Mile Report Browser

Nine people were on the beach (5 walking and 4 sitting). The beach was extremely clean. No debris of any type. One picture attached. There was a bald eagle on a dead spruce tree that leans towards the ocean. There was some bank erosion on the south end of mile 307. I first observed this new erosion on May 6, 2018. The ocean washed out the rock berm in this part of the shoreline. The attached pictures show two large spruce trees on the beach that were part of an erosion event in 2006.

It was a nice sunny day even though it was fairly windy. Last report I did the rack retaining wall at the "D" River parking area had some damage to it which is possibly from whatever construction was happening in the parking lot, it looks as though they had put the larger rocks back in the cracks but it still doesn't really fix the wall. About 1/4 mile to the south end of the mile there is a rusty pipe in the vegetation (too much for me to carry back myself, or I would have), and at the end of the mile to the south it looks like someone has made a make shift shelter with logs, concrete and a large type of plastic for the covering.

A pretty clean beach! Litter patrol generated about 1/2 of a kitchen bag...mostly glass and plastic bottles, flip flops & clothing, assorted plastic and paper goods...all less than usually found. Nothing significant or of concern.

I've been watching a harbor seal pup below Coquille Point since May 15. It is alert and hugs the rocks and high-tide areas around the two passes near Elephant Rock. I have yet to see its mother on sand but have noticed at least one adult swimming just north of the pup. Diane Bilderback and Eric Murtz are aware of the pup, but I don't know if they're monitoring later in the day.

A nice day at the beach. Lots of activity.

Very nice day at the beach, low tide and it was still falling, one dog owner didn't seem physically able to clean up after their pets (two dogs that I cleaned up after).  I was plesantly surprised by the small amout of human trash left on the beach after a busy Saturday.    

Took the missus out for a trial walk with her new walking sticks, initially heading north into the wind from Driftwood Shores Resort up to Sutton Creek and return with a nice tailwind.  The on-going stranding of "By-The-Wind Sailors (Velella velellas) is piling up gazillions of the creatures all along Mile 172 and the rest of the Heceta Beach area.  Almost of the sailors were in the 2-4" length range, with only a few small examples observed. There were hundreds of weekend visitors also out on the beach, most of whom were trying to figure out what all those little blue things were.

No significant marine mammal activity observed today.  Lots of grey/white Glaucous-winged gulls migrating northbound (slowly) into the wind, with one bird actively plunge-diving into the Sutton Creek outflow multiple times until driven off by a bald eagle who power-dived into the shallow water and grabbed a 4-6" fish from the same spot.

No litter or dead furry/feathered critters on the beach today - just a lot of folks out enjoying the sunshine!

A pretty nice day on the beach. Many people for a cloudy & cool day, concentrated at the north end of the mile. At least half, maybe 2/3s of the people present were surfers plus a few companions of surfers. 5-6 dogs, pretty much under control--a nice change. Same unusual number of whimbrels I've been seeing for at least 3 weeks on every beach I've been on from the north jetty of Newport to mile 224. I was on the beach from about 2:30pm to 3: 30 pm. High tide today at the HMSC dock in South Beach was predicted/calculated to be at 5:05pm, & 7.2' so perhaps it was about 5' or so when I was on the beach, I can't say for sure nor do I actually know what the range of temperatures was while I was on the beach. I was comfortable in a light sweatshirt & unzipped windbreaker & jeans so perhaps 50's to 60. I have no idea why the mile report asks for precise measurements of tide and temperature, I don't carry a thermometer or know how to perform whatever calculations are needed to extrapolate from high or low tide at the HMSC to my mile, maybe 7-8 miles north, yet the form doesn't allow for estimates.   The new form continues to demand quite likely inaccurate but precise responses w/regards to time, time, temperature.  I spent about an hour on the beach, 15-20 minutes doing the report, in part because I had to go back to page 1 to remove the ?s I had entered along w/my estimates of the tide height, temperature and # of parked vehicles.  At my access point, there are 3 separate moderately large parking areas.  I don't take the time to walk to or along each one and count the vehicles.  In addition, the # can change while I'm on the beach, sometimes significantly so.   So unless there are very few vehicles parked at the access point, the number I enter is always an estimate.   It's too bad the form hasn't been revised to reflect that if that's what the mile walker has done.  

A beautiful day out, great low tide. People were respectful of the intertidal habitat. Having the watchful eyes of several OIMB graduate students on hand was no doubt a helpful factor.

5-18-18 mile 204 Driftwood beach wayside north to south end of Seal Rocks beach
8:30 am,  1.7 minus tide, went with 1 other person, cloudy morning, no rain, very little wind
only other people on the beach were 2 people gathering mussels, (not sure if commercial or private) and 1 surf fisherman on south end of Seal Rocks
several tide pools,  sea anenomes in abundance and rocks were covered in mussels and starfish, quite a comeback from the last die off and in many colors.
observed several seagulls and cormorants on the offshore rocks and 3 vultures on the beach near high tide mark, did not see anything that the vultures were feeding on
found one fairly large, seemingly intact dungeness crab dead on the beach, did not turn it over to see if male or female the rocks above the tides were covered in blooming pink thriftthere was very little marine debris or litter on the beach this day.

6 photos attached

The walk started with a very light mist, and then cleared off. The birds have returned to the Lighthouse area, I could have easily counted a thousand.

I noticed there is new plastic pipe showing at the equivalence of NW 61st Street from erosion near the top of the cliff.

Activities of note on the beach ranged from building sand castles to riding bikes. A significant influx of dead Velella (invertebrates in the same family Cnidaria as jellies) have arrived from the open ocean to the beach as a result of the wind shift from the south winds of winter to the north winds of summer. 

Significant influx of decaying Velella velella at the drift line. 42 people including 2 bicyclists; 13 walking/running; 15 playing in surf; 8 playing in sand; 4 sitting plus 3 dogs. 

A pleasant Mothers Day, with just a little light coastal fog.  Great day for wildlife spotting:  4 whimbrels, 1 brown pelican, 1 juvenile eagle, 10 turkey vultures, about 20 harbor seals (fewer than the normal number but there were also some in the water).  A few scattered Velella velella along the tide line.  One family had a dog who was very interested in the seals, but the people kept him in check.  When I went to investigate why there would be so many turkey vultures in a cluster on the beach, I came upon the carcass of a seal pup ... mostly intact except for the ribcage area.  This was about 40 yards from the water.  Very little trash to pick up today.

Fog shrouded the beach on the northern segment of Mile 102 at 5:30 a.m. close to low tide of 0.8 feet. A north wind was of moderate strength. Wildlife was not so apparent until the return walk. By then the fog had lifted. Groups of wimbrels and sanderling-size birds foraged in the wet sand, as did several gulls. Driftline contained Velella velella, a few Dungeness crab shells, shell fragments, small rocks, red and bull kelps, one unknown dead bird with black and white feathers and an open chest cavity. Logs were abundant close to the upper parking lot of the Coquille River lighthouse but thinned out further along. Considerable wave overtopping and erosion of the foredune was evident. A man ran with 3 unleashed dogs in the wet sand.

Fairly clean, windswept beach.  No mass Velella velella strandings this season, only a scattering of large specimens (3-4 inches).  No pyrosomes seen today.  A fair amount of mole crab molt, typical for this time of year.  

All was fine, however the dune shows signs of recent dune erosion.

Lots of bird activitiy on Heceta Beach today.  Two bald eagles, an osprey, the usual gaggle of turkey vultures, crows and ravens, sanderlings everywhere, several low-flying flocks of black turnstones heading north, a half dozen whimbrels, and a single Greater Yellowlegs (I think) with a long straight beak, tannish coloration, and noisy alarm calls as I walked by.  The alarm calls are apparently a distinquishing feature, according to my birding guide.

The turkey vultures have reduced the previously reported necropsied sea lion to not much more than a rib cage and hide and they're still working on it.  Only a few fresh Velella velellas have washed ashore today.  The usual gaggle of harbor seals were out feeding in the near-shore surf.

I've been walking Mile 171 for 12 years.  I went back and looked at older photos of the foredune at the south end of Mile 171 near the North Jetty Road parking lot.  The once straight-line fordune has now morphed into an upside-down "Y" shape, with a newer beachgrass-induced foredune building to the west of the original, joining together about 1/4 mile north of the jetty.  I'm guessing that since the sand can't migrate east anymore due to the beach grass, the beach is moving west ...

No one else was out at 5:30 on an overcast, slightly windy morning heading south from the South Jetty. The tide was 1.6 feet and the temperature 50. Wildlife was not particularly evident--just a few gulls and crows. The driftline consisted of small rocks, shell fragments, Velella velella (both blue and bleached white), mussels, a few Dungeness crab shells, both red and bull kelps. Logs remain in spots along the vegetated foredune, which shows signs of wave overtopping. For unknown reasons, people are building log structures. I counted 3 intact and 2 collapsed. The summer cycle of northerly winds and calmer tides has started. Even at high tide, there is abundant beach.

Pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, one bald eagle, and 4-5 harbor seals at Cascade Head.

I picked up about half a bag of plastic trash and bottles. 

Seemed like there were more than normal amount of dead crabs. 

Was pleasantly surprised to see mole crabs that were alive. 

I am attaching a picture of the river. It seems to be changing. Quite a few rocks that never use to be there.

Mod winds from SW on cloudy day. 13 people,2 dogs walking along beach.  Shells, pebbles, and some mole crab molt along high tide line.  Clean beach. Beachside campground 3/4 full. 

It was a wonderful day for a walk on the beach. The summer crowds had not yet arrived. No unusual human activity was seen. The only unusual wildlife was a few pyrosomes (tunicates) in a small pool.

Both the Whale Cove beach and Rocky Creek wayside were in good condition as usual, however there were rubber surf boards and a downspout that were found both on the beach below the houses on the bluff and hung up among small vegetation on the cliff in between the houses and the beach. Aparently wind had carried items from the yard of a resident, littering the beach below. Only two items were found that were likely washed up from the sea: a buoy and some netting. Evidence of a recent fire on the beach was present.

Beach was remarkably free of litter or large man made debris such as pallets styrofoam, floats or rope. I suspect the in migration of sand has covered much of the normal debris.

Another pleasent morning for a stroll along Heceta Beach!  Light NW wind, sunny and warm.  There has been an ongoing mass stranding of Velella velellas (By-The-Wind Sailors) and the high water line is covered with a gazillion of them along the entire mile.  Just one Pyrosome and lots of mole crab casings, particularily on the south half of Mile 171.  Harbor seals were feeding in the "lagoon" on the north side of the Siuslaw River North Jetty.  Several large (100+) flocks of Sanderlings, a half dozen Whimbrels with their districtive down-turned long beak, a solitary Ruddy Turnstone, and the usual squadron of unidentified grey gulls were feeding in the wave run-back.  A pair of Peregrine falcons were flying just above the brush in the deflation plain area along the North Jetty Road.

Ten Eugene Hikers walked Mile 154, starting from Tahkenitch Dunes Trail.  The beach was very calm with a lack of animal life (birds, sea mammals), and one other person walking.  There were crab shells and velalla velalla jelly fish, netting and rope near driftline.  At the north end, there was a lot of trapped litter in roots of fallen trees at the cliff edge.  We collected two large yard bags of litter - mostly plastics and left them at the south end of Mile 154, near Three Mile Lake/#155A signs.  

This is my first mile report since becoming a volunteer and therefore I do not have a previous report with which to make a comparison. However, having routinely walked this mile for ten years it would appear that there is nothing out of the ordinary to report. No recent wash-up of Velella velella. All Velella velella remains were about three weeks old. There was a large number of small (less than half-inch in diameter) crab molts at the water line. Bald eagle observed on land and flying over the water line.

Sand deposition low, exposed basalt in sand at Austin Point west of bluff, Vellela Vellela drift from late March still present, Mole Crab casings lower in rackline

Better late than never -- I missed reporting in March! Chilly, windy gray day... A lot of scotch broom in bloom on the vegetated foredune immediately east of the creek. There was a Bald eagle picking at something in the creek toward the north end, who flew into the trees as I approached. When I got to the point that I think the eagle had been, there were remains of the wing scapulars of a large bird, with associated bones: I suspect it was a Great blue heron. Also saw a suspected beached Sooty shearwater. Dozens of "peeps" along the tideline, perhaps Least sandpipers, and some larger shorebirds with downturned bills, about the size of dunlins but with slimmer necks and longer bills. It was hard to judge the size of the birds. The lighting was such that I could only see their silhouettes, and I had no binoculars, alas. Beach was windswept and relatively clean with minimal plastic and rope pieces in the wrack.

Everything was normal on the beach. There was not erosion or anything that was bad. One group of people was smoking but there was no sign of litter.

It was nice to pack out a very small amount of plastics and trash. Very few people were out this afternoon. We have noticed some natural changes at the river. But because this is our 1st report we will wait to get a little more in tune with things before we report.

Not much to report.  Debris from winter storms was evident and a lot of crab shells.

Didn't do watch on mile 51. Used mile 50 instead.  Dove in Nellies Cove. Nellies Cove is a catchment area for marine debri/garbage.

Was a very calm morning, we walked on the south side of the Alsea Bay first entering at the Wyziata access point at the stairs. It was raining on and off, about 48 degrees. No other vehicles were parked there for access. Tide was out and we looked to see it was a minus tide due to full moon. 5 walkers on the south side 2 people with 1 dog each. Observed dog feces left on the beach. We picked up two bags of trash consisting of plastic bottles, ropes and many plastic peices. We noticed lots of Velella Velella in the shore line. One dead black rock fish carcas that was aprox 24" long, also one dead seagull and bird carcass unidentifyable in a brownish looking water-pic attached. We saw a staircase that was fallen down due to erosion. The runoff from homes above beach observed was very discolored and appeared to be growing blue green algea-unsure took pictures. 

On the North side of Alsea bay we parked at Alsea spit access in Bayshore. No other cars were parked there. we noticed 5 people walking with three more dogs. Observed beach grass planting to help stabalize beach erosion. many homes had sand piled up onto their back porches. Also appeared equipment used to push sand from homes back onto the beach. We noticed a dead bird that I couldnt identify see pic. we picked up another bag of trash with plastic, buoys, and a boot. More rain on and off but still calm with no wind. Observed many logs and debris. The north side has much more debris-logs and such. Appears to get a much more sustained flow of water wind and push up from the sea. We saw 4-5 different wood log forts that people had made out of drift wood. Found one dead sea star-orange. 

April report submitted on behalf of a mile-adopter.

Large numbers of Velella Velella in driftline thoroughout the entire length of the mile. Collected kitchen size trash bag amount of ocean debris, plastic bottles, bags, balloons, fishing gear. 2 asian bottles. One large Skate casing, approximately 10" long. 

This doesn't happen often - 72F and calm winds at Heceta Beach today!  Another stranding of Velella velellas of various sizes, mostly 3-4" in length, all along the mile.  Only a few Pyrosomas observed, along with the occasional bits and pieces of Moon and Sea Nettle jellies.  Large flocks of sanderlings feeding in the wave run-back, with lots of unidentified gulls flying northbound.

There is an unusually large die-off of Mole crabs (Emerita analoga) all along the mile, except for the very southern end of the mile near the Siuslaw River North Jetty "lagoon".  Rarely seen until just a few years ago on Heceta Beach, they now seem to be all over.  I don't know if these crabs shed their exterior shells like Dungeness crabs, so I tried to disassemble a few only to find they still had the soft inner tissues inside including one crab who was still alive and highly offended by my efforts to take him apart. (photo)

A dead adult Steller sea lion (female) is one the beach about 1/4 mile north of the Siuslaw River North Jetty.  Looks like Dr. Jim Rice's crew had just performed a necropsy on it, as the head was cleanly cut off and appears the internal organs removed.  A trio of Turkey vultures were happily dining on it. (photos)

Some scumbag dumped a stripped and abandoned wheel-less Honda on the North Jetty Road.  The car already had a state patrol tag on it.  Shouldn't be too hard to track down the scufflaws as they forgot to remove the license plates ... (photo).

Everything is just fine.

About 20 people, all but 2 from cars parked below the dune, walking on beach and climbing the north side of the dune, with 2 dogs. Jillions of little sand crabs in the low tide zone burrowing in the sand and gathering in little pools. I have never seen the tide this low here with a totally clean and flat beach abruptly ending at the vegetated cliff. The storm of early April created a neat edge to the now-level beach. Resident Peregrine on his usual perch.

Groups of people were playing ball and picnicking. This was the spring break for some schools.

It was a beautiful sunny day. Very little wind. I did not notice any significant changes in extent of erosion along the road north and south of the river. Most appears to be occurring along Ocean View drive north of the Yachats River. 

I had some concerns about the safety of the ground at the Lions Club bench near 3rd street and Ocean View Drive.

This was a windy and sunny day on the beach on Earth Day 2018. We encountered clam diggers, windsurfers, horseback riders, families playing in the sand, people walking--lots of recreation going on. Lots of driftwood and structures on the south end of our mile and medium size rocks on the north end of the mile. Sandpipers were present in goodly numbers and a few terns and gulls.

Routine day at Agate Beach.  Very little litter.  What a beauftiful way to celebrate Earth Day!

Picture shows the plastic pieces and other debris from the small area I cleaned up along a small section of the dunes. The driftline along a large portion of the Mile is littered heavily with small plastic pieces.

There is very little change to the sand or dunes along mile 256. The most remarkable observation was of the number of Velella Velellas and their large size. 

Nice day at the ocean, people seem to be enjoying themselves.

Managed to walk Mile 171 between the spring showers.  Few people out today.  A bald eagle was perched on one of the foredune high spots, trying to ignore the squadron of gulls and crows hovering around making lots of "Go away!" noise.  No recent large stranding of Velella velellas observed, just a few here and there.  An unusually large flock of probably 100+ sanderlings were feeding in the surf outwash (photo).

3 people walking on beach 2 dogs running woody debris in wrack line.  Cleaned up a full 5gal bucket of human trash. 

Most notable is the extent to which large chuncks of the cliff have worked loose. Also first time I have seen horseback riders on this section of the beach.  Hoof prints indicted they didn't go very far south from Ona Beach park.  I documented them coming back (very friendly).  Beach was clean, very few Velella velella.

This was the first time I was able to monitor Mile 188.  Over three to four hours of climbing cliffs and outcroppings, checking tidepools, and walking on rocks, I realized what a workout this was.  Also, as it was, I was unable to connect the Strawberry Hill area with the Neptune Beach (South) area due to time (and tide) - there was a section of approximately 400-500 feet that went unexplored.  I was amazed at the amount of life in the tidepools - innumerable anemones as well as at least 20-25 sea stars (in all three areas) were enjoyed as well as mussels, barnacles, sea lions, and a few birds (what appeared to be swallows on the cliffs).  There was also an area (south of Strawberry Hill access) that had human-made plastic trays and dish scrubbers bolted into the rock--inquiry led to the knowledge that these are implements for ongoing monitoring and experimention in rocky shore ecology by the OSU-based Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO).  Although the water in the tidal pools appeared cloudy/murky, there was a lack of trash and/or plastic except for some particles in the north Strawberry Point area (also, most of the driftwood and erosion from the surf appeared in this area).  

Nothing out of place. No noticible physical changes were observed. There were just a few people were walking and only one dog at the time.

Nothing unusual

Numerous smallish Steller sea lions (yearlings?) observed swimming upriver in the Siuslaw or heading south along Mile 171 in the near-shore surf.  About a half dozen harbor seals feeding in the surf.  Mallard ducks, double-crested cormorants, and western grebes in the river on the south side of the jetty.  Large flocks of sanderlings and a half dozen "Ruddy Turnstones" feeding in the wave outwash.  This is the first time I've spotted the turnstones, although several field guide references say they are common winter visitors along sandy shorelines.  There has been a recent stranding of Velella velellas (By-the-Wind Sailors) along the entire mile.  Sizes range from 1/2" to 4" in length, although the vast majority are less than 1".

It was a mild, overcast day with no strong winds. Upon first arrival there were only two other cars, one belonging to a large family with children, the other to an older couple who were exploring the rocks with buckets in hand. By the time that I returned from my walk, the parking lot had completely filled up and there were a number of families exploring the tide pools closest to the parking lot. Only a few people were going beyond those initial pools I noticed.

There were several groups of sea lions out in the water with their flippers in the air. There were also some small birds who seemed to be nesting in the cliffs. They were too far up  and too small to get a good look at them, but I could hear them chirping for most of my walk. There was also a plethora of anemones and sea stars in the tide pools as well as several different types of plants and algaes.

I didn't notice any physical changes to the area.

The scene at the beach today was more typical except for many ? washed ashore on the tideline. The mallard pair is still here too.

Calm, cloudy morning 46', beginning to rain lightly.  Moderate amounts of very small mole crab carcasses all along high tide line.  8 people 4 dogs, walking.  Shells and pebbles along high tide line.  Notable was a new, in-use, garbage compactor at Beachside State Park campground, clean beach. Campground about 1/2 full with spring-break vacationers.

A partially cloudy and cool day. Fewer people and fewer dogs than typical on the beach and in the water. Fewer gulls than I usually see or encounter here. Maybe a total of 12 Gulls in all. Fewer dogs disturbing wildlife than in past observations.

Beautiful, sunny, windy Easter weekend day at the coast. Birds couldn't compete with the wind...didn't see one bird on this walk. Human generated debris also couldn't compete with the wind...didn't notice any trash...it evidently was all blown away. There was less than normal small rocks and broken clam shells plus a few beached jelly fish and crab casings noted this walk.

Notice the ratio of vehicles to people. There was a large concentration of people just north of the boundry of Mile 170 nearer to the South Jety. 

Also, seems that all the dune buggy parking lots before getting to the south jety (and Mile 169) were filled to capacity with lots of activity in the designated off road areas. Only one set of tire  tracks noted in this mile.

Not much going on. Very large plastic drum found on beach, contacted Ranger.

Calm winter day, with an outgoing tide.  Large amounts of water draining from the cliffs/bluffs.  

Some erosion.

There has been a lot of erosion to the dunes in the last two years. However, it is much the same now as in the last report

This was a holiday weekend. The parking at Roads End State Park is not adequate for the number of vehicles trying to find a parking spot on a sunny day. Cars were parked into the neighboring streets.
People were carving names into the cliffs, particularly the area below Chinook Winds resort. 
2 young men were surf fishing. I did approach them and tell them that it isn't allowed as I looked into their bucket holding a small perch. They said they didn't know and continued fishing. I did them  it's a marine reserve with no fishing and it's posted on the signs at the park. 

Except for a lot of people, not much notable except a pair of mallard ducks who seem to be nesting nearby as I have seen them at the beach in the shallow waves a number of times recently.

For it being a rainy first day of spring break the beaches were pretty busy. The work being done at the "D" River parking lot may be casue severe damage to the Northwest corner of the parking lot seawall. A large portion of the wall has fallen since survey in January.

A cold, beautiful day with hail on the beach and snow in low elevations on the western coast range visible from the beach. About 50 people enjoying the beach, some tidepooling, a few walking/jogging. Many invertebrates washed ashore including dungeness crab, which gulls and crows were feeding on. Shifting sands have unearthed velella carcasses buried last year. A common murre carcass was found, likely preyed upon by a bald eagle earlier that day. At time of reporting (3/30), a large colony of sea lions (many dozen if not a hundred or so) was spotted just offshore and north of Haystack Rock rafting for several hours with their tails and flippers elevated above the water's surface. See photo. Peregrine falcon observed today (3/30) as well.

Quite a few people walking on the beach, despite the cold, windy conditions.  Waves were "angry" - churning sand as they came in; looks like a storm is coming in.

It was a nice quiet day for our observation. Just slightly north of our mile was a huge group of about 40+ men from the Army playing football on the beach having come from Camp Rilea. They were dominating a very large area of the beach with this activity. Otherwise it was an easy day to make an observation.

Here's hoping the beach is as clean as it is today for the Great Beach Clean-up this coming Saturday.

The main impression on this survey is how clean the beach is from the wrack to the foredune.  It was almost difficult to spot manmade objects.  Mile 289 survived the winter big waves and storms without erosion.  That is the norm.  Further down the spit erosion is evident to near Cape Meares.  This is as predicted with the shortening of the south jetty.  I have included photos of the Bayocean townsite to give some prespective of this erosion though it is not on Mile 289.

The only human activity was at the lookout where several people were observed at the observation points overlooking the ocean. Note also the three people observed trespassing beyond the locked gate at the lookout and approaching the 500-foot high sea cliff. Shoreline activities by humans are essentially non-existent due to the inaccessibility of the shoreline. The drift line was only visible at one packet beach and it contained mostly beach cobbles with minor pieces of small driftwood. The only wildlife observed was some gulls flying north. Nothing dead was seen. Physical changes since the last visit were not observed, a common situation along this mile of very erosion-resistant basalt.

There is a beach front house at 6th street that has a back deck sliding down the grass dune due to dune erosion.

Cloudy, approx. 58 degrees with light wind

11 people and 1 dog were seen on the beach-8 walking, 1 playing in the surf, 2 rockhunting

Approximately 3 dozen seagulls seen just north of Tenmile Creek

2 dead seagulls found on beach south of Tenmile Creek by walking path to parking lot 86.

One dead crab found on beach north of 95480 Hwy 101 S

Several areas of the bluff north of 95500 Hwy 101 S had erosion of the dirt bluff with the dirt sloughing off onto the beach.

Smaller amount of debris seen today than in previous days on the north side of Tenmile Creek but in the same 200-300 yard area. There was considerably more small debris found in driftline on the beach south of Tenmile Creek.

There was more driftwood on the beach this day.  Manager of the Sea Perch RV Resort at 95480 Hwy 101 S stated that during the storm the first week of January the storm surge threw large pieces of driftwood up over the bluff and onto their grass areas

Several areas of the bluff north of 95500 Hwy 101 S had erosion of the dirt bluff with the dirt sloughing off onto the beach.

Mile 211 is relatively unspoiled, at least south of Thiele Creek.  The mud and standing pools of water have disappeared for the moment, and the level of the beach has dropped several feet, uncovering rocky substratum that is covered in sand in summer.  The beach is beautiful, broad when the tide is out, and has relatively few people walking it.

Some scumbag dumped a truckload of house remodeling debris into the Siuslaw River lagoon alongside the North Jetty Road (photo).  Honeyman State Park personnel notified.

Harbor seals and black surf scoter ducks observed in the near-shore surf.  Mole crab bodies and bits and pieces of Moon jellies along the mile today.

Pleasant day.  First time I have seen surfers in the "jaws of death" Siletz rivermouth.  One appeared to be temporarily pulled south by currents but he managed to get back.  Almost no trash to pick up.

A beautiful sunny day.  First time I have seen a Raven on the beach. It is good to see the Osprey with a fish.

Previous concern about near-by dredging has been helped by equipment problems. The company packed

up their trucks and left.  Small amount of garbage, picked it up, and disposed of it.

Since my last visit in June 2017 there were noticable difference to the bluff on the southern end of mile 147 before the Jetty.  The beach had been swept clean of driftwood and the usual amount of garbage by wave action.  The bluff had become more pronounced as evidenced by the ATV entrance to the beach from the east side by the river.  What was a walkable and drivable grade from the beach to the foredune area is not a drop off and to steep for people or vehicles to climb up and over. 

A very nice day at Cove Beach.  Sixteen people were enjoying the nice weather.  There is nothing unusual to report.  The beach was very clean.

Beautiful day at the beach, large number of people enjoying nature. Parking at Cooks Chasm and Devils Chum, only four parking spaces open.

Pleasant Friday morning after a big wind. Handful of people on the beach. One man with 2 kids playing in sand. Two people with dogs, one on leash. On man fishing for surf perch.

The vegetative foredune all along mile 23 continue to recede as evidenced by fallen clumps of dune grass in front of the dunes.   A few starfish are evident on the rocks. Driftwood is being cut and and perhaps removed. Trash is limited to one pickup bed liner partly buried in the sand.

The beach was clean of debris except for some scattered items coming in from the water.  There were significant plastic pieces in the driftline along the sandy areas of the beach.  Lots of rocks exposed today.  There has been a great deal of erosion over the past year.  There are places where recent slides have occured with debris and rocks at the bottom of the bluff.  It was a beautiful March day with a nice low tide so there were more people on the beach than we normally see.  

Beach is very wide. Foredune appears steeper and lower than previous visits. Public access trail in Mile 254 across foredune is trench like. Very little trash on beach. Beautiful view up and down beach.

It was one of those rare sunny and almost calm winter days.  Erosion has been less severe than last year.  Overtopping brought more drftwood and sand inland than I have observed in the last 5 years.  

Where oh where are all the pcs of yellow rope coming from?  

A sunny day on 220. Lots of rocks and very little sand on the first 1/2 of the walk South , then lots of sand. Texted Fawn to have State Parks come and pick up garbage at Marine Debris sign as it was piled up quite high. The cliffs have had a lot of errosion over the winter, many huge boulders have fallen, large sections of cliff have sloughed off. More drainage pipes from the cliff are exposed. 

39 degree, calm morning with scattered clouds.   1 person walking.  Beachside campground closed.  1 pair Canada geese flying SE.  Scattered 2-3" Velella velella  at tide line.  Shells and small pebbles along drift line.  Clean beach.

Winter waves have been washing all the way up to the bluffs and vegetation zone. Some damage to stairs and railings. A dead porpoise or dolphin washed in 2/19 and now is mostly just a carcass due to scavengers.  Our debris survey found very little small or mediium debris. However there were 8 lengths of rope and 15 lengths of white plastic strapping material over 2 feet long, much more than normal. Possibly output fom the crab boats that are active off shore.

Pleasant late-winter day on the beach between showers.

Dead harbor seal (see photo)

More dead critters on Heceta Beach.  The previously reported recently deceased sea lion yearling was nowhere to be found on Mile 171 today, but I found another mangled sea lion corpse up in the high beach log pile about a 1/4 mile south of the Driftwood Shores Resort.  Looks like a shark bit off the head, plus a lot of scavenger damage.  This one has been deceased for several weeks. Two very happy turkey vultures were hanging out nearby.

Several "Sea Nettle" jellies observed along the mile.  The high tide line of the north section of Mile 171 is heavily coated with 1" long fiberous cellophane tube worm feeding tubes/feelers/tongues (?).

The Army Corps of Engineers has sent out a crew to paint over the offensive spray-paint graffitti on the Siuslaw River North Jetty vehicle barrier rocks.  They did a nice job of matching the natural rock colors - thanks, guys!

Lots of dead things on heceta Beach today.  The north half of Mile 171 had a major stranding of Velella velellas (By-The-Wind Sailors) with individuals up to 4-5 inches long - easily the biggest specimens washed ashore in several years (photo).  There were also scattered bits and pieces of Moon jellies and Sea Nettle jellies along the mile.

A deceased yearling Steller sea lion had just washed ashore (photos) halfway between the North Jetty and the Driftwood Shores Resort.  Appears to have died just an hour or two before discovery as the scavangers had not touched it yet.  About 5 feet long, no obvious signs of trauma (sharks or bullets), no tags or tattoos.  Appears to have been well fed with normal body fat.

I still need to compare to last years photos but section north of .7 miles appears to have more erosion (photos included) from our last report. beach edge is cliff-like with shear face and drop-off from grass dune area above. visible roots and old logs within the cliff face. 

Way more people than expected on this cold and windy day.  The usual shells & small rocks decorated the sand and a handful of seagulls braved the elements.  Not a lot of beach junk but more plastic rope and styrofoam than average...most found near the R.B. Wayside area.  High seas over the past few weeks have taken away some of the dune build up that covered the almost 20 year old rip rap...hopefully the sand will return as it did before.  Some banks south of the Wayside and near St Mary By The Sea Church have experienced substantial erosion, with up to 6’ drop off.

Wind started out from the SW, then rotated up to the NW. Also, there were 15 or so sheep feeding on the bluffs and cliffs. Quite a bit of erosion on the bluffs close to the Elk River. A large hole has appeared in the clog face, about 20’ up—some water was running from it. Surf was from the W, 1-2 ft. Sets 3 ft.