Oregon ghost forest by sea may harbor climate clues

NESKOWIN, Ore. — As the beach near Neskowin washed away last winter, a ghost forest emerged that could give Oregon State University students a look at our past climate and, maybe, our future.

The forest has been preserved in the beach sands for thousands of years and consists of twisted chunks of wood emerging from the beach.

But now the program is on hold while the state reconsiders how it issues permits for such research.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department allowed students to take core samples from 30 trees and to cut wedges with a chain saw from up to six.

The research stopped when they were confronted by Toni Stevens, who has a vacation home there. Diane Bennett, a retired federal wildlife inspector, also objected, saying area residents are fond of the stumps.

"We call them stump people," she said. "They are the sentinels of Neskowin."

Researchers say they appreciate the concern but that the stumps are a valuable research source that is deteriorating.

The old stumps north of Lincoln City have drawn the interest of scientists and tourists alike.

"To find wood in this condition that can be two thousand years can be extremely rare," said Harold Zald, one of several of graduate students in OSU's Forestry Department, studying samples of the ancient trees to learn more about Oregon's past climate.

The stumps appeared 20 years ago in a storm and eventually were mostly covered again by sand until last winter.

"Understanding the past is one of the big keys to understanding the future with climate," said Zald. In July the students got state permission to take samples from the once-buried forest and study the tree rings.

"The variation in growth of each ring tells you the variation of was it warmer or colder," said Zald.

Scientists and geologists think a powerful offshore earthquake 2,000 years ago advanced the coastline, submerging coastal forests.

In Agate Beach and Neskowin, ancient stumps sometimes poke through sand, but rarely.

A tremendous quake that probably had an intensity of about 9.0 hit the Oregon coast in January of 1700, rearranging parts of it.

Scientists hope to find out whether the Northwest went through periods of drought and if so, if it is likely to be repeated on a cycle.

"How would that impact our water resources, hydroelectric power, salmon fisheries, forest fires?" asked Zald. He says the stumps could be a critical piece in solving the climate-change puzzle.

The grad students also hope to learn what killed the trees. The project will take about two years.