Mile 138 Report

March 12, 2009
by comubp

Location:

Coos

Oregon Dunes NRA, south of Tenmile Creek

Conditions:

Thursday 11:45 AM

Sunny

55° F

Wind:

Calm/Light from the N

Tide Level:

6.5 ft

Humans / Pets:

People:

Dogs:

Activities:

Concerns:

Apparent Violations:

Two sets of vehicle tracks visible, one of which was a BLM official. The ATV track may have been an illegal entry.

Disturbances:

Vehicles:

Activity Comments:

The BLM recently used a Caterpillar to level the Snowy Plover nesting area and reduce European beach grass clumps. The usual ropes and signs were not yet in place.

Notable Wildlife:

There was a minimal amount of wrack high on the beach consisting mostly of bullkelp and some washed out beach grass. Birds observed were two Snowy Plovers, two mature Bald Eagles, a flock of Sanderlings and one lone gull. There were three or more Harbor Seals patrolling the outlet from Tenmile creek. They team up to feed on steelhead and salmonids entering or leaving the freshwater. They seem to be there year around and past counts found up to eleven present. Rodent and deer tracks on beach.

Dead Birds:

Total:

Stranded:

Total:

Fish & Invertebrates:

Driftline:

Kelp or Algae·Animal casings (e.g. crab, shrimp molt)·Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.)·Shells·Wood pieces

New Development:

Modifications:

Dune Modification

Beachgrass removal and grading by the BLM for plover nesting area.

Natural Changes:

Erosion of vegetated foredune

Comments:

Summary:

What a great day for a beach walk. The only concern was who put the vehicle tracks on the non-vehicle beach leading up to Tenmile Creek? BLM employees use both ATVs and 4wd vehicles to monitor the nesting area. Occassional illegal entry also occurs. Other signs of human activity centered around the blading of the sandy nesting area of 6-10 acres between the ocean and the small estuary. Rodent and deer tracks were noted, and three Harbor Seals were actively patrolling the outlet for fresh fish. A pair of adult Bald Eagles were observed soaring over the outlet. Other bird life included a flock of Sanderlings, a pair of Snowy Plovers, and one lone gull. Parts of the sea wall were eroded back by wave action leaving vertical walls up to eight feet. Shells, animal casings, Bull Kelp, wood and ocean-based debris in driftline. Low human impact (0).

Other Mile 138 Reports (9)

2010

September 24, 2010 - comubp

One lone hiker/beachcomber present. The driftline was mostly the usual small kelp, shells and casings plus a few Dungeness crab. A few misc. gulls were present. No unusual physical changes or...

2009

December 28, 2009 - comubp

Mile 138 was clean and mostly lacking notable wrack of a small number of shells, animal casings, kelp/algae wood pieces and Styrofoam. Two dead Northern Fulmar. One sparrow and one raven were noted...

September 12, 2009 - comubp

This vehicle prohibited mile was without tire tracks, and the only sign of humans was four sets of footprints, three barefoot, at the far north end of the mile. The tracks did not enter the...

2008

December 16, 2008 - comubp

The beach was pretty much as expected for winter storm activity. Most of the debris was high on the beach with little in the way of algae, kelp or shells present in the surf line. About 40 gulls of...

March 16, 2008 - comubp

The BLM had a caterpillar grade the Snowy Plover nesting area behind the beach. No ropes or signage was visible on the beach as was present in past years. Perhaps it is too early. Small patchy...

2007

December 13, 2007 - comubp

A sunny day with small breeze. No signs of vehicle incursion into the closed area other than a likely agency patrol vehicle. Two sets of dog tracks present. Three sets of deer tracks. Two cow elk...

September 19, 2007 - comubp

Sunny and windy day. Steep beach angle to water with some evidence of waves overtopping the summer sand barrier. Variety of shells and casings between the sand barrier and the sea wall. Some bull...

June 30, 2007 - comubp

A beautiful day on the beach. The driftline wrack was especially laden with barnacle covered items indicating offshore drift had recently arrived or was still arriving. Kelp/algae, shells, many...

March 24, 2007 - comubp

Summary: Light wrack. Some wood at high tide lines. Erosion of vegetated foredune uprooting European beachgrass. Snowy Plover nesting habitat prepared, roped off and signed. Dead birds: 2 Horned...