January 20, 2024

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Strong. Tide Level: 0.75 feet.

Number of people: 1. Walking or running: 1. Sitting: 1. Other Activities: I was the only person fool enough to be on the South Cove beach today. Luckily, there was a very timely break in the rain, and the opportunities for visiting during a low tide are slim in winter. My goal was only to walk my mile as safely as possible.. The only car in the parking area was the one I came in. As of this report, there is nowhere to log the amount of cars parking at the beach access, which is the only impact vehicles have at South Cove. Access to the beach is tricky at this time. The bottom of the access trail, the portion I usually use and feel is sanctioned by Parks, is pretty washed out. I accessed the beach the alternate way. There is a rope to use to stabilize your decent. Access was very muddy, but I felt I could traverse it without damaging the soggy hillside hardly at all. I was able to go just about as far to the ends of my mile as usual, but I did not attempt to get very close to the water. Though I was there during low tide, the surf was very active. I may have squished a sea anemone a little with one of my walking poles. Sorry, little guy! It did occur to me, as I walked my mile today, that if there were no such thing as CoastWatch, there would be no humans impacting the natural goings on at South Cove today.

There was very little notable wildlife, beyond typical crustaceans. I saw some gulls flying over head, but only about 3 in total. I saw no ducks. I saw crabs scuttling through the rocks, but would never be able to capture a photo of any of them. I took photos of a couple chitons, a gumboot and a mossy, some sea anemones, and that's about it.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). I found sea urchin shell pieces wedged in rocks. Bull kelp was strewn about the tidepools on the Northern edge of the cove. Quite honestly, the wrack line this time of year consists of very large drift logs! (I had attempted to visit my mile last weekend, but I badly miscalculated and got to see the driftwood being rearranged by the sea.

I predict there will be development by Parks, come Springtime, to shore up the part of the trail that has washed out, but right now, there is no development by man going on in South Cove.

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff. I predict at least three large trees will be giving way to gravity in the coming months. I did note a small tree but it seems to have fallen some time ago. I was amazed by the continuation of the striated rock as I could follow it from it horizontal appearance toward the water in a continuous line as it curved up and onto the slope. I hope to remember to check on this as the year progresses, as this is the first time, I can recall seeing this. I believe it is due to the recent heavy rains. As always, erosion is an ever-present factor on the slopes going into South Cove.