Mile 212 - Holiday Beach north, Moore Creek, Grant Creek - March 16, 2008

Report Details

This is a sandy beach, with 2 creeks, Grant Creek near the north end and Moore Creek near the south end. The beach is backed by sandstone cliffs, bluffs and vegetated dunes with houses along the top of the bluffs. Grant Creek has a bridge over it, but Moore Creek is relatively undeveloped. The flat plain upstream from the beach on Moore Creek, between the beach and the highway, is available for development. The beach today was smooth, with very little debris in the tide line, lots of rocks exposed. There were a few mole crabs washed up, and a couple of Dungeness crab carapaces. Live birds included a few gulls and crows, four turkey vultures, and two ravens. A stranded Brant's cormorant was in the wash zone, but still alive - an eagle flew in and took it to a rock where the eagle devoured the cormorant, supervised by the two ravens. Four northern fulmars and an unidentified alcid were found dead on the beach. The separated part of the cliff that broke off in January 2006 has separated further and is eroding, and there are several small rockfalls and sand slides along the entire mile. People were out enjoying the beach, some with their dogs, both on and off leash.

Conditions

Temperature: 47 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 1.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 8. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 8.

Concerns

Apparent violations: none.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

Live birds included a few gulls and crows, four turkey vultures, and two ravens. A stranded Brant's cormorant was in the wash zone, but still alive - but an eagle flew in and took it, to a rock where the eagle devoured the cormorant, supervised by the two ravens.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 5. Four northern fulmers and an unidentified alcid were found dead on the beach.

Stranded Marine Mammals

N/A

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

There were a few mole crabs washed up, and a couple of Dungeness crab carapaces.

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. few plastic bottles, 1 glass bottle

New Development

Bluff development.

Man-made Modifications

N/A

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff.

Report Images

philandjan

CoastWatcher

All Mile 212 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 31 reports

Mile 212

Holiday Beach north, Moore Creek, Grant Creek

December 20, 2023

A new house is being built just south of Grant Creek near an unstable portion of the bluff (picture attached). A new railing installed along a section of riprap (picture attached). A large rock field is exposed along this section (picture attached). Several small slide/slough areas apparent associated with the rains earlier in the month.

Phil Barbour