Mile 123 - Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay - July 20, 2009

Report Details

A chilly, foggy day with few people. It is a continuing concern to see: the increasing human and dog waste pollution, trash and litter, and destruction of the dunes by 4 wheel drive vehicles. The ocean herself, of course, is always beautiful, inspiring, and the driftline and incoming tide fascinating. Animal casings and kelp/algae (sea palms, feather boa and small bull kelp), numerous moon jellies in driftline. Four dead Common Murre. Live birds included cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Barn Swallow and Pigeon Guillemots. Moderate human use (25)-walking with 8 dogs. Numerous tire traks of vehicles on beach.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: -1.6 feet.

Activities

Number of people: 25. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 25.

Other Activities: Due to the lack of public restrooms, the dunes are being used as toilets!! Also, parking areas, and areas of the beach, are being used as trash dumps. Additionally, the integrity of the dunes is being degraded by the incessant violations of 4 wheel drive vehicles, cruising around the dunes and out onto the sand..

Concerns

Fire, Litter

Apparent violations: numerous tire tracks of vehicles on beach.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 20.

Notable Wildlife

California beach fleas massed in algae, 4 cormorants/1 Brown pelicans/1 barn swallow. In waters around Coos Head 6-10 Pigeon Guillemots

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. Common Murres, documented/photoed by Jerry for COASST

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

numerous moon jellies, and one large blue/purple jelly with thick triangular finlike projection.

Wrackline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings or molts. sea palms and feather boas, a few small bull kelp

Man-made Modifications

Dune modification/removal. described above, degrading resulting from vehicles

Actions & Comments

No. I do think, though, it would be a good idea to identify the appropriate agencies, and urge them to address the problems cited above. There are apparently 3 agencies involved, and coordination will be a challenge, but the ongoing damage to the dunes, and human waste pollution is significant!