Mile 123 Report
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
October 30, 2008
The high tide water mark was at base of foredune, and driftline was higher than we've ever seen.
Report Details
The high tide water mark was at base of foredune, and driftline was higher than we've ever seen. The amount of sea weed and kelp was also notable, large piles up and down the beach. Shells, animal casings, kelp/algae, wood pieces, land-based debris and charcoal from fires in the driftline. Dead birds were one cormorant and three gulls. A small dead deer near creek. Pelicans and gulls flying over ocean and resting on jetty. Many cormorants and crows. Five Surf Scoters and several Western Grebes on water of bay mouth. Vehicle restriction sign missing. Both the dead deer and vehicle restriction sign were reported to Robin Sears. Heavy human impact (28)-19 playing in sand, 1 surfing and 8 playing football.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 28. Number of dogs: 7. Playing in sand: 19. Surfing: 1. Other Activities: football 8. At beach access by jetty the NO MOTOR VEHICLES ALLOWED ON BEACH SIGN is missing and tracks of trucks and ATVs were everywhere on dunes.
Concerns
Fire, Litter
Apparent violations: Car tracks on foredune and beach..Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Small DEAD DEER by creek, pelicans & gulls flying and resting on jetty, 5 Surf Scoters and several Western Grebes in water between jetties, many cormorants and crows, much beached bull kelp, eel grass still green and much brown.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 4. 1 cormorant, and 3 gulls, one full of maggots, all 3 decomposed, possibly brought in by tide.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces. Huge amount of charcoal from fires lining driftline, particularly near access sites.
Natural Changes
Flooding of area around creek from very high tides, much uprooting of succulent-like plants.
Actions & Comments
Robin Sears, South Coast Beach Ranger, was notified about the dead deer and the missing sign. In addition, Stuart Love, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, was notified about the dead deer. There was also brownish water at creek outlet to sea, creating yellowy/brown near shore waves.
All Mile 123 Reports
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
There were three new observations on this walk.
Sarita
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
Beach configuration evolving with a now scallop curved shoreline.
Sarita
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
MANY PEOPLE (36)AND DOGS (18) CAME AND WENT DURING OUR WALK.
Sarita
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
The beach was almost completely free of litter.
Sarita
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.
Sarita
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
Human activity was minimal on this cold windy day.
Sarita
Mile 123
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
On this beautiful, warm, calm day, the beach was amazingly free of debris.
Sarita
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.
Sarita