(Portland, Oregon) – There's more to the beauty of the Oregon coast than the famed Beach Bill of 1967. That landmark bit of legislation that kept all Oregon beaches public was not the last word on the subject. Some of this shoreline's greatest treasures had to be fought over later. (Above: Whalen Island near Pacific City)
As Oregon's coastal beaches erode, taking valued public space with them and exposing private property to increased risks from flooding and sea-level rise, some local governments want to allow property owners the right to "armor" the coast.