www.bandon-or.gov/planning/meeting/planning-commission-meeting-1
Scroll down to pages 11 to 17 to see what is on the agenda for Johnson Creek's NR (Natural Resource) boundary line. This NR line is on the edge of a steep bluff from which water seeps. The creek flows along the base of this bluff.
Former NR area
if approved.
Current NR area
Run-off of lawn chemicals and fertilizers will certainly run down hill and percolate through the bluff, down to the creek. The City already uses Johnson Creek and other creeks as stormwater drainage, deposited into the ocean on the west side of Beach Loop Rd. This housing development will directly add pollutants into the creek. Non-point source pollution is already a problem on our coast but could be made much worse by reckless planning for housing.
Biodynamic propagation of plants, plugs and
seeds. Ready for your gardens, pollinators,
restorations, hedgerows, or rain gardens.