Mile 154 Report

July 8, 2021
by Eugene Hikers

Location:

Douglas

Oregon Dunes NRA, west of Butterfly Lake

Conditions:

Thursday 12:00 PM

Sunny

65° F

Wind:

Calm/Light from the NW

Tide Level:

5.0 ft

Humans / Pets:

People:

Dogs:

Activities:

Walking / Running:

There was one person observed - hiking. There were 9 Eugene Hikers walking, recording data, and collecting debris/litter.

Concerns:

Litter

Disturbances:

Vehicles:

Cars/Trucks parking:

ATVs/OHVs parking:

RVs/Buses parking:

RVs/Buses parking: 0

Cars/Trucks on beach, allowed:

ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed:

Cars/Trucks on beach, prohibited:

ATVs/OHVs on beach, prohibited:

Activity Comments:

In addition to 3 cars observed in the Tahkentch Campground parking lot, Eugene Hikers parked 2 cars there.

Notable Wildlife:

Observed 5 snowy plovers (inc. 3 chicks) within roped protected area. There were 3-4 animal tracks coming from direction of bluff to water (deer?). There was a little black stringy seaweed in drift line.

Dead Birds:

Total:

Signs of oil:

Entanglement:

Species/names:

Observed on dead seagull

Stranded:

Total:

Fish & Invertebrates:

Driftline:

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

New Development:

Modifications:

Natural Changes:

Comments:

Summary:

9 Eugene Hikers parked (2 cars) at Tahkenitch Campground parking lot - 3 other cars were there. They hiked the beach access trail to the beach and south to Emergency Sign #115A. Beach was sunny, 65 degrees, light wind from NW. Observed 5 snowy plovers (Inc. 3 chicks) within roped protected area, a few seagulls flying by, no other birds. There were 3-4 animal tracks from bluff direction to water (deer?). Just one person observed, hiking and no dogs. In the driftline there were a few shell pieces, rocks, stringy seaweed and "wormlike" marine life (pyrosomes). There were hundreds of crab shells, adult and juvenile. Eugene Hikers collected debris including building wood pieces and plywood, strofoam tubing or insulation, plastic bottles, marine rope, pieces of foam floats and notified beach ranger for removal.

Other Mile 154 Reports (22)

2021

February 8, 2021 - Eugene Hikers

Hikers parked at Tahkenitch CG lot, where there were 2 other cars, and accessed beach on Dunes Trail at Emergency Sign #115. Sections of the fence on bluff blocking beach access next to that trail...

January 15, 2021 - oldMGguy

I hiked the 3-Mile Lake - Tahkenitch Dune Loop Trail today, starting and ending in the Tahkenitch Dune Campground trailhead parking lot. The beach portion of the loop covers Mile 154 and southern...

2020

August 27, 2020 - Eugene Hikers

8 Eugene Hikers ("Hikers") parked at Tahkenitch Campground day area and accessed the beach on Tahkenitch Dunes trail. Hikers were on Mile 154 for 2 hours. They observed 6 other people walking on...

2019

October 10, 2019 - Eugene Hikers

Four Eugene Hikers parked in Tahkenitch Campground parking lot, hiked Dunes Trail, and entered beach at Emergency Sign #115. One other car observed at start and one truck observed upon leaving ...

May 23, 2019 - Eugene Hikers

Eight Eugene Hikers parked in Tahkenitch Campground lot and hiked trail to beach access at Sign 115. (See picture 12). The group accessed beach for Mile 154 at about 11:00 am and left about 1:00 pm...

2018

August 30, 2018 - Eugene Hikers

10 Eugene Hikers walked Mile 154 with Fawn Custer, Volunteer Coordinator. Took Tahkenitch Dunes Trail, entered beach at Emerg. Sign #115, then back on 3 MIle Lake trail (Emerg. Sign #115A). Many...

June 13, 2018 - oldMGguy

Hiked the Three Mile Lake - ocean beach - Tahkenitch Dune Loop Trail (6 miles) today. The beach portion of the loop covers Mile 154 and the south half of Mile 155. Met only two other hikers all day...

May 3, 2018 - Eugene Hikers

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...

2017

August 2, 2017 - Eugene Hikers

No debris, white sand, steep slope to water. Data sheet misplaced

March 2, 2017 - Eugene Hikers

Six Eugene Hikers participated along with Fawn Custer, Volunteer Coordinator. Parked and accessed Mile 154 at Tahkenitch CG lot and used beach access around blocked off area. There had been a...

2012

January 22, 2012 - LBacon

Hiked to beach from Tahkenitch Campground. Significant beach lowering and foredune erosion at north end of mile. Very little trash and debris. Trees and brush washed out along Tahkenitch Creek and...

2011

June 20, 2011 - LBacon

Beautiful day for a beach hike. Beach was relatively free of trash. Noticed increased erosion of foredune near the north of of the mile close to Tahkenitch Creek outlet. Saw one set of tire tracks in...

March 6, 2011 - LBacon

Pleasant weather, a little cool with gentle north wind. Beach unusually clean of man-made debris. Many root wads and dead trees, particularly on the north part from bank erosion and resulting washing...

2010

October 18, 2010 - LBacon

Beach was very clean, only picked up small amount of trash. It had gained a bit of sand during the summer and since my last observation. Saw tracks indicating ATV activity in closure area, but no...

February 23, 2010 - LBacon

Accessed beach from Tahkenitch Campground trail. Most notable change was to the north end where there has been considerable foredune erosion. Where the trail normally crosses the foredune to the...

2009

November 21, 2009 - LBacon

Started out near mid-day from the end of Sparrow Park road and walked more than a mile to my assigned beach. Some human activity near the end of the road, but none on my beach. Surf still rough from...

September 2, 2009 - LBacon

Saw four doing the six-mile loop hike originating at the Tahkenitch Campground. It includes a mile of beach walking. In addition to those hikers I had three companions with me. Even though the...

June 15, 2009 - pcornett

Overcast burned off and wind came up some. Thee were a large number of whole dungeness crabs and crab parts. The sand has really built up on the beach, even leading to the foredune. There was...

June 3, 2009 - LBacon

Walked in this time from Tahkenitch Campground and completed a six-mile loop that included my beach mile. Sand has continued to build against the foredune. Beach is relatively clean and no indication...

March 28, 2009 - LBacon

Major changes since last trip were buildup of sand along high foredune to the north of my mile, and many small trees and brush washed ashore from wave intrusion and bank erosion in Tahkenitch Estuary...

2008

December 9, 2008 - Foggy

Accessed Mile 154 from Sparrow Park Road via a bike with super-wide tires, then walked the Mile; that made the 6-mile roundtrip very easy. There were no other humans or vehicles on Mile 154; the...

November 24, 2008 - LBacon

The beach was very clean. Not much driftwood except for several large stumps and logs, evidently there for some time. Saw quite a few casings from baby crabs. No tire tracks in closed area. ATV...