NEWPORT, Ore. – The Service has named Kelly Moroney Project Leader for the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This six-refuge complex includes Oregon Islands, Cape Meares, Three Arch Rocks, Nestucca Bay, Siletz Bay, and Bandon Marsh NWRs. Together, they span 320 miles of the rugged Oregon coastline. Millions of visitors traveling along U.S Highway 101, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, are touched by these refuges each year when the visit places like Haystack Rock.
“The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuges are not only beautiful, but a vital resources for seabirds and many other wildlife species,” said Moroney. “I look forward to working with the amazing partners who have worked with the Service to protect wildlife and provide opportunities for the public to learn about their natural resources along the coast.”
Previously, Moroney served as the Refuge Manager at Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge near Sacramento, Calif. Prior to that, he served as the Assistant Refuge Manager for Ridgefield NWR near Ridgefield, Wash. Moroney began his career as a volunteer at Humboldt Bay NWR, then worked with the USDA-Forest Service in New Mexico before returning to the Service to work at the Mid-Columbia NWR Complex, near Yakima, Wash., as a biologist and refuge operations specialist. Kelly is a graduate of both Chico State University and Humboldt State University.
Of the six refuges along the Oregon Coast, three are marine and three are estuarine. The marine refuges, Oregon Islands, Cape Meares, Three Arch Rocks, protect coastal rocks, reefs, islands and several headland areas. These habitats support some of the most important seabird nesting colonies in the United States. Over a million seabirds, including common murres, tufted puffins, cormorants, and storm-petrels nest here. Coastal rocks provide breeding and haul-out sites for harbor seals and Steller and California sea lions. During the spring breeding season, hundreds of these pinnipeds haul their massive blubbery bodies onto the safety of the rocks to mate.
The three estuarine refuges, Nestucca Bay, Siletz Bay, Bandon Marsh, preserve a very different, but equally valuable, habitat. These habitats include saltmarsh, brackish marsh, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian wetlands and wooded uplands. They offer sanctuary to a diverse array of fish and wildlife including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, small mammals, amphibians and anadromous fish.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/pacific, or connect with us through facebook.com/USFWSPacific, twitter.com/USFWSPacific/, tumblr.com/blog/usfwspacific, flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/ and youtube.com/user/USFWS
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