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Driftwood Beach Wayside remains closed for construction of OSU's PacWave South wave energy project, however the drilling rigs have now been removed from the parking area, as have the sound buffering shipping containers that lined the site. Remaining work includes the construction of an underground vault to join marine and terrestrial cables, general restoration of the area, and improvements to things like the restrooms and access paths. No date has yet been set for reopening.The federal Department of Energy has just awarded a 25 million dollar PacWave related grant to eight entities (4.5 million to Portland State University) to work on developing the offshore technology necessary to harness wave energy for transmission to PacWave's onshore infrastructure. See PSU's link for details:https://tinyurl.com/PSU-PacWaveIt's been two months since I last walked this mile, and although most of the beach was relatively free of debris today, winter storms and tides have washed up and deposited a large amount of micro plastics and small bits of styrofoam against the base of the dunes and sand cliffs, especially north of the wayside. Some of this may be expected during winter, but in the two years I've walked this mile, it's almost always been free of debris. And unfortunately, this isn't stuff you can just clean up with your grabber.

Conditions

Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 7.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 7. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 4. Other Activities: 3 people on electric bicycles.

Notable Wildlife

None, just a few gulls at water's edge

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Multiple driftlines. A lot of micro plastics and bits of styrofoam washed up and deposited against the dunes and sand cliffs, more than I've seen before on this usually very clean beach.

Man-made Modifications

At Driftwood Wayside, work continues on OSU's PacWave South wave energy project, although much of the PacWave drilling and other equipment has been removed, and the parking area looks almost normal by comparison with the past many months. Some work in the parking area remains to be done, and work has begun improving the wayside's restrooms and adjacent paths, with a surveyor working today apparently planning out pathways.

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All Mile 204 Reports

Showing 8 of 55 reports

Mile 204

November 19, 2023

Today marked my latest sighting of the old growth driftwood log that I've admired and whose comings and goings from Driftwood Beach I've documented since June 2020, when I first photographed it high on the beach south of Buckley Creek.

Jon French

Mile 204

August 11, 2023

I had read that the 265-foot vessel Seacor Lee would be anchoring a mile off Driftwood Beach in support of OSU's PacWave South wave energy testing project, positioned so that divers from the ship could perform work on previously installed seafloor conduits.

Jon French

Mile 204

June 17, 2023

I haven't walked Driftwood Beach regularly since the PacWave South wave energy project completed work underground in the Driftwood parking lot.

Jon French

Mile 204

January 1, 2023

By the time I got to Driftwood Wayside, a lot of people had already arrived for their New Years Day beach walks, some 30 vehicles in the parking lot and 30 - 40 people down on the beach, accompanied by at least half as many dogs, almost all leashed.

Jon French

Mile 204

October 23, 2022

This was probably the last dependably dry Mile 204 walk before the rains begin in earnest.

Jon French

Mile 204

August 17, 2022

After the morning fog lifted and before the marine layer moved in, I walked from Seal Rock on Mile 205 to Beach Access 66C on Mile 203.

Jon French

Mile 204

June 3, 2022

Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.

Jon French

Mile 204

May 10, 2022

The PacWave South wave energy project hosted a BBQ today at Driftwood Wayside for staff and neighbors to celebrate the completion of construction work here and the reopening of the Wayside later this month.

Jon French