Senator Seeks New Keepers for Two Oregon Lighthouses
By Sue Clark on Aug 19, 2007 in Lighthouse Keeper Jobs 
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Provision Will Transfer One Light to Douglas County and Another to Confederated Tribes
Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) is advancing a provision that will transfer ownership of the Umpqua Lighthouse to Douglas County and the Cape Arago (also known as Cape Gregory) Lighthouse to the Confederated tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
“There is a lot of history with these two lighthouses,” Smith said. “They have kept a vigilant eye for over a century, guiding ships safely to shore through fog and storm. Local ownership will help preserve them and ensure better access for future generations.”
Douglas County and the Confederated Tribes approached Senator Smith last year for assistance in gaining ownership of the two lighthouses. The Cape Arago Lighthouse, located near Charleston on tiny Chief’s Island, was illuminated in 1934 and is known for its unique foghorn. The Coast Guard permits the Confederated Tribes to use the site for tribal ceremonies and as a cemetery but it is closed to the public. The Tribes have sought ownership since 1991 to restore and preserve the site. The U.S. Department of the Interior maintains that the tribes do not qualify to assume ownership under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
“We are thrilled with the prospect of Chief’s Island being turned over to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. For our people, this is a sacred site that not only is the same ground our ancestors once occupied, but also the burial site for many of our tribal leaders and members,” said Chief David Brainard of the Confederated Tribes. “We will care for this land with honor, respect and regard for its natural beauty and cultural value. We are very grateful to Sen. Smith for working tirelessly to see this that important provision is included in the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.”
The Umpqua Lighthouse is owned by the Coast Guard. The public’s ability to enjoy the site, adjacent to the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park and the Umpqua Lighthouse Museum, is greatly limited because the lighthouse itself is surrounded by Coast Guard housing units. This legislation would facilitate alternative housing arrangements for Coast Guard personnel allowing the site to be converted into a county park.
Senator Smith secured the provision as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The legislation, which authorizes funding for the U.S. Coast Guard, was approved by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and will soon be considered by the full Senate.
Smith serves on five major Senate committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Energy and Natural Resources, Indian Affairs, and the powerful Finance Committee. The Cape Arago lighthouse was deactivated n on January 1, 2006.
The tribes have been seeking ownership of the island on which the Cape Arago lighthouse stands since 1991. But the U.S. Department of the Interior has contended that the tribes do not qualify to assume ownership under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
Tribal Administrator Francis Somday says if the tribes took ownership of the lighthouse, now decommissioned, the public would be able to access a viewing station to the lighthouse, though the bridge to the island is beyond repair.
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