Mile 131 - Horsfall Beach, Oregon Dunes NRA - September 21, 2012

Report Details

Lovely warm day at the beach. I was happy to find minimal litter, easily fit into a plastic grocery bag. The water was an inviting deep green. I saw a large ship leave the Coos jetty and make an amazing fast turn south, leaving its tugboats behind. Shells, animal casings, kelp/algae, small rocks, wood, some land- and ocean-based debris and Styrofoam in the driftline. Brown Pelicans, Western Gulls and sandpipers. There were clumps of foredune broken off and laying in a pile, south of the Horsfall beach access point. Many logs in this area back against the dunes. A lovely polished branch went home with me. Twenty-six people (12 walking, 8 sitting and 6 playing the sand) and five dogs on the beach. ATV tracks in closed area.

Conditions

Temperature: 65 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.3 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 26. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 12. Playing in sand: 6. Sitting: 8. tents set up against dunes to north of closed area

Concerns

Apparent violations: ATV tracks to/from south in closed area.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 8. RVs/Buses parking: 4. ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 5.

Notable Wildlife

Brown Pelicans, Western Gulls and sandpipers.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 3.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

one, photo attached

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces.

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune.

Actions & Comments