Oregon Winter King Tide Series
SALEM - The first series of king tides, the highest high tides of the year, is coming up November 5 to 7, 2025. If you are on Oregon’s coast, you are invited to take photos of these high water events to help document their impact on coastal communities. The Oregon King Tides Photo Project, part of a global effort to track sea level changes, encourages anyone with a camera to join in and capture a preview of how rising sea levels might affect our communities in the future.
Participation is easy: choose a location along the coast, snap a photo when the tide is at its highest point, and share it at www.oregonkingtides.net. Upcoming winter king tides will take place December 4 to 6, 2025 and January 1 to 4, 2026.
For the past 15 years, Oregon has contributed to this international citizen science effort. Supported by the Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP), the CoastWatch Program of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, and partners like the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and Oregon Sea Grant, this project is managed by OCMP in collaboration with coastal local governments, state and federal agencies, and other interested parties to manage, conserve, and develop Oregon's coastal and ocean resources.
King tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align, producing unusually high tides. These events can cause flooding, erosion, and impacts to buildings and roads, especially during storms. By observing king tides, we glimpse future sea level rise and its potential to intensify erosion, flooding, and beach access issues. You can see photos from past King Tides on the project’s Flickr site, https://www.flickr.com/people/orkingtide/.
Even a small rise in sea levels could make winter storms worse and make our beaches narrower and harder to access. Seeing king tide photos can help planners, resource agencies, conservationists, and coastal citizens get ready for these changes.
To join the King Tides Photo Project, capture the high water levels around fixed features like pilings, seawalls, or bridge supports, as they help show how high the tide reaches. Include the location, date, and direction of your photo. If possible, take a second photo from the same spot during a normal high tide for comparison. Tide tables and photo tips are available on the King Tides website: www.oregonkingtides.net.
This winter’s King Tide series:
- November 5 to 7, 2025
- December 4 to 6, 2025
- January 1 to 4, 2026
For more information about the project, please contact:
- Rhiannon Bezore, Coastal Shores Specialist with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, (971)375-7336, rhiannon.bezore@dlcd.oregon.gov
- Sam Derrenbacher, Community Science & Engagement Manager with Oregon Shores, (603)340-4648, sam@oregonshores.org
** Stay Safe on the Coast: Always keep an eye on the ocean. Never put yourself in danger. Be very cautious of rising water, eroding shorelines, flooded roadways, and high winds during any extreme high tide events. Never put yourself in danger.**
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