Mile 262 - Cape Kiwanda State Park - October 3, 2018 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

The ocean continues to move inland, undercutting the bank. "Dune stabilization" efforts don't seem to be working, mostly because of natural erosion apparently. Vehicle tracks show lots of vehicles have been driving on beach in allowable areas. Sand and rocks have filled in between Cape Kiwanda and offshore rocks where there used to be ocean water. Beach pretty clean of human trash. Wrack lines with lots of purple snail shells, seaweed, crab shells. A few Heerman's Gulls with other usual gulls at water's edge. Only excitement was opening the locked door of a stranded vehicle that the people had locked themselves into by mistake, only openable from outside. They were able to stick a hand out the small opening in window to wave at me. The keys were in the outside of the door. Someone had called to get a tow truck to get them out. The vehicle had been stuck in sand at the foot of the dune for a day and a half but they had been at their campsite across the road, apparently, and came back when they remembered they might have left their keys in the door. I have no idea why they went inside with the keys still dangling from the keyhole outside.

Conditions

Temperature: 59 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 8. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 6. Fishing: 2. One vehicle stuck in sand; owners said since 7 a.m. previous day. Said someone else was calling to get them pulled out; that vehicle had not arrived by the time I left. The COASST beached bird surveyor arrived at access point as I was leaving and I told him about the stranded vehicle. He knew who always comes to pull people out and said that guy would show up. I hoped if that guy did not show up, the COASST surveyor would know who to call.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 2.

Notable Wildlife

Heerman's Gulls

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces. lots of purple snails, some alive, some dead

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls, Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Erosion of vegetated foredune, Evidence of wave overtopping. the ocean has filled in the area at the base of Cape Kiwanda, north side, with sand and rocks where it used to be deep water