Mile 123 Report
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
August 16, 2011
On this beautiful, warm, calm day, the beach was amazingly free of debris.
Report Details
On this beautiful, warm, calm day, the beach was amazingly free of debris. Only a smattering of shell fragments, crab shells, and patches of dried eel grass. A couple of dessicated sea palms, and a couple of seasonal bull kelp were in the driftline. One feather duster was being washed ashore by the incoming tide along with occasional patches of eel grass. Most noticeable is the significant increase in sand high on the northern portion of the beach. The tide pools, normally seen at the base of the jetty at low tide, are covered, except for 3 forlorn anemones. The sand at the uppermost portion of the beach has covered all but the highest jetty rocks. This sand slopes steeply to the water which now, in this area, forms a moon shaped bay. Two Osprey, 22 Double-crested Cormorants, a Cliff Swallow, 12 gulls and 6 crows seen. Several dead gulls and one dead Common Murre on the beach. Dunes modified by vehicular traffic. Remains of fires and associated trash. Tire tracks on a closed beach.
Conditions
Temperature: 70 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 16. Number of dogs: 9. Walking or running: 10. Surfing: 2. Other Activities: gazing about 4. The usual remains from fires with trash in and around them. Driving on the beach appears to be increasing, from the number of tire track sets, and new roads to beach over the dunes.
Concerns
Fire
Apparent violations: drving on beach, unattended fire, fireremains with trash.Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
2 Osprey,22 Double-crested Cormorants (adults and juveniles), 12 gulls and 6 crows, one Cliff Swallow
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 4. One banded gull, one too decomposed to identify, one juvenile gull, one Common Murre
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Shells.
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. Due to vehicular traffic
Natural Changes
Configuration of beach is changed in northern 1/3, just south of jetty
Actions & Comments
The beach south of the jetty is reconfigured with a steep slope down from much higher sand accumulation than previously seen. There is also a moon-shaped bay that has emerged in this area, probably about 200 feet across. Medium (5-10 inch diameter) rocks, that were in abundance when beach last observed, are now completely covered.
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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
There were three new observations on this walk.
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Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
Beach configuration evolving with a now scallop curved shoreline.
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Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
MANY PEOPLE (36)AND DOGS (18) CAME AND WENT DURING OUR WALK.
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Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
The beach was almost completely free of litter.
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Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
The beach was swept clean, with a few scattered algae piles, and a few large logs.
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Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
Human activity was minimal on this cold windy day.
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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
On this beautiful, warm, calm day, the beach was amazingly free of debris.
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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
On this lovely morning at the water's edge were: rock weed, bull kelp, piles of eel grass, about 6 feather boas, crab and clam shells.
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