Mile 123 - Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay - October 30, 2008

Report Details

The high tide water mark was at base of foredune, and driftline was higher than we've ever seen. The amount of sea weed and kelp was also notable, large piles up and down the beach. Shells, animal casings, kelp/algae, wood pieces, land-based debris and charcoal from fires in the driftline. Dead birds were one cormorant and three gulls. A small dead deer near creek. Pelicans and gulls flying over ocean and resting on jetty. Many cormorants and crows. Five Surf Scoters and several Western Grebes on water of bay mouth. Vehicle restriction sign missing. Both the dead deer and vehicle restriction sign were reported to Robin Sears. Heavy human impact (28)-19 playing in sand, 1 surfing and 8 playing football.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW.

Human Activities

Number of people: 28. Number of dogs: 7. Playing in sand: 19. Surfing: 1. Other Activities: football 8. At beach access by jetty the NO MOTOR VEHICLES ALLOWED ON BEACH SIGN is missing and tracks of trucks and ATVs were everywhere on dunes.

Concerns

Fire, Litter

Apparent violations: Car tracks on foredune and beach..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 15. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

Small DEAD DEER by creek, pelicans & gulls flying and resting on jetty, 5 Surf Scoters and several Western Grebes in water between jetties, many cormorants and crows, much beached bull kelp, eel grass still green and much brown.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. 1 cormorant, and 3 gulls, one full of maggots, all 3 decomposed, possibly brought in by tide.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces. Huge amount of charcoal from fires lining driftline, particularly near access sites.

Natural Changes

Flooding of area around creek from very high tides, much uprooting of succulent-like plants.

Actions & Comments

Robin Sears, South Coast Beach Ranger, was notified about the dead deer and the missing sign. In addition, Stuart Love, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, was notified about the dead deer. There was also brownish water at creek outlet to sea, creating yellowy/brown near shore waves.