The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted for public review the maps and descriptions of proposed marine reserves and protected areas on its marine reserves website, www.oregonocean.info/marinereserves

ODFW received the final marine reserve recommendations from three local community teams that considered proposed reserves at Cape Perpetua near Florence, Cascade Head near Lincoln City and Cape Falcon near Manzanita.

According to Cristen Don, ODFW marine scientist, the recommendations for the Cape Perpetua and Cascade Head reserves were made after consultation with local community teams. Each is a compromise proposal that includes a marine reserve and less restrictive protected areas, he noted.

The community team considering the Cape Falcon site was unable to agree on a compromise and narrowly adopted the original marine reserve proposal forwarded to the team by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council, Don added.

It was not an easy task reaching compromise recommendations, Don said. We need to commend the members of all three of the local community teams for their perseverance and willingness to work together to reach compromises.

ODFW will consult with scientists on the Science and Technical Advisory Committee before taking their recommendations to OPAC in December for additional review. The agency will make its final recommendations to the governor and Oregon Legislature in time for the next legislative session.

The governor and Legislature are expected to consider funding and additional policy direction before any sites are designated.

Public comments on the proposed marine reserves will be accepted throughout this process and should be submitted through the Oregon Marine Reserves website. Members of the public also will be able to comment at the upcoming OPAC meeting Dec. 6 and 7 at the Hallmark Resort, 744 S.W. Elizabeth St. in Newport.