Report Details

Mile 147 exhibited a lot of sand being deposited against the bluff and jetty..  More than I have noticed in previous years.  A large Crab die off due to being brought up by the high tide to the beach area and dropped.  One sea lion (I think as the carcass was deteriorated) being eaten by vultures and eagles.

Conditions

Temperature: 65 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: -1.7 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 4. Number of dogs: 1. Other Activities: Clamming and driving the beach (illegally past the sign going south.). Walked 4 miles from Sparrow Park Rd to the north umpqua jetty. 2 ATV's same family were past the do not enter sign and heading south towards the jetty.

Concerns

Apparent violations: Driving on a closed beach at mile 146 going south towards the south jetty.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 1. ATVs/OHVs parking: 2. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 1. ATVs/OHVs on beach, prohibited: 2.

Notable Wildlife

4 Eagles feeding on a dead seal carcass

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Lots of Dungeness crab had been brought in by the bigger tide. All were dead and many were whole and intact. This was in the mid section of mile 147.

Driftline Content

Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam.

New Development

The bluff just before the jetty had been entirely filled with sand so that one could walk right up to the top of the foredune. In the past it was a steep bluff. See pictures

Man-made Modifications

The snowy plover fencing has fallen down along miles 148-149. the ATVs might have pulled them over as I saw wheel tracks running past the lines. It did not look like anyone had cleaned the beach of larger pieces of garbage during the Beach Solve clean up a few weeks ago. This could be because of the nearly impassable Sparrow Park road access.

Natural Changes

Blowing sand has packed in around the jetty and the bluffs leading to the jetty on mile 147. There are no longer steep bluffs but more of a rolling sand dune approach to the top. The jetty instead of climbing up the big rocks one can walk right to the top on sand.

Actions & Comments

Sparrow Park Road leading to the beach is in terrible condition. I had to recruit a friend with a bigger SUV to take me down the 3 mile road to the beach this time. The section that is in private hands and the forest service section of road have not been maintained in years. The Forest Service has an easement to the private section but has not responded to requests to grade the giant holes. The upper section of the road is maintained by the county and it is in good shape.  One can't visit the area once it rains and it is still very difficult in the dryer months.  I am not sure how many more times I can get people to drive the road to help me get to the beach.  Other CoastWatch miles that might be affected would be miles 154=147.  Next fall I will try and canoe over to the mile 147 from the Winston harbor.  I have visited this beach since 1980 and the road is in the worse shape it has ever been.  The Forest Service and maybe the Oregon Parks and Recreation have taken the 3 Mile Lake trailhead sign down and have removed the yellow with black number mile post where the road comes out to the ocean.  I am thinking they are giving up on providing access to this area of the shoreline.  There is a newer post marking the Oregon Coast route as you come out to the ocean from the Sparrow Park parking area.

Report Images

Old ATV trail up and over the foredune
Buried sign at old ATV entrance
Sand has filled in the bluff
Sand along the rock jetty
Deceased seal lion which had been eaten by Turkey Vultures and eagles
Dungeness crab washed ashore
Many Pelicans just inside the jetty catching fish.

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All Mile 147 Reports

Showing 8 of 25 reports

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

June 6, 2023

Mile 147 exhibited a lot of sand being deposited against the bluff and jetty.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

September 13, 2022

Beach appeared to be normal.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

February 10, 2022

Miles 141-147 did not have any die offs or concentrations of dead marine or invertebrate animals.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

April 27, 2021

Beach did not display any abnormalities as far as erosion or die offs of sealife.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

September 28, 2020

Mile 147 looked clean with the build up of blowing summer sands.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

December 16, 2019

Coastline along Mile 147 and the preceding Mile 144-146 were clean of major garbage and trash.

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

November 16, 2018

Lyndell

Mile 147

Oregon Dunes NRA, North Spit Umpqua River, Winchester Bay

March 11, 2018

Since my last visit in June 2017 there were noticable difference to the bluff on the southern end of mile 147 before the Jetty.

Lyndell