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Another atmospheric river bringing more rainfall to portions of Clatsop County on Saturday and Sunday may increase the chance of minor flooding and landslides according to the National Weather Service in Portland.

If you live in an area historically impacted by flooding, have an action plan to protect your property. Do NOT drive through flooded areas.

“As we’ve seen, river levels will rise in flood prone areas. Do NOT drive through these flooded areas. Even if the water appears shallow, it may be flowing and your car can be swept away” said Justin Gibbs, Clatsop County emergency management director.

Clatsop County is expecting steady and heavier rain beginning Saturday morning and into Sunday. The NWS advises that mud and landslides are most likely to occur during periods of heavier rain.

For the latest road conditions call 5-1-1, or visit for Oregon: www.tripcheck.com and for Washington: wsdot.com/travel/real-time/map

Clatsop County will provide additional storm updates on social media and the ClatsopCounty.gov website.

Net Pen Pier Update

Clatsop County Public Works has all necessary permits in hand and is moving forward with the reconstruction of the Net Pen Pier, in partnership with the City of Astoria.  

A contract with Bergerson Construction is scheduled for Clatsop County Board of Commissioners consideration on Wednesday, Dec. 13, with piling construction to begin after the first of the year.

Oregon Coastal Community Survey Now Open

The Oregon Coastal Community Survey is part of the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub. This is where teams of researchers work alongside coastal communities to increase knowledge about natural hazards and climate change risks and ways to increase coastal community resilience. 

This survey is for ANY Oregon coastal resident over the age of 13 who lives in a coastal community/county.  

The survey goal is to inform those invested in coastal communities, such as yourself, with more information regarding the places that are valued in coastal communities, why they are valued, and how these valued places may be better protected and utilized after a disaster event.

You must complete the survey and enter the drawing by Friday, December 15, to be eligible to win a $50 Amazon gift card. One winner per 25 survey respondents will be selected.

The survey is in English and Spanish

Sunset Empire Transportation District December Route Changes

Sunset Empire Transportation District has announced the following changes and closures for its routes in December.

Saturday, Dec. 9

Pacific Connector — Final route going Northbound leaves Cannon Beach Visitors Center at 4:21 p.m. Final Stop at Astoria Transit Center is at 5:12 p.m. with end of service Final Stop at Warrenton Fred Meyer at 5:20 p.m.

No Service

• Christmas Day — Monday, Dec. 25, 2023
• New Year’s Day — Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 

Holiday Service

• The Pacific Connector will be on the regular weekend schedule on Dec. 24 and on Dec. 31 
• NW Point Bus will be on their regular daily schedule during the Holidays

Questions? Call 503-861-7433 option #1. To request an alternative format, please email or call Mary Parker at 503-861-5370.

Volunteer Photographers Needed

The second series of king tides, the highest high tides of the year, will happen Wednesday, Dec. 13-Friday, Dec. 15. If you are on Oregon’s coast, you are invited to take photos of these high-water events. 

The Oregon King Tides Photo Project is part of a worldwide project to understand how sea levels are changing. Anyone with a camera can join in and help us catch a glimpse of what might happen with rising sea levels in our region. 



Read more.

Interesting Video from KGW about King Tides

Online Safety Tips To Keep Your Holidays Merry and Bright

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency has valuable tips on easy things we can do to shop more safely this holiday season.

CISA recommends you take these steps all year long, not just during the holidays. Doing this could save you from being an online target of hackers.

• Use Strong passwords. Make them unique to each account and complex.
• Enable multi factor authentication for your accounts.
• Think before you click. Most successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email asking you to click a link.
• Update your software on all devices, regularly. 

And specifically for the holiday season CISA recommends:

• Check your devices. Before making any online purchases, make sure your device is up to date.      
• Shop Only through trusted sources
• Verify a business’s legitimacy before sharing personal information.

Use Safe Methods when making purchases:

• Cyber criminals will often send phishing emails—designed to look like they’re from a retailer.
• Use your credit card instead of debit (improved chance of recovering stolen funds).
• Frequently check your statements
• Watch out for emails asking for information about you.

Read more. 

The 2023 holiday shopping season is here and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is reminding people to watch out for financial scams that can target their pocketbook, particularly gift card scams.

Gift card scams often start with a call, text, email, or social media message. Scammers will say anything to get you to buy gift cards – such as Google Play, Apple, or Amazon cards – and hand over the card number and personal identification number (PIN) codes.

Some common tactics scammers use are:

1. Scammers will say it is urgent. They will say to pay them right away or something terrible will happen. Slow down. Don’t pay. It is a scam.
2. Scammers will tell you which gift card to buy and where. Sometimes, they will tell you to buy cards at several stores, so cashiers will not get suspicious. The scammer also might stay on the phone with you while you go to the store and load money onto the card. If this happens to you, hang up. It is a scam.
3. Scammers will ask you for the gift card number and PIN. Don’t give them those numbers or send them a photo of the card. It is a scam.

Check out some of the common stories scammers tell.

All WWII Veterans are now eligible for VA health care

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that all World War II Veterans are now eligible for no-cost VA inpatient and outpatient health care.

Under this expansion, all WWII Veterans who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, are now eligible for VA health care, regardless of their length of service or financial status. These Veterans will not have to pay inpatient or outpatient copays, enrollment fees, or monthly premiums.

However, these Veterans may still have to pay modest copayments for medication or urgent care or long-term care in some cases, depending on their eligibility and service connection.

VA is reaching out by phone and mail to encourage WWII Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA care to apply today. Veterans who enroll may also keep their private providers, Medicare, and most other insurance to meet their health care needs.

Read more.

ODOT Reducing Services and Expenses

The Oregon Department of Transportation has long relied on gas tax revenue to maintain the transportation system, but that revenue is forecast to decline. 

More Oregonians are buying fuel efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles and using less gas. 

Meanwhile, the cost of doing business is increasing. ODOT can no longer maintain the system at the level Oregonians need and expect. In response to this structural funding issue, ODOT is reducing expenses and services. 

ODOT is prioritizing its efforts and focusing on safety. Drivers, cyclists, freight haulers, pedestrians will experience a reduction in the service ODOT provides and a decline in the condition of the transportation system.

ODOT Fact Sheet



Winter Levels of Service Map

Private Forest Accord Grant Program Grant Application is Open

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Private Forest Accord Grants Program is accepting applications for landowners to protect salmon and other aquatic species.

The deadline to submit applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.



Read more.

Crews will replace a failed culvert on Labiske Lane at MP 18 in coming weeks. This work is weather and runoff dependent, and requires a temporary road closure for a portion of a day.  

Clatsop County Public Works will provide as much notice as possible to residents prior to the road closure.

Crews will:

• Brush chop countywide. Expect delays on Youngs River Road between MP 5 & 6
• Perform culvert and ditch maintenance county wide
• Monitor for inclement weather affecting roads

May 2024 Primary Election Candidate Filing Opens

The candidate filing window has opened for the May 21, 2024 Primary Election. 

Positions include County Commissioner District 2, County Commissioner District 4, Sheriff and Precinct Committee Persons.

Recording Information

You can now search for a document that has been recorded in Clatsop County.

We have developed a way for you to search for a document before coming in or calling our office. 

Once you find the document you are looking for, you can request a copy without paying a research fee.  

Just go to our website under Recording Information – Records Research, click on Locate a Document.

New Point Size Requirement for Filing Documents

Effective January 1, 2024, documents being recorded in the County Clerk’s property records must have text with font sizes of at least 10-point type. 

We urge all customers to begin updating their forms and templates early to avoid recording delays or extra charges.

This change in font type is due to House Bill 2029, which amended Oregon Revised Statute 205.232.

Board of Property Tax Appeals (BoPTA)

If you disagree with your property value on the tax bill you received this fall, you may appeal to the Board of Property Tax Appeals.

Your evidence must reflect the value of the property as it existed on January 1, 2023. You may access petition forms at the Clatsop County website. A filing fee of $35 per account must accompany your petition with one petition per tax account. Appeals must be filed by Thursday, Jan. 2, 2024.

We suggest you contact the Assessment and Taxation Office at 503-325-8522 prior to completing your appeal form.

The Assessment and Taxation Office can assist you in understanding the basis for your property value and, in some cases, may be able to make changes without requiring you to file an appeal.

Passports

An appointment is required prior to coming in for new passport processing. Routine service can take 7-10 weeks or longer. Expedite service can take 3-5 weeks. 

Appointment Scheduling Saves You Time

Please go to our webpage and schedule an appointment for passports, park passes, marriage licenses, dog licenses, and recordings with us.

If you do not have an appointment, you may be asked to wait if we are with someone who has scheduled an appointment. 

Clatsop County is a great place to work. Find out about current Clatsop County career opportunities where you can make a difference every day.

• Community Corrections Records Specialist (Part-time, Temporary). Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Custodian. Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Electrical Inspector. Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Victim Services Coordinator (part-time). Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally

Clatsop County is committed to being transparent and providing the information you need, when you need it.

Our new subscriptions webpage has a variety of email update topics and gives you the option of signing up or unsubscribing.