U.S Congresswoman Hoyle release - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley led a letter with Senator Ron Wyden to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requesting they conduct an updated assessment of Gold Beach and Bandon’s Search and Rescue Detachment Team (SARDET) existing stations rescue and safety needs along the coast.  In their letter to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, the lawmakers shared that, “we have heard from our constituents, fishermen and local officials that the current level of coverage is simply not enough to keep people safe.”  In Gold Beach, the mouth of the Rogue River is often dangerous to cross, even to highly skilled boaters. Due to shifting conditions in the channel, the river bar has sudden and highly dangerous wave breaks. Sixty miles north in Bandon, over 23,000 boaters have to pass through a dangerous bar with unpredictable conditions. Emergencies are common along these points of the coast and local ports and captains are taking on the USCG’s responsibilities to warn the community of changing conditions and carry out rescues themselves.  “The ocean off the Oregon’s south coast is both beautiful and powerful. It is essential for the communities of Bandon and Gold Beach to have a Coast Guard presence again,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Whether it’s our commercial fisherman or tourists taking whale watching trips, a timely response by the U.S. Coast Guard when a boat gets in trouble could mean the difference between a rescue or a body recovery. I will continue to fight for a robust USCG presence along all parts of the Oregon’s coast. It is the surest way to protect lives.”  “A reliable Coast Guard presence is critical to keeping folks on the south coast safe where boaters—recreational and commercial—face extreme cold-water conditions, dynamic weather conditions, and shifting sand bars,” said Sen. Merkley. “I urge the Coast Guard to take a closer look at the seasonal staffing needs of the communities in Gold Beach and Bandon, prioritizing our local economies and public safety in the process.”  “Every minute matters whenever people are fighting for their lives in the Pacific Ocean along the Oregon Coast,” Sen. Wyden said. “I’ll keep battling side by side with Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Hoyle to provide the robust Coast Guard coverage needed by Oregonians living and working on the South Coast, as well as by visitors attracted to the region’s beautiful beaches.”  The lawmakers believe the conditions have significantly worsened since the Coast Guard pulled their seasonal presence in Gold Beach and Bandon. There has been an increase of on-water traffic and an increase in emergencies. At the same time, the Coast Guard recruiting numbers have improved, allowing for the possibility of increased bandwidth along the coast.