Mile 123 - Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay - August 16, 2011

Report Details

On this beautiful, warm, calm day, the beach was amazingly free of debris. Only a smattering of shell fragments, crab shells, and patches of dried eel grass. A couple of dessicated sea palms, and a couple of seasonal bull kelp were in the driftline. One feather duster was being washed ashore by the incoming tide along with occasional patches of eel grass. Most noticeable is the significant increase in sand high on the northern portion of the beach. The tide pools, normally seen at the base of the jetty at low tide, are covered, except for 3 forlorn anemones. The sand at the uppermost portion of the beach has covered all but the highest jetty rocks. This sand slopes steeply to the water which now, in this area, forms a moon shaped bay. Two Osprey, 22 Double-crested Cormorants, a Cliff Swallow, 12 gulls and 6 crows seen. Several dead gulls and one dead Common Murre on the beach. Dunes modified by vehicular traffic. Remains of fires and associated trash. Tire tracks on a closed beach.

Conditions

Temperature: 70 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 16. Number of dogs: 9. Walking or running: 10. Surfing: 2. Other Activities: gazing about 4. The usual remains from fires with trash in and around them. Driving on the beach appears to be increasing, from the number of tire track sets, and new roads to beach over the dunes.

Concerns

Fire

Apparent violations: drving on beach, unattended fire, fireremains with trash.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 10. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

2 Osprey,22 Double-crested Cormorants (adults and juveniles), 12 gulls and 6 crows, one Cliff Swallow

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. One banded gull, one too decomposed to identify, one juvenile gull, one Common Murre

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Shells.

Man-made Modifications

Dune modification/removal. Due to vehicular traffic

Natural Changes

Configuration of beach is changed in northern 1/3, just south of jetty

Actions & Comments

The beach south of the jetty is reconfigured with a steep slope down from much higher sand accumulation than previously seen. There is also a moon-shaped bay that has emerged in this area, probably about 200 feet across. Medium (5-10 inch diameter) rocks, that were in abundance when beach last observed, are now completely covered.