Oregon Government Turning Family’s Home into A Sandcastle

"Nothing about the sand changed; only the permission did. Overnight, cleaning the sand off our own property became illegal.”

Milt Harris , Bio and Archives--August 26, 2026

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Having been fortunate to live on the beach for the last seven years, we are keenly aware of how the sand on a beach can move. After a storm in particular, things can shift fairly dramatically, but even over a period of time without a storm, things will subtly shift.

On August 13, a man named Joseph Niedermeyer from Cannon Beach, Oregon, shared a lengthy post on X about a major problem he faces with his family home of over 50 years. Niedermeyer, who lives on the beach, explained that he has always hired a team to clear the sand that the wind blows into his backyard. However, in 2025, that all changed because this simple remedy became an issue for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

“Last year, out of nowhere, the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department (OPRD) went over the head of our own city and denied us permission to keep doing it. Nothing about the sand changed; only the permission did. Overnight, cleaning the sand off our own property became........

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