Spouts on the outs, in Depoe Bay
TODAY photo of one of Depoe Bay's Spouting Horns.
‘Spouting Horns’ to be permanently plugged on Sunday, April 1
Story & photos by Dave Price • Oregon Coast TODAY
[Posted March 27, 2012]
Happy April Fool's Day!
Few who’ve visited Depoe Bay during high-surf events could have missed the oceanfront town’s iconic “spouting horns.”
After a state agency deploys its fleet of cement-mixing trucks this weekend, though, even the biggest ocean swells won’t cause more than a thin mist in Depoe Bay.
All along Depoe Bay’s scenic sea wall are points where fissures and caverns in the basalt rock channel – and direct upward – incoming surges of seawater.
Generations of visitors have been thrilled by the spouting horns over the years, while others have been unpleasantly surprised, when a new camera or cashmere sweater falls victim to an unexpected spout.
“Sure, the spouting horns are fun to watch while the water shoots skyward,” said Oregon Department of Oceanfront Hydrology (ODOH) representative Tyshawn Taylor. “But, what goes up must come down. And, too many folks have told their state representatives that they have had it with these spouts. That’s why we’re filling in the spouting horns.”
Planners from ODOH have selected a Sunday morning (this Sunday, April 1), when traffic is at its lightest, to truck in 52 – and possibly more – loads of cement, and dump it down extended troughs towards the surf below.
“At low tide, we think the concrete will be able to set relatively quickly, though there’s no doubt it’ll take some time,” Taylor said. Taylor added the state uses a special quick-drying maritime formula in cases like that in Depoe Bay, a formula that has also been used to plug troublesome channels at Kilauea.
Story & photos by Dave Price • Oregon Coast TODAY
[Posted March 27, 2012]
Happy April Fool's Day!
Few who’ve visited Depoe Bay during high-surf events could have missed the oceanfront town’s iconic “spouting horns.”
After a state agency deploys its fleet of cement-mixing trucks this weekend, though, even the biggest ocean swells won’t cause more than a thin mist in Depoe Bay.
All along Depoe Bay’s scenic sea wall are points where fissures and caverns in the basalt rock channel – and direct upward – incoming surges of seawater.
Generations of visitors have been thrilled by the spouting horns over the years, while others have been unpleasantly surprised, when a new camera or cashmere sweater falls victim to an unexpected spout.
“Sure, the spouting horns are fun to watch while the water shoots skyward,” said Oregon Department of Oceanfront Hydrology (ODOH) representative Tyshawn Taylor. “But, what goes up must come down. And, too many folks have told their state representatives that they have had it with these spouts. That’s why we’re filling in the spouting horns.”
Planners from ODOH have selected a Sunday morning (this Sunday, April 1), when traffic is at its lightest, to truck in 52 – and possibly more – loads of cement, and dump it down extended troughs towards the surf below.
“At low tide, we think the concrete will be able to set relatively quickly, though there’s no doubt it’ll take some time,” Taylor said. Taylor added the state uses a special quick-drying maritime formula in cases like that in Depoe Bay, a formula that has also been used to plug troublesome channels at Kilauea.
Phil Taunton • TODAY photo
Spouting, off
State planners are excited about the program, but some in Depoe Bay are less excited. Phil Taunton, owner of The Spouting Horn restaurant in Depoe Bay, and president of the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber “won’t stand idly by while the spouting horns are plugged.”
“I never thought I’d join the ‘Occupy’ movement,” Taunton said, “but we’re stealing a page from their playbook. You can expect to see a big group of Depoe Bay folks on the sea wall at noon on Sunday. We’ll do our best to stand our ground and prevent the cement trucks from accessing the seawall.”
Taunton pointed out that protesting burns a lot of energy. “If people get hungry protecting the spouting horns, they can always turn to our Spouting Horn, where they’ll find Betty’s famous pies and lots of other great food.”
For more information about travel and attractions in Depoe Bay, call the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, 541-765-2889
State planners are excited about the program, but some in Depoe Bay are less excited. Phil Taunton, owner of The Spouting Horn restaurant in Depoe Bay, and president of the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber “won’t stand idly by while the spouting horns are plugged.”
“I never thought I’d join the ‘Occupy’ movement,” Taunton said, “but we’re stealing a page from their playbook. You can expect to see a big group of Depoe Bay folks on the sea wall at noon on Sunday. We’ll do our best to stand our ground and prevent the cement trucks from accessing the seawall.”
Taunton pointed out that protesting burns a lot of energy. “If people get hungry protecting the spouting horns, they can always turn to our Spouting Horn, where they’ll find Betty’s famous pies and lots of other great food.”
For more information about travel and attractions in Depoe Bay, call the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, 541-765-2889
