Short answer: No, it's not okay. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) explicitly advises clammers to avoid eelgrass beds when harvesting bay clams. But here's the thing – if you've ever walked the mudflats of Alsea Bay after a minus tide, you've probably wondered why those bright green underwater meadows matter so much. I'll tell you exactly what I learned after talking to local shellfish harvesters and reading through the research.
When I first started clamming near Waldport, I didn't give eelgrass a second thought. It was just "that green stuff" in patches across the bay. But after accidentally trampling through a small bed and watching an experienced digger carefully walk around it, I realized there's a whole ecosystem story happening beneath those waving green blades – one that directly affects whether we'll have healthy clam populations tomorrow.
Let's start with what the experts at Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife actually say. According to ODFW's official bay clamming guidelines, one of the core clamming ethics principles is simple: "Avoid eelgrass."
ODFW's Guidance: "Eelgrass provides essential habitat for a number of fish and invertebrates. Avoiding areas of eelgrass is fairly easy as it tends to be patchy within clam beds. Once dug up or trampled, the eelgrass can no longer provide the habitat sought by fish and invertebrates."
Source: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife - How to Bay Clam
Notice that word – "fairly easy." That's because eelgrass beds aren't continuous carpets covering entire bays. In places like Alsea Bay and Yaquina Bay, eelgrass grows in patchy beds, often interspersed with open mudflats where clams are abundant. The good news? You don't have to completely abandon productive clamming areas. You just need to pay attention and work around the green patches.
You might be thinking, "Okay, I get it – don't dig in eelgrass. But why is it such a big deal?" Here's where it gets interesting.
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) isn't seaweed or algae – it's an actual flowering plant with roots, stems, and leaves, just like the grass in your yard. According to the Oregon Conservation Strategy, native eelgrass occurs only in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats with soft sediment and adequate light, primarily in Oregon's estuaries.
What makes it truly remarkable is its role as what scientists call an ecosystem engineer. Environment America Oregon reports that eelgrass meadows play a critical role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and even combating climate change.
When you look at an eelgrass bed, you're seeing just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface, those waving green blades create what marine biologists describe as "underwater meadows" – complex three-dimensional structures that provide:
Here's the kicker – when you dig through an eelgrass bed, you're not just damaging plants. You're disrupting nursery habitat for the next generation of fish and crabs. And once eelgrass is ripped up or trampled, it can't just bounce back overnight.
I didn't expect this to be part of the clamming conversation, but it is. According to research highlighted by The Pew Charitable Trusts, eelgrass sequesters climate-warming carbon from the water and air in its leaves, roots, and underlying soils. It also reduces ocean acidification – which inhibits shell formation in clams and oysters.
Think about that: Protecting eelgrass actually helps protect the clam populations we're harvesting. It's a win-win situation that requires nothing more than walking around a few green patches.
The first step in avoiding eelgrass is knowing what to look for. If you've never paid attention before, don't worry – it's actually pretty distinctive.
According to ODFW's SEACOR project findings, Alsea Bay has eelgrass beds in several areas, particularly:
The ODFW Alsea Bay clamming brochure notes that "eelgrass beds are sparse and patchy" in the upper bay, where burrowing shrimp and softshell clams are common. But in lower bay areas where purple varnish clams and other species thrive, you're more likely to encounter eelgrass patches.
Pro Tip from a Waldport Local: At low tide, eelgrass stands out like patches of bright green lawn on the mudflats. If you see it waving underwater as the tide comes in, that's definitely eelgrass. Just walk around it – there's usually plenty of open mud nearby.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. You're at Alsea Bay on a beautiful minus tide morning. The clam shows are everywhere. You spot some eelgrass beds. What do you actually do?
Before you even pull out your shovel, take a minute to survey the flats. Look for those bright green patches. They're your "no-go zones." Mark them mentally (or even physically if you want to stick a driftwood marker nearby).
Focus your digging efforts on the open muddy or sandy areas between eelgrass patches. According to ODFW regulations, all bay clams must be taken by hand or hand-powered tools, and you're required to refill your holes after digging.
In Alsea Bay, productive clamming areas include:
These locations are detailed in ODFW's guide to crabbing and clamming in Alsea Bay.
This seems obvious, but it's worth emphasizing. Even if you're not digging in eelgrass, trampling through it causes damage. The roots can be uprooted, the blades can be torn, and the sediment can be disturbed enough to uproot young plants.
Think of it this way: Would you walk through someone's vegetable garden to get to the other side? Probably not. Treat eelgrass beds the same way.
This is part of ODFW's clamming ethics guidelines. When you dig clams, push the mud or sand back into the hole. Piled-up substrate can smother nearby eelgrass and hinder access to the surface for clams below.
If you see someone about to dig in eelgrass or stomp through a bed, politely let them know. Most people simply don't realize the impact. A friendly "Hey, FYI – ODFW asks us to avoid the eelgrass beds" goes a long way.
You might wonder if avoiding eelgrass is just bureaucratic overkill or if there's actual science behind it. Spoiler: There's real science, and it's not pretty when eelgrass gets damaged.
A study published in the journal Aquatic Botany titled "Effects of recreational clam harvesting on eelgrass (Zostera marina)" examined impacts of clamming on eelgrass beds. The researchers found that recreational clamming – particularly intensive digging – caused significant disturbance to eelgrass meadows.
The study noted: "Approximately 10% of the eelgrass of Yaquina Bay is subjected to recreational clamming and as this activity is generally less intense than that employed in this study, it may have less impact."
But here's the catch – even "less intense" activity adds up when hundreds of clammers visit a bay each year. The cumulative effect can be significant.
The Shellfish and Estuarine Assessment of Coastal Oregon (SEACOR) project has been systematically surveying clam populations and habitat quality in Oregon's major bays since the early 2000s.
One of their key findings? Eelgrass distribution directly correlates with healthy estuarine ecosystems. Areas with intact eelgrass beds support more diverse and abundant marine life – including the clams we harvest.
It's not just clamming that threatens eelgrass. According to A People's Primer for Protecting Oregon's Eelgrass published by Crag Law Center, eelgrass faces multiple threats:
The good news? As individual clammers, we have direct control over our impact. By simply avoiding eelgrass beds and spreading the word, we reduce one of the pressures on these critical habitats.
Avoiding eelgrass is just one piece of the sustainable clamming puzzle. ODFW's shellfish regulations are designed to maintain healthy, self-sustaining clam populations. Here's what else matters:
Different clam species have different daily limits:
Critical Safety Information: Before every clamming trip, check the Oregon Department of Agriculture shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visit their website.
Alsea Bay has experienced bay clam harvest advisories in recent years due to elevated saxitoxin levels causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). These closures are issued to protect public health – they're not suggestions.
The clamming ethics section of ODFW's guidance reminds us: "Make a plan. Harvest only what you need and know how to prepare the clam once you harvest it."
I'll be honest – the first time I went clamming, I got caught up in the excitement and dug way more than I could reasonably clean and cook. It's wasteful, and frankly, disrespectful to the resource. Now I set a realistic goal before I start and stop when I reach it, even if the limit allows more.
Leave them. Yes, it's frustrating to see clam shows and not dig them, but the long-term health of the ecosystem (which supports clam populations) is more important than getting a few extra clams today. There are almost always clam shows in nearby open areas – focus there instead.
ODFW's guidance is clear: avoid eelgrass areas entirely. Even parting the blades can disturb the plants and the habitat structure they provide. The safest approach is to simply work in open areas.
It can, but recovery is slow. According to Oregon Conservation Strategy, eelgrass availability of suitable habitat is a primary limiting factor. Once damaged, it may take months or even years for eelgrass to fully recover, depending on the extent of disturbance and environmental conditions.
Eelgrass is found in most of Oregon's major estuaries – Tillamook, Netarts, Yaquina, Alsea, and Coos bays all have eelgrass beds. The upper reaches of estuaries (where salinity is lower) may have less eelgrass, but you should always be vigilant and avoid any eelgrass you encounter, no matter which bay you're clamming.
If you accidentally uproot eelgrass while digging, the best thing you can do is gently replant it if possible – press the roots back into the sediment and cover them. Then, move your digging efforts to a clearly open area. One accidental disturbance isn't the end of the world, but make a mental note of where the eelgrass is so you don't repeat the mistake.
While "avoid eelgrass" is part of ODFW's published clamming ethics, it's not explicitly listed as a ticketable offense in the shellfish regulations the same way exceeding harvest limits is. However, the Oregon Conservation Strategy identifies native eelgrass as a Strategy Species requiring protection. More importantly, even if it's not strictly enforced with fines, it's the right thing to do for the health of our bays and the future of clamming.
If you live in Waldport or visit regularly, you know that Alsea Bay isn't just a clamming spot – it's part of the community's identity. The bay supports recreational fishing, crabbing, clamming, kayaking, and provides scenic beauty that draws tourists and sustains local businesses.
According to Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Alsea Bay is unique because it's the only estuary in Oregon where, by law, the tide doesn't have to be negative to clam. This accessibility makes it a beloved spot for families and first-time clammers.
But with that popularity comes responsibility. The health of Alsea Bay's eelgrass directly impacts:
These official videos from Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife will help you identify clam species, learn proper digging techniques, and understand bay ecosystems:
Clamming 101 with Oregon Dept. of Fish & WildlifeSo, is it okay to dig for clams in eelgrass in Oregon? Absolutely not – and now you know why.
But here's what I've come to appreciate about this guideline: it's not about making clamming harder or less enjoyable. It's about ensuring that our kids and grandkids can walk out onto Alsea Bay's mudflats decades from now and find the same abundance of clams we enjoy today.
Every time you walk around an eelgrass bed instead of through it, you're making a small but meaningful contribution to the health of Oregon's estuaries. You're protecting nursery habitat for salmon, shelter for juvenile crabs, and the underwater meadows that filter our water and stabilize our shorelines.
And honestly? Once you start paying attention to eelgrass and understanding its role, clamming becomes more interesting. You're not just harvesting dinner – you're participating in a complex coastal ecosystem, learning to read the landscape, and practicing responsible stewardship.
Next time you're at Alsea Bay or any Oregon estuary, take a moment to appreciate those bright green patches waving in the shallows. Then grab your shovel, find an open mudflat, and dig away – knowing you're doing right by the bay that gives us so much.
Remember the Simple Rule: If you see green, walk between. Open mud and sand? That's where you make your stand.
All information in this article comes from the following verified sources. Every claim is independently verifiable through these links.
Verification Note: This article was written in October 2025. All sources were verified as active and accurate as of the publication date. For the most current biotoxin closure information, always call the ODA shellfish hotline at 1-800-448-2474 before clamming.
Share Your Clamming Experiences
Have questions about clamming in Alsea Bay or eelgrass identification? Found this guide helpful? Share your experiences with other Waldport community members and coastal visitors. Together, we can keep Oregon's bays healthy for generations to come.
© 2025 Toni Bailey All rights reserved.