Mile 123 Report
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
June 29, 2010
There were people coming and going during our walk, with an average of 35 people, and 11 dogs.
Report Details
There were people coming and going during our walk, with an average of 35 people, and 11 dogs. Sand above the driftline was dimpled with footprints, and had campfire remains with trash including firecrackers, beer cans etc. Clearly heavy use the preceding 24 hours. Pacific Mole Crabs (dead and alive) were frequent in the 1/3 of the beach nearest the jetty. The tidepools next to the jetty have been covered with sand, and the sand is smooth; no more scatterings of puddles and rivulets dotted along the waterline. Foamy bubbles were seen. Very little other wildlife, a few cormorants, gulls and 2 Brown Pelicans. On the drift line eel grass, feather boa kelp, and unidentified strands of algae were abundant. The ongoing destruction of the foredune by illegal driving continues to alter the structure of the beach/dune relationship. The signs prohibiting driving on the beach have been removed in at least one entry point.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W.
Human Activities
Number of people: 35. Number of dogs: 10. Walking or running: 28. Sitting: 5. Fishing: 2. The ongoing pattern of illegal driving persists. Signs prohibiting driving on the beach have been removed, torn off, at entry site with bathrooms. Above the high tide area the beach was a sea of footprints, and litter suggested big parties with illegal fireworks the night before. Large sand sculpture in high water area.
Concerns
Fire, Litter
Apparent violations: car tracks on beach and foredune.Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 11.
Notable Wildlife
9 cormorants, 3 gulls and 2 Brown Pelicans-About 40 Pacific Mole Crabs, dead and alive, were seen, at this low tide, along the water's edge, at the northernmost 1/3 of the beach -eel grass, feather boas-scattering of crab shells and claws
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. Western Gull, reported to COASST by Jerry.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. California Sea Lion, same animal in same location above high water mark, very decomposed.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.).
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. ongoing damage from illegal trucks and ORVs
Actions & Comments
Not recently
Sarita
CoastWatcher
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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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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
Beach configuration evolving with a now scallop curved shoreline.
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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
MANY PEOPLE (36)AND DOGS (18) CAME AND WENT DURING OUR WALK.
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Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
The beach was almost completely free of litter.
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Mile 123
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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Mile 123
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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