A little kelp here…

Did you know that there are amazing and mysterious underwater “forests” found just offshore along the Oregon Coast? Bull kelp are large seaweeds that form canopies in the rocky sub-tidal waters. They can grow up to 10 inches per day, reach up to 60 feet tall and are essential to our coastal fisheries.

Learn more about these underwater forests from sub-tidal ecologist Sara Hamilton in a live webinar on Wednesday, Jan.12, co-hosted by the Audubon Society of Lincoln City, Oregon Shores and Oregon Coast Community College.

Hamilton’s studies focus on the population dynamics of bull kelp and the ecology of purple urchins. She is passionate about studying kelps and will share current research conducted by divers on the South Oregon Coast and restoration and recovery efforts.

She will share how Oregon's kelp forests work and how they are changing due to factors like climate change, heatwaves, storms, disease, otters and urchins.

Hamilton has a Ph.D. from OSU and is a post doc student at the University of California, Davis. She will be introduced by Jesse Jones of CoastWatch, the volunteer program of Oregon Shores.

The presentation will begin via Zoom at 6:30 pm. For more information, go to midcoastwatersheds.org.