Mile 220 - Yaquina Head north, Schooner Creek south - August 24, 2017

Report Details

Beautiful but frustrating day on Mile 220. Five people on the beach, one of whom, despite my polite results to stop the activity, was 3/4 up the cliffs and digging soil out of the cliff. Driftline contained a lot of beautiful long kelp and the usual small plastic pieces. Saw three dead Common Murres ( guess) that had not been tagged. The cliffs continue in their downward progression to the sea sadly helped by an individual who was digging dirt out of the side of the cliff. I do have a photo of the cliff digger attached.

Conditions

Temperature: 65 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Tide Level: 8.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Walking or running: 3. Sitting: 1. Other Activities: Teenage son of the woman sitting was 3/4 the way up the cliff digging chunks of soil out of the cliff. I asked her to please have him stop the activity, she asked " why?". I explained about the difficulty with erosion on our coastline, etc but she said " he's a teenager and there are lots of cliffs in Oregon".. No parked cars when I arrived and the cement barricades were still in place, I am guessing from the eclipse? When I left there were 2 cars parking next to the barricades.

Concerns

Climbing bluffs/seastacks

Apparent violations: Climbing on the bluff and puposefully digging soil out of the cliff..

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 3. Not tagged by COASST, appeared to be 3 Common Murres.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Natural Changes

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