Big Win for the Tututni Estuary

last updated May 20, 2026

Victory! On behalf of our clients, Crag helped protect an important stretch of coastal shoreline in Curry County, Oregon, from harmful RV Park development. Photo of proposed RV Park development site by our clients, Northwest American Indian Coalition.

Victory! On behalf of our clients, Crag helped protect an important stretch of coastal shoreline in Curry County, Oregon, from harmful RV Park development.

Late last fall, Curry County approved the construction of a new RV Park in a stretch of land in the Tututni Estuary, near the mouth of the Rogue River. The RV park would have brought roads, buildings, and heavy use into a protected coastal area near one of Oregon’s most beautiful and ecologically important shorelines. On top of being part of a valuable coastal resource, the site is culturally significant to many indigenous peoples, and has been used as a place of ceremony, food systems, travel routes, cultural and ecological abundance for the Tututni people and neighboring Tribes since time immemorial.

The RV park would have brought roads, buildings, and heavy use into a protected coastal area that is culturally significant to many indigenous peoples. Photo of proposed RV Park development site by Northwest American Indian Coalition.

Defending the places we love

With our clients, the Northwest American Indian Coalition, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, and Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, we challenged the County’s decision in front of the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. Earlier this month, the Board of Appeals issued a rare full reversal of the County’s decision! This decision stopped development and its potential impacts on wildlife, clean water, and the people who care deeply about this place.

This victory is a powerful reminder that strong environmental laws matter — and that communities can successfully fight back when special places are threatened. Working together with our clients and partners, Crag helped hold the county accountable and stop an unlawful development before construction could move forward.

The Tututni estuary supports many forms of life, including black tailed deer, river otter, and the Cassins Auklet bird. Photos by Richard Griffin, Marilyn Kircus/US FWS, BG Washburn. Licenses CC BY NC SA 2.0, CC BY 2.0,

What’s at stake

Oregon’s coastal shorelands are some of the most special places in our region. These areas provide habitat for fish and wildlife, support healthy ecosystems, and give people a chance to experience Oregon’s wild coast.

The mouth of the Rogue River is especially important because it is where the river meets the ocean. Estuaries like this support birds, fish, wetlands, and many other forms of life. Places like this are increasingly rare — and once they are lost to development, they are difficult or impossible to restore.

This site also has deep cultural importance for Native communities. Our clients at the Northwest American Indian Coalition have worked for years to protect the area and honor its cultural significance.

The Rogue River is a special place, and one worth protecting! Photos by Michael Campbell, BLM. License CC BY 2.0, and Roger Tabor, US FWS.

Land Use in Action

This case is a great example of how Crag uses our state’s land use laws to secure environmental protections at the local level! This case centered on Oregon’s Land Use Goal 17, which is about what development is allowed on coastal shorelands.

The ruling in this case helps clarify the meaning of what is allowed under Oregon’s Land Use Goal 17, and strengthens the idea that protected shorelands cannot simply be opened up for inappropriate development projects. This victory also shows the power of people working together for cultural preservation and environmental protection. Indigenous advocates, conservation groups, local community members, and public interest attorneys came together to protect a place that matters for future generations.

Looking Ahead

Our clients will continue keeping an eye on any future development proposals for this site. More broadly, this victory strengthens Oregon’s coastal protections and could help communities defend other important shoreland areas in the future.

Cases like these take months of research, legal strategy, and persistence, along with the deep commitment of our clients who do the hard, steady work of defending the places they love. Photo of Crag attorneys (L to R) Meriel, Brenna, Courtney, and Kelsey by Megan Gleason.