Mile 123 Report
Bastendorff Beach east half, South Jetty Coos Bay
September 24, 2010
Beautiful day, with many folks (about 25 on beach at any given time), going and coming and enjoying the beach.
Report Details
Beautiful day, with many folks (about 25 on beach at any given time), going and coming and enjoying the beach. Dogs were mostly leashed and well behaved. Vehicle numbers changed at each entry point, but there were about 10 all together most of the time. There were 2 stranded CSLs one dying, one dead, which I reported to Marine Mammal Stranding Network. There were also surprisingly heavy concentrations of bull kelp and other algae, as well as thick creamy greenish foam all along the driftline. One dead Common Murre, was documented for COASST by Jerry Chadwick. Live birds included 1 Brown Pelican, many(50-70) gulls, crows and a couple of cormorants. A few Jellies.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 7.3 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 25. Number of dogs: 12. Walking or running: 17. Playing in sand: 3. Sitting: 5. Other Activities: picnicing. Lots of people coming and going; approximately 25 at any give time, so figures are all averages. Dogs mostly leashed, and people were enjoying a lovely day.
Concerns
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Very heavy concentrations of bull kelp, feather boas, sea palms. Eel grass in areas closer to the jetty. 1 Brown Pelican, several cormorants (double crested/), gulls and crows. In creek area many gulls (50 plus) bathing, resting, and floating about. Erosion of creek banks due to very high tide. Newly washed up logs and branches.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. Common Murre. Also unidentifiable remains of birds entangled in eel grass and algae.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 2. 1 dead CSL on strip of sand near jetty. Another CSL dying in a large pool near jetty. This animal appeared injured; its body was quite deformed. Both animals reported to Jim Rice, Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
A scattering of moon jellies
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam. Thick cream colored foam along the entire driftline, Bits and pieces of plastic embedded in the numerous tangles of algae.
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. trucks still driving on the foredune, and breaking it down
Natural Changes
Sand continuing to settle near jetty. Creek widened and deepened from high water and runoff.
Actions & Comments
No
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.
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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.
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.
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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