Mile 327 Report

January 13, 2021
by sultanym

Location:

Clatsop

Clatsop Plains

Conditions:

Wednesday 3:15 PM

Cloudy

50° F

Tide Level:

3.8 ft

Humans / Pets:

People:

Dogs:

Activities:

Walking / Running:

Playing in sand:

Sitting:

Two individuals riding small motorcycles along the wet sand.

Concerns:

Disturbances:

Vehicles:

Cars/Trucks parking:

Cars/Trucks on beach, allowed:

Activity Comments:

Two cars cruising close to the outgoing tide. One car stopped to pick up a crab float/buoy and take it off the beach.

Notable Wildlife:

3 surf scoters, 2 western x glaucous winged hybrid gulls

Dead Birds:

Total:

Species/names:

Juvenile red phalarope- 1 Horned grebe (tentative ID)- 1

Stranded:

Total:

Fish & Invertebrates:

Driftline:

Wood pieces·Land-based debris (picnics, etc.)·Plastic pellets·Styrofoam

Large concentration of beach grasses, sea foam, plastic debris, wood pieces, logs, and microplastics.

New Development:

Modifications:

Natural Changes:

Newly exposed roots/trees falling·Erosion of vegetated foredune·Evidence of wave overtopping

High king tides have resulted in newly exposed roots of beach grasses and a steep change in the contour of the edge of the dunes resulting in a sharp 5ft drop off where the beach meets the dunes. Evidence of wave overtopping along Del Rey beach road and nearby dunes.

Comments:

Summary:

Today was a welcome respite from the recent heavy rain, high winds, and stormy weather that accompanied the King tides of Jan. 11th-13th. This afternoon's walk had mild weather, little wind, and cloudy skies. With an outgoing tide, a large stretch of beach was covered in sea foam. The Del Rey beach access road experienced significant sand erosion from the sides of the road where the pavement meets the beach, and loads of woody debris (logs, tree stumps, branches) are now strewn along the road, making access not advisable. A large gate and sign block current vehicular access today. The King tides left an impressive array of debris, both natural and human-caused, along the highest wrack line that I have seen (almost at the very base of the dunes). Along with typical plastic debris (shotgun shells, lighters, soda bottles, bottle caps, single-use plastics from food packaging), I found some unusual items including a rice cooker spoon and a printer ink catridge. Two dead birds washed up on the beach: a juvenile red phalarope and a horned grebe (I posted photos to iNaturalist).

Ink Cartridge

January 13, 2021

Erosion of sand at the edges of the Del Rey paved access road

January 13, 2021
King tide waves and heavy rains resulted in erosion of dunes and a sharp bluff

January 13, 2021
rice cooker spoon- plastic debris

January 13, 2021
dead juvenile red phalarope- body view

January 13, 2021
dead juvenile red phalarope- close up view of head

January 13, 2021
erosion on beach where Del Rey access road meets the sand

January 13, 2021
Del Rey road restricted access to vehicular traffic due to king tides, erosion, and storm debris

January 13, 2021
large woody debris in the road blocking access to Del Rey beach

January 13, 2021
crab float/buoy washed up at Del Rey beach after big storms

January 13, 2021

Other Mile 327 Reports (18)

2020

October 28, 2020 - sultanym

Mid-morning walk south towards Gearhart beach at a very high tide along the tide line I saw a dead Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) carcass with bands on its legs. I submitted a...

October 20, 2020 - sultanym

Walked south of the Del Rey beach entrance 0.5 miles to cover one half of mile 327. I collected about 20lbs of trash from this part of the mile. Notable debris included fishing gear (ropes, bait...

June 16, 2020 - sultanym

Mid-morning walk on mile 327 with no wind and sunny weather. Observed 6 people recreating on the beach close to the Del Rey entrance road. One dead pinniped eared seal family Otariidae (photographed...

February 9, 2020 - sultanym

Chilly, clear (37 degrees F) early morning walk with visible frost covering the beach sand on mile 327. The weekend's impressive King Tides revealed an abundance of debris. I removed 45lbs of trash (...

January 25, 2020 - sultanym

Late afternoon walk on mile 327 during an outgoing tide. Observed a recently dead fully intact beaver (Castor canadensis) about 0.25 south of Del Rey Beach access at Highlands Ln. Two people moved...

January 1, 2020 - sultanym

Windy, cloudy late afternoon beach walk covering 0.44 miles of mile 327. Significant amount of sea foam blowing across the sand and along the low tide line. Large woody debris and tree trunk washed...

2019

June 13, 2019 - sultanym

A quiet, cloudy mid-morning walk on Del Rey Beach, mile 327 with people clamming, walking, and sitting on the beach. Little wind and mild day. Observed a dead California sea lion on the beach near...

April 21, 2019 - sultanym

Human activities: I observed 15 people on the beach, 10 were clamming at the low tide line and 5 were sitting on the beach. Along this mile, there was much evidence of clamming with mounds of wet...

March 4, 2019 - Merce and Michael

Evidence of driving on dunes where vehicles aren't allowed.

2018

July 18, 2018 - Simonetal

Lovely day at the beach with many others enjoying recreation.

2016

November 15, 2016 - Simonetal

Windy, cloudy wintery day on beach at high king tide. Surf comes up to edge of dunes and near the end of the asphalt surface of access road to beach at Del Rey entrance. At 9:30 am we saw 8 fulmars...

May 10, 2016 - Bob Harvey

Dead sea lion 2 miles N of Del Rey Beach access, on the beach. Headless and still 7 ft. long

2015

December 30, 2015 - Simonetal

Lovely cold day at beach with few recreational activities underway, including three horses out for a beach ride. Tides have been high into the dunes, to the very top over last week's king tides and...

November 21, 2015 - Simonetal

Lovely day on beach. People driving cars in accessible areas due to very cold weather, but sunshine. 19 people exploring beach. Few birds around, although we found 14 dead (see earlier list of...

January 17, 2015 - Simonetal

Nice windy day; lots of folks out driving the beach and a few hardy souls walking.

2014

December 20, 2014 - Simonetal

Found three dead birds (2 common murres, 1 red phalarope). High tide was at 6.6' hitting the low slope of the dunes and rushing into the roadway at least 100'. Only saw 2 people walking, and 2 cars...

2010

April 3, 2010 - Simonetal

Heard reports of glass floats being found; we found none. Very stormy, cold day. Few people out walking dogs or traveling the beach mile by vehicle.

2008

January 13, 2008 - tsunami

A bit more trash on the beach than usual, mixed with driftwood / seaweed, most likely washed in as a result of the heavy surf / high tides.The high water was tending to squeeze the pedestrians and...