Mile 10 - Rainbow Island, Lone Ranch Beach, Boardman SP - January 4, 2009

Report Details

I'm reporting on Mile 10 until an adopter can be found. The road to Lone Ranch Beach has been re-constructed and has been open for several weeks. Lots of small to medium sized driftwood and dead seagrasses washed ashore by storms lately. Not so much natural trash as last quarter report perhaps because there have been more storms to sweep it back into the sea. I saw the usual resident ravens and gulls 10-15 or so of each. Two people walking dogs. Natural rain, wind erosion of the sandy/rocky out crop access to the south side of the beach. I saw several seals resting on a large rock. With no binocs, I couldn't count how many, perhaps 10-15. Harbor Seals, I believe. They looked and are colored like piles of large driftwood until I noticed an occasional flipper, tail, head or rolling body and I realized they were on the wrong side of the large rock to be wood pieces.

Conditions

Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 3. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 3. Very cold day only a couple of dog walkers observed

Concerns

Apparent violations: None observed.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 3.

Notable Wildlife

Ravens, gulls the usual residents watching for opportunities. On the southern side, seals were seen resting on rocks. No binocs to determine number--perhaps 10-15.

Beached Birds

None seen

Stranded Marine Mammals

None seen

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

None seen

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Small rocks, Wood pieces. Lots of wood pieces, branches, trees, A "new crop" of sea grasses mowed and brought ashore by recent storms.

Man-made Modifications

Continued natural changes in shoreline from sand to rocks to driftwood to sea grasses.

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Natural wind, storm, wave, rain erosion or sandy hills above the beach

Actions & Comments

Most seems to be natural