Mile 293 Report
September 25, 2011
What a difference a day makes, but then that's the beach.
Report Details
What a difference a day makes, but then that's the beach. Yesterday it was warm and sunny with at least twice as many people and three times as many dogs taking advantage of the great day. After a stormy, windy, and rainy night, the people and dogs on the beach were taking advantage of the period between rain showers. The ocean has made it all the way up to the riprap on the high tides.Edited on 9/26/11 to report the installation of riprap today.Edited on 9/28/11 to report the destruction of the lower portion of the steps at the Rockaway Beach Resort NW 6th by the high surf and most likely a log.Yesterday and today were as good as it gets at the beach from sun up to sun down . . . absolutely spectacular!!!Edited on 9/29/11 to report something I have never seen in 50 years on Rockaway Beach. At low tide tonight, there was a block long area that looked just like the clam flats in Garibaldi (minus the rock). There was a huge area of kelp, seaweed, wood, trash (bottles, cans, shoes), starfish, clam shells (dead quahogs and live cockles), and a whole lot of stuff I could not identify. It was not there at low tide this morning.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 7.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 25. Number of dogs: 7. Walking or running: 14. Playing in surf: 4. Playing in sand: 4. Other Activities: 3 standing on bluff. Just the usual . . . areas where there had been a bonfire or kids building forts.
Concerns
Kelp/algae collection
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Seagulls and two curlew-like birds near the riprap. Seaweed (and lots of it) EVERYWHERE.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. murre
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Between NW 10th and 9th at low tide (9/29/11) around 7:00 pm, there was a huge area of kelp, seaweed, clam shells, crab, wood and trash. I've never seen anything like this on our beach.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. Beer and pop cans, plastic cups and bottles, food wrappers
Man-made Modifications
New riprap or shoreline protection structures. Near Rock Creek in front of middle complex of condos. It appears that it is being installed in front of the units that did not have riprap installed previously. Just started Monday 9/26.
Natural Changes
Lots of sand on portions of the riprap
Actions & Comments
Just picked up cans, wrappers and plastic and put it in the garbage.
All Mile 293 Reports
Mile 293
Overall the beach looked pretty good for post king tides and fireworks.
Mary and Zio
Mile 293
For the day after a holiday weekend the beach was exceptionally clean.
Mary and Zio