Mile 245 Report
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
March 27, 2016
Roads End State Park and this last stretch of accessible beach is well used and enjoyed.
Report Details
Roads End State Park and this last stretch of accessible beach is well used and enjoyed. The furthest stretch to the north has had a lot of erosion of the cliffs and the seasonal scouring of the beach to its rock subsurface. An amazing amount of sand has been removed and is only partially redeposited in the last few weeks. The tidepools have been full of life. Thousands of plastic bits washed ashore during the month of February. Currently, smaller than normal Velella (bby-the-wind sailors) have washed ashore in the driftline.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 73. Number of dogs: 7. Walking or running: 61. Playing in sand: 12.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 24. RVs/Buses parking: 2.
Notable Wildlife
2 seals
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Driftline concentrations of velella velella (blue sailors); about half the diameter than usual in previous years.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Odd "fluff" concentration comprised of strands, 8mm long, off-white. Fuzzy. Similar to fabric. Never seen before on any beach.
Natural Changes
Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Erosion of vegetated foredune, Visible retreat of solid bluff.
Actions & Comments
Last year there wasn't much change at the base of the cliffs resulting in a lot of loose dirt and gravel; this year made up for it. High surf cleared off the base of the cliffs up to about 14 feet. This is also the first year I've seen the beach near the basalt outcropping scoured down to rock for several hundred yards to the south; usually it's just scoured within about 200 yards of the basalt outcropping at the end of Road's End beach. A lot of sand was moved this season!
Report Images
lvoelker
CoastWatcher
All Mile 245 Reports
Mile 245
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
Tourist season is upon us - observed later in the day, but leftovers visible.
Lisa Bizon-Carroll
Mile 245
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
After king tides and heavy surf, most of the usual driftwood was up nearer the bank along with minimal bull kelp.
Lisa Bizon-Carroll
Mile 245
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
The beach mile varied quite a bit - with the south (less traveled) section with darkened sands and clear of most debris while the north end, with more visitors, was covered in stones with more small debris (esp.
LisaBC
Mile 245
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
Just wanted to say there have been a lot of brown pelicans this season, more than I've ever seen, and I'm wondering if they will stay for the winter?
TerryH
Mile 245
Roads End Beach, Wayside, Logan Creek
Lazy, late summer day on Road End beach.
TerryH
