Mile 262 - Cape Kiwanda State Park - March 17, 2021 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

Beautiful sunny day with few people enjoying the weather and the beach. Most significant change was the natural sinking of the north side of the big dune creating access to vehicles (judging by the tracks). No signs prohibiting such activity.

Conditions

Temperature: 48 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.8 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 7. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 7.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 1. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 3.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. LIGU (large immature gull) high on beach near base of vegetated cliff

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.).

Man-made Modifications

Dune modification/removal. a new (since my 2020 walk) man-made path from a trail high on the dune down to beach, with sign (presumably prohibiting the path going straight down to beach) facing the trail at top of path. That trail runs parallel to the beach below. The old eroded path that had a sign facing the beach asking people to stay off is now completely washed out at the base and not navigable so abandoned. Sign gone. Perhaps that's why people started the new one farther north.

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls, Erosion of vegetated foredune. sinking of north side of Cape Kiwanda dune, allowing for vehicle access judging by tracks in sand

Actions & Comments

the eroded path down to beach has a sign at the top presumably asking people who are on the legal trail above to stay off the eroded path, obviously ignored