Reintroduction of Sea Otters – Elakha Alliance

Presentation

Kyle Motley, Coastal Community Coordinator of the Elakha Alliance, will tell us about efforts to return an iconic and once abundant native species to the Oregon Coast – the sea otter.

Fur traders of the 18th and 19th centuries wiped out the sea otter along most of the entire Pacific West Coast, including Oregon. Russian trappers valued their pelts so much they referred to them as “soft gold.” The Elakha Alliance, which derives its name from the Chinook trade-jargon-word for sea otter, is working to undo that damage and promote a healthier and more resilient marine environment. The alliance is a consortium of tribal, conservation, and nonprofit leaders founded in 1999. Kyle will tell us how their work to reintroduce the sea otter is so much more than just taking a group of sea otters from one place and moving them to the Oregon Coast.

About Kyle

Kyle has an extensive background working with endangered species, threatened ecosystems, stakeholder engagement, and watershed restoration projects on private and public lands. He received his MS in natural resources from the University of Vermont where he focused on forest ecology and has worked on monitoring, restoration, and forestry projects with the USFS, the NPS, and several local government agencies around the country.

Since moving to the South Coast 6 years ago, Kyle has worked with local non-profit groups to successfully implement habitat restoration projects focused on coho salmon and oak woodlands. He is extremely excited to be able to use his stakeholder engagement and community outreach skills for the Elakha Alliance. In his spare time, Kyle likes to surf, bike, travel, and read. In 2020 he completed a 2.5 month bike tour from Oregon to Virginia, cycling across the continent for 4,300 miles

Presented in partnership with the Roseburg Public Library.