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CoastWatch Mile 218 County Lincoln Description Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek Boundaries N 44° 40.31', W 124° 3.693' to N 44° 39.355', W 124° 3.523' Google Maps Nearby Roads, Directions to/from, Google photos, Satellite image, Terrain overlay OPRD Map Otter Rock to Schooner Point (2), to Yaquina River Vehicles • Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from the Tillamook County-Lincoln County line (45° 02.6706', Mile 247), southerly to Yaquina Bay (44° 37.0374', Mile 215), except for the following locations within the corporate limits of Lincoln City: (A) A distance of 150 feet on each side of the westerly extension of North 35th Court; (B) A distance of 150 feet on each side of the westerly extension of North 15th Street. Weather Current Weather Conditions at nearby stations (may take a minute or two on a dialup connection) Tides The NOAA Tide Predictions site may be found here. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats. Photo Pelicans group up for migration   11/3/12 This group of about a dozen brown pelicans was standing on the beach near the surf line, a behavior noticed in previous years just before they fly south for the winter. Beachbum

27 REPORTS FOR MILE 218: Beachbum Nov 3, 2012 11:00 AM   Following an abnormally busy summer on Mile 218 with hundreds of thousands of tourists flocking to see the Japanese tsunami dock, autumn finds the beach returning to normal. This season’s first large surf has begun encroaching into the dune field. The wrack line shows the result of recent wave action with an ample supply of bull kelp, sea palm, feather boa, eelgrass and surfgrass. Deceased birds today included a couple of common murres and a northern fulmar. Alive and preparing for their migration south was a group of about a dozen brown pelicans standing near the surf line (see photo). I rarely see these immense birds on the beach except near migration time. This close to Yaquina Head and its many offshore rocks, the pelicans usually roost there instead. There were about ten people bundled up and walking the sand this morning in the drizzle and light southerly wind. At the north end of Mile 218, evidence of last year’s storms and erosion is still prevalent. There was no new dune-building over the summer, so the surf is able to crash full force against the sea cliffs. This is something I’ll be watching over the winter as I expect additional erosion without the buffering foredune. In the photo, the entire area from my position with the camera to the rocky beach and drift-logs in the distance was over six feet higher until the storms of last winter washed the foredune completely away. Big Creek, in the foreground, is now running parallel to the sea cliffs and exits to sea through the Yaquina Head tidepools. All in all, this section of Mile 218 is a very different place than it was a year ago.   MORE    Pelicans group up for migration    Description: This group of about a dozen brown pelicans was standing on the beach near the surf line, a behavior noticed in previous years just before they fly south for the winter. Erosion at Agate Beach    Description: Last winter's loss of a six-foot-high buffering foredune extending about a hundred yards from shore here allows surf and drift-logs to now come up directly to the sea cliffs. Beachbum Aug 10, 2012 10:00 AM   As a follow-up to the earlier reports on the stranded Japanese tsunami dock and its subsequent demolition and removal, Mile 218's Agate Beach is now back to normal. As seen in the attached photo, the wooden-plank and steel-plate road constructed for the removal project has been dismantled and hauled away. Also, all vehicles including the immense crane and large flatbed trucks are no longer on the beach or parked in the Agate Beach Wayside (which is once again open to the public). Ballard Diving and Salvage completed the project this week and it appears they have done an excellent job of beach restoration. Of course, they received some help from the environment as normal summer dune-building has assisted in covering any remaining traces of the large-scale activity on Agate Beach between July 30th and August 8th.   MORE    Temporary Road Removed    Description: The temporary wooden-plank and steel-plate haul road constructed for tsunami dock removal operations has been removed from Agate Beach Beachbum Aug 1, 2012 11:00 AM   After two months of unprecedented activity and public pressure on Mile 218, Agate Beach is expected to return to some semblance of normalcy by early next week. Ever since the arrival of the large concrete-and-rebar Japanese dock at the high tide line on June 4th, tens (maybe hundreds) of thousands of visitors have trekked the quarter mile or so from the nearest wayside to view the remnant of the March 2011 tsunami in Japan. On Monday (July 30th), transformation of the beach ramped-up as Ballard Diving and Salvage built a temporary, wooden-timber and steel-plate road across the dunes out to the hard sand to accommodate the trucks which will be hauling the dock away in pieces after it is broken up for removal. An enormous lifting crane is situated on the beach near the dock. Ballard also constructed a temporary footbridge across Big Creek for visitors to access the beach; for the duration of the removal project the normal Agate Beach Wayside access point is closed. And, the beach area around the dock itself has been cordoned off. As part of Ballard’s contract with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the beach must be returned to its pre-project state when the company is through removing the dock. Most of the pieces will be hauled away for disposal, but one chunk from the dock’s southeast corner has been donated to the City of Newport to become the centerpiece of a tsunami memorial in the town’s Japanese sister-city park. Another piece will become part of the tsunami exhibit at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. All in all, Mile 218 does not appear to have sustained any permanent damage from the onslaught of visitors, media, photo-ops and removal operations. However, next week I’ll file a report on exactly how well Ballard Diving and Salvage performed its post-project beach restoration.   MORE    Footbridge    Description: Temporary footbridge across Big Creek in front of Agate Beach State Park Wooden Road    Description: Temporary wooden timber approach road over small unnamed stream just west of Agate Beach Wayside Wooden Road 2    Description: Main wooden timber road built partway across the dunes west of Agate Beach Wayside Steel Road    Description: Final 100 yards of temporary road is constructed of large steel plates Project Overview    Description: An overview of the dock removal project equipment (looking north along Agate Beach) Hoisting Crane    Description: The enormous crane being used to lift pieces of dock onto flatbed semi trucks Crane Truck    Description: This large truck was used to move the lifting crane up the beach to the dock removal site The Dock    Description: Ballard Diving and Salvage workers atop the Japanese dock preparing for the cut-up process to begin Ballard Diving and Salvage Headquarters    Description: This trailer is being used to haul smaller equipment to the dock removal project site Beachbum Jun 13, 2012 11:00 AM   It’s the last thing you’d expect, having your adopted mile, in this case 218, suddenly become the main attraction on the Oregon coast. Equally shocking for someone who routinely collects fishing floats and other treasures from the beach is to be faced with something way too large to cart home. It has been just over a week since the 130-ton Japanese repair dock (Photo 1) arrived on Agate Beach after its 5,000-mile, 15-month journey from the fishing port of Misawa north of Tokyo where it was dislodged during the March 11, 2011 tsunami. I purposely waited to file my report until after thousands of visitors had trekked down the beach to view the 19x66x7-foot dock, figuring I’d have a better idea of any impacts from the increased traffic. I’m pleased to report that the heavy influx of tourists (Photo 2) has not resulted in any visible beach damage and I see virtually no increase in litter. They’re behaving themselves. I’m also happy to see these people actually walking the beach. As most mile adopters know, visitors rarely venture more than a hundred yards or so from a wayside or other beach access point. At least here, on Agate Beach, they are strolling (in some cases trotting or running) up to the tsunami mecca which is located about halfway between the Agate Beach and Lucky Gap accesses. The only remarkable indication that the Agate Beach Wayside is receiving an unusual amount of traffic is the string of temporary ‘No Parking’ signs along Oceanview Drive and in the wayside parking lot (Photo 3). The dock was reported in the Mile 218 surf on Monday afternoon, June 4th. Upon my arrival early the next morning, it had beached itself at the high tide line. The bottom 5 feet or so was completely covered by marine life -- hundreds of millions of individual organisms, including a tiny species of crab, mussels, barnacles, various algae, and a little starfish, all native to Japan. Most obvious was the heavy fringe of a Japanese brown algae (kelp) known as wakame. My first thought was invasive species, in spades. Oregon State Parks, Oregon State Police and scientists from OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport began arriving shortly after I did and their attention was immediately focused on two aspects: one, the safety of the gawkers, and two, the foreign marine growth. The authorities took action quickly and soon the dock was cordoned off, security was in place and scientists were taking samples of the marine growth. Within a couple of days, the dock itself had been sanitized. Biologists supervised the removal and burial of the invasive species. They scraped it off and then using a long-handled flame thrower burned off any remaining marine life. The charred remnants were buried in a pit on the beach well above the high tide line (Photo 4). As the state’s beaches are under the jurisdiction of Oregon State Parks, that agency has currently put the dock’s removal out to bid. They would prefer salvage (towing it off the beach for use elsewhere), but if that alternative is cost prohibitive, they would accept a bid for demolition and removal. The bids will be opened this afternoon. Are there more on the way? Four of these docks were sucked out of the harbor in Misawa. One came ashore on a Japanese island, one is on Agate Beach and the other two are still missing at sea.    MORE    Japanese Dock from 2011 Tsunami    Description: The scraped and sanitized repair dock on Agate Beach at the high tide line. Tourists Come to See the Dock    Description: Thousands of tourists have flocked to Newport's Agate Beach to view the 'tsunami dock' Parking Issues at Agate Beach Wayside    Description: Authorities were forced to place a number of signs in and around the wayside to keep visitors from blocking the road and parking lot. The Burial Pit    Description: Biologists and authorities dug a pit and buried the charred remnants of the invasive species that were clinging to the Japanese dock. Here, the pit is cordoned off with 'Caution' tape. Date: Jun 13, 2012 12:00 AM malachite Oct 30, 2011 5:30 PM   As I was leaving the beach at the Agate Beach wayside access, I saw 5-7 wood pallets stacked at the top of one of the paths down to the beach from the small/west side parking lot at Agate Beach wayside. As I went to my car, I noticed a large pickup w/a small open trailer filled w/wood pallets. At least 3 people were carrying these pallets out onto the beach. It's legal to build fires on that beach, but these were pallets, there are already piles of rusting nails, half exposed, sometimes covered by sand over parts of this beach. These heaps of rusting nails are the product of the thoughtless, selfish & just stupid habit of some people using pallets for their fires. They never think to pull the nails before tossing the wood on the fire (and taking the nails w/them, at least as far as one of the many trash cans located in either of the wayside's parking lots) or bringing a magnet to remove all the nails after the fire has died down. Most of the piles are w/in about 100 feet of the small parking lot on the west side of the street. Or where many people w/their dogs & children walk on their way to get closer to the ocean. I telephoned both the state police and the new state parks ranger, Bryan (or Brian) and asked them to speak to these people re: using pallets for firewood because of the hazard the nails pose to beach users. I was able to leave only a message for the ranger, he was probably off duty by around 5:30pm. I called the state police rather than the Newport city police as I have been told on other occasions that because it's a state park area, OSP is responsible for enforcing laws, etc., even though it's located w/Newport city limits. However, I have observed that sometimes the OSP dispatch calls the Newport police & asks them, as a courtesy, to check on whatever problem has been reported. While the OSP dispatcher I spoke to said that he would "notify the troopers in that area" I suspect no one bothered/had more important things to do. I provided the license plate number of the trailer to both the dispatcher & the state parks beach ranger.   MORE  Beachbum Sep 22, 2011 10:00 AM   What a difference a day or two makes. In the past 48 hours, the season's first big surf has come rolling up into the summer dune field. The most seaward 'row' of dunes has been overtopped and flattened. The bigger waves also reached well into the 'valleys' between the higher beach dunes, as far as 25-30 metres carrying the wrack line into the dry sand areas. Lots of surf-grass, sea palms and feather boa kelp on the wet sand. Nearer the surfline, a score of large piles of bull kelp (up to 4-5 metres long and a metre high) dot the sand. A few of the smaller logs that haven't moved since coming ashore after the Columbia River freshet in May-June were moved higher up the beach by last night's big surf and high tide.   MORE  Beachbum May 19, 2011 9:00 AM   The most striking development here is at the junction of Miles 218-219 where Big Creek now runs up against Yaquina Head, especially at low tide. Oldtimers say this is unusual for the 'mouth' or 'delta' of the creek to migrate so far north in a season. Now that we're probably past any serious surf and/or torrential rains for the summer, this is likely where Big Creek will exit the beach until fall at least. Freshwater is now running through the tidepools on Yaquina Head's SE side and it will be interesting to note if there are any changes in the marine inhabitants. Also note, if you use the Lucky Gap Trail for access, you will have to wade Big Creek to get to the lower beach and surfline. In addition, I should point out that with the prevailing wind direction veering around to the NW, seasonal dune-building on the upper beach is in full swing.   MORE  malachite Mar 11, 2011 2:30 PM   There was a tsunami watch/warning earlier today. I believe the expected landfall of the first wave was some time around 7 am. I was unable to get to a location overlooking the ocean this morning, but I was able to get to the second closest beach (to my residence) this afternoon--mile 218. To orient anyone reading this report in terms of time & tide, high tide is supposed to be 5.8' around 5pm today (Yaquina Bay). I'm going to post one or two photos of the beach I took today and will also post 1, maybe two photos I took of the same beach/mile 218 on March 30, 2010, at around 12:44 pm, during a storm surge, high tide that day was at 1:30 pm, and 7.8'(Yaquina Bay, reference NOAA tide tables). To compare the two photos, look at where the darker sand is on the beach in today's photos. Imo, that probably marks the maximum reach of the waves today, although I'm making an educated guess.   MORE    post tsunami warning beach    Description: photo of mile 18 looking south from near the Lucky Gap access/looking towards Agate Beach wayside, around 3pm. Location: probably 60 feet wsw of Lucky Gap access/base of stairway Copyright: (c) Susan E. Hogg post tsunami warning beach looking south from Lucky Gap access    Description: Looking south from Lucky Gap access point, about 100 feet wsw of base of stairway, looking towards Agate Beach wayside Location: about 75-100 feet away (wsw) from base of stairs/Lucky Gap access Copyright: (c) Susan E. Hogg storm surge 03/30/10, mile 218 looking south    Description: Looking south towards Agate Beach wayside from somewhere south of the Lucky Gap access stairway. Location: a little south of Lucky Gap access, looking south Date: Mar 30, 2010 12:44 PM Copyright: (c) Susan E. Hogg storm surge 03/30/10, mile 218 looking south    Description: another photo, slightly different perspective, same date, etc. Location: near Lucky Gap access, looking south Date: Mar 30, 2010 12:44 PM Copyright: (c) Susan E. Hogg Beachbum Mar 4, 2011 9:00 AM   Dead California sea lion on the sand at high tide line, about 700 metres north of Agate Beach Wayside. The animal appears to have died fairly recently; completely intact except for exposed soft tissue (eyes, lips) which the gulls were working. First fresh carcass to wash up on this section of beach for quite some time.   MORE  Beachbum Feb 22, 2011 12:00 AM   Unusual dead banded bird find this morning: Species: Adult Black-legged Kittiwake. Date of discovery: 22 February 2011, 0930hrs. Condition and Location: Deceased at high tide line on beach due west of Agate Beach Wayside. GPS coordinates: 44 39.5N / 124 03.6W. Bands: Left leg -- top to bottom, white, yellow, green plastic bands. Right leg -- top to bottom, green plastic band; metal band with ID# 794-94423. Info retrieved from Bird Banding Laboratory, Laurel, MD: Band number: 0794-94423. Species of bird: Black-legged Kittiwake. Where banded: Alaska. When banded: 05/06/2005.   MORE  Beachbum Jan 26, 2011 9:00 AM   A gorgeous morning on the beach as I walked my usual route from the Agate Beach Wayside to Yaquina Head. From near the surf, about halfway between the wayside and where Big Creek enters the sea, I noticed what appeared to be a hawk or falcon having 'breakfast' at the high tide line. On closer inspection I was treated to about 20 minutes of viewing a Peregrine Falcon gnawing on a recently deceased Western Gull. I remained about 10 metres away from the bird and watched through binocs. It seemed unconcerned with my presence, and after a quick glance at me with those huge eyes, returned to dining. The falcon had a green band on its left leg. One other note for those who walk Mile 218: the mouth of Big Creek was finally shallow enough to ford in boots this morning (it's been too swift and deep since the recent heavy rains).   MORE  Beachbum Nov 4, 2010 8:00 AM   It appears another California sea lion has succumbed to leptospirosis. Officials retrieved the carcass of this dead animal this morning from the high tide line directly west of Agate Beach Wayside. It was still alive when it came ashore; its final flipper tracks were visible in the sand. I observed what I believe to be this same animal yesterday morning near the northern end of Mile 218, just south of Yaquina Head. It was resting on the beach near the bluff, but was disturbed by a pair of visitors walking their yapping designer dogs which approached close enough to spook the sea lion. The animal then, exhibiting classic symptoms of leptospiros (lethargic, and dragging its hide flippers), slowly struggled into the surf.   MORE  Beachbum Oct 25, 2010 9:00 AM   I found two dead ocean sunfish following this week's high surf -- one was located between Agate Beach and Yaquina Head, just north of the mouth/delta of Big Creek where it empties into the ocean. The other dead sunfish I saw washed up between Agate Beach and Nye Beach at the upper tide line. Both specimens fit into the size range of 12-14 inches; their eyes were gone (seagulls working the carcasses so not positive how long they were deceased); and both fishes major fins had been worn off by, I assume, surf action (they did not appear decimated by predation). I've walked Oregon and Washington beaches since I was a kid (I'm now 62), and I'd never seen this species on the sand before.   MORE  Peacecoaster Jun 13, 2010 3:00 PM   Winds past 40 mph, blowing sand on beach, so people did not tarry on the beach.    MORE  malachite Mar 15, 2010 2:30 PM   Froth of surf colored yellowish brown by some kind of sediment (or something), also observed what looked like some kind of plant life floating in water not that far off shore. Have attached photo. I know I've seen this before, but don't remember when, it's not necessarily a dangerous or harmful phenomena, just very noticeable so I photographed it. Also observed, 4 black oystercatchers at north end of mile, hanging out w/gulls where the creek flows into the ocean. I have only rarely seen black oystercatchers this far south (I see them fairly regularly on the beaches to the north of Yaquina Head) and then years ago although I walk this part of the beach fairly often.   MORE    plants floating in water & a bit of discolored surf froth    Description: Photo of observed suspected some kind of plant life floating in water probably 50 feet offshore (not sure of that), plant or something associated w/it seemed to be discoloring the white froth of breaking waves--there's tinge of it visible in the photo Location: about the middle of mile 218 Date: Mar 15, 2010 12:00 AM Copyright: (c) 2010 Susan Hogg discolored wave froth    Description: photo of yellowish brown tinged/colored surf froth. Unknown source/cause. Location: almost directly west of small parking lot (west side of Oceanview St) at Agate Beach wayside Copyright: (c) 2010 Susan Hogg black oystercatchers    Description: Photo of two black oystercatchers hanging out w/gulls where creek flows into ocean. Location: between Little Creek Cove condos & Lucky Gap beach access stairs Copyright: (c) 2010 Susan Hogg Liz O. Jun 16, 2009 2:00 PM   Paradise. One of those beautiful warm sunny no wind days.   MORE  Liz O. Jun 6, 2009 2:00 PM   Near the path at the north section of Agate Beach there is a patch of yellow flag iris at the margin of the vegetation line and the beginning of the sand. Along side the path is evident erosion due to water stream and it is likely the iris made its way down this stream. If it is truly flag iris it is considered a noxious weed. I will report it on line to 1-800 Invader hotline.   MORE  malachite Jun 6, 2009 11:30 AM   I walked north from Agate Beach Wayside (towards Lucky Gap access/Yaquina Head). When I was approximately level with (or across the width of the beach from) the Little Creek Cove condo development, I saw two American eagles scavenging something dead (dead gull/shore bird, I think) on the beach. As I got closer (never got particularly close), one tried to grab the carcass in its beak & fly off w/it. Got about 1' off the ground before it dropped the carcass. It flew north further down the beach, the other continued to sit/stand on the beach until I got a little closer--I was trying to walk by it & keep a reasonable distance away to minimize disturbance--and then it flew just a little way south on the beach (accompanied by a crow) & I think flew back to the carcass once I'd passed. There was also a vulture flying over the beach east & south (closer to the western Wayside parking lot). I don't think I've ever been so close to eagles before. Observation time is approximate, I observed the birds some time between 11am & noon. I walked back along the creek so wasn't close enough again to carcass to see if the eagles returned to it. Mile 218 is not my mile, however, I walk on the beach between Lucky Gap & Jump off Joe fairly often (217, 218).   MORE  Liz O. Aug 17, 2008 1:30 PM   Quite a heavy marine layer and fog rolling in along with lightning and thunder rumblings. The air was so charged that our hair was full of static and scalp was buzzing. Probably was a sign we should not be on the beach. We were taking part along with about 15 others in a scavenger hunt lead by Skye Moody. Everyone collected lots of ocean and human debris-plastic, rope, flotsam, a syringe, broken glass, clothes, a piece of fish jawbone with 4 teeth in it, landscape cloth, rusted cans and so on. Not so much flotsam but the mile got a good clean up by the group. Lots of fun.   MORE  Liz O. Mar 2, 2008 3:00 PM   North end of Agate Beach at least 3 new homes being built. Appears that more and more lights showing up oon the bluffs at the beginning of the headland. The Visitor Center lights on the headland are very visible at night. Detracts from the beauty of the night sky.   MORE  Liz O. Sep 2, 2007 12:00 AM   Seems to be more whale activity this summer season in the Agate Beach area. Also sighting many more flocks of pelicans.   MORE  Kmarlak Sep 1, 2007 10:00 AM   Three new houses going up along this mile   MORE  sehogg Jul 19, 2007 4:00 PM   A multitude of dead birds and 1 dead small seal. The online form does not accept the listing of more than one mile--my observations cover most of miles 217-218 and the report is probably a one time thing--neither 217-218 are "my" miles. I thought it might be important to report observations on number of dead birds seen to add to other reports being made.   MORE  Kmarlak Jun 11, 2007 4:30 PM   Saw a strange vehicle on the beach last weekend, from Ossie's Surf Shop. Has 6-8 wheels and carries boards, etc. for "surf school". Couldn't tell if it was motorized.   MORE  Liz O. Jun 11, 2007 3:30 PM   Agate Beach dunes are in formation phase again. Perhaps a little slower this season than the prior two years. Razor clamming activity quite active the last 60 days in the early morning. Just bordering on Mile 218/217, bluff sloughing. Larger sand boulders evident this year than in the past two but this activity occurred within the past 60 days, not during the winter storms. Invasion of Scotch Broom on the bluffs is a concern. It is rapidly spreading in certain areas. Due to the flat terrain of Agate Beach more kiteboarding, wakeboarding, kitesurfing activity being seen.   MORE  Kmarlak Feb 28, 2007 3:00 PM   I've never seen dead puffins on this stretch before, and I've lived nearby for thirty years. Also, plastic drink bottles are out of control. Maybe time to include them in a new bottle bill!   MORE  Liz O. Feb 2, 2007 4:00 PM   One boat piece was north of the wayside and was about 4'x 10'. The other piece was just south of the wayside up near the bluff and was about 3' x 3'. The pieces seemed to be fibreglass/wood. The 2 wood beams 2x4?or 2x6 were south of the wayside. The creek was flowing vigorously from just south of the wayside going north. It has widened quite substantially running along the bluff line, enough so that it it now quite impassable. Agate Beach now has two sizable creeks flowing into the ocean. The one is now much closer to the Wayside than in past seasons. The large drainpipe that goes under 101 had no water draining from it. Is it possible water has been diverted upstream into the creek which is now dumping more out at the Wayside? Could this be why it has grown so much and moved in a more southerly direction of late?   MORE