Haystack Rock is an iconic feature in the Pacific Northwest
On this episode of Sea Change, Jenna Valente welcomes Melissa Keyser to the show to discuss her work managing the Haystack Rock Awareness Program in Cannon Beach, Oregon. A popular tourist destination, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools are home to a wide variety intertidal animals, and is a nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins. In addition to her work with Haystack Rock, Melissa was recently appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to serve on the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council.
A passion for conservation and appreciation for the natural world was engrained in Jenna at a young age. Her father was in the Coast Guard. This meant she always had the fortune of living near the ocean, including Hawaii, Washington State, and Maine. Both of her parents encouraged her to spend the majority of her time outside. As a result, she finds that she is most comfortable barefoot and exploring the coast, countryside, or mountains. Her favorite thing about the ocean is the sheer power of it all. Jenna joined the American Littoral Society as the Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator from the Chesapeake Research Consortium where she was a member of the communications staff and focused on building the brand of the program and ensure the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Jenna completed her Executive Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2015 and also has her Bachelors in Communication and Journalism from the University of Maine.
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