King Tides Project surges in Oregon

In winter, extreme high tides, commonly called “King Tides,” occur when the moon’s orbit comes closest to the Earth, the Earth’s orbit is closest to the sun and the sun, moon and Earth are in alignment. These tidal events are also known as perigean spring tides.

For the past decade, a growing network of volunteer photographers, organized by the King Tides Project, has documented the highest point reached by these highest tides. These photos capture moments which had been rare, but are likely to become far more typical.  The images reveal current vulnerabilities to flooding and, even more importantly, help show the coming impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities. These tides are especially important to document when storm surges and high winds and waves create even higher water levels.  

In Oregon, the King Tides Project has been developed and coordinated by the CoastWatch Program of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s Oregon Coastal Management Program.  

Last winter, more than 100 volunteer photographers contributed more than 400 photos to the project’s archives.  

Anyone can participate by taking a photo during the peak period of a king tide, anywhere on the outer coast or along estuaries or lower river valleys.  Photos that include man-made structures or natural features for reference show the reach of the tide most clearly.  

Participants can submit their photos through the project website at www.oregonkingtides.net. On the site, you can view photos of past events and learn more about the project.

This year, the three sequences of king tides will take place from Nov. 15 to 17; Dec. 13 to 15; and Jan. 11 to 13.

Oregon photos have been used by agencies and researchers to estimate where the high waters will reach and how they will impact the places we love. A picture is worth 1,000 words, and these photos highlight how a rising sea or increased storm surge may impact familiar places in our communities.

The impact of king tides on the Oregon Coast includes increased erosion on the beaches, which causes decreased beach access and smaller beaches, damage to vulnerable structures and dangerous beach conditions. Some communities experience flooding from unusually high tides. The city of Nehalem, for instance, experiences frequent flooding along its downtown corridor, which impacts travel and access to Highway 101. Agricultural lands along the Coquille River or Tillamook Bay also experience frequent flooding during high tides or heavy rains.

To get a better view of the project, go to the King Tides photo album and browse by season:www.flickr.com/photos/orkingtide/albums.

All participants are urged to take photos from a safe location and to avoid putting themselves in danger while taking and submitting pictures.

For more information, contact Meg Reed, coastal shores specialist with the OCMP program at 541-514-0091 or meg.reed@state.or.us; or Jesse Jones, CoastWatch Volunteer Coordinator at 503-989-7244 or jesse@oregonshores.org.