Mile 137 - Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake - December 28, 2009

Report Details

It was a beautiful sunny, windless afternoon at the beach. Such days are rare, especially during the winter. Although vehicle tracks were plentiful, only two ATVs and one street legal were seen, just riding the beach in an allowed area. The driftline was quite wide and composed of lots of wood and grassy debris as well as the usual shells, animal casings, kelp/algae ocean-based debris and Styrofoam. Many sizable logs and smaller hunks had washed out of the eroded sandy beach area. Shells and casings were notably reduced from normal numbers. The erosion had not reached the seawall but had formed a 3 foot vertical wall along about a third of the mile covered. Two dead Northern Fulmars were found, and small numbers of Sanderlings and gulls were present.

Conditions

Temperature: 48 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 1.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 3. Other Activities: ATVs. Two small ATVs and one street legal vehicle were seen. They were traveling up the beach.

Concerns

Apparent violations: none.

Vehicles

ATVs/OHVs parking: 3. ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 3.

Notable Wildlife

Thirteen Sanderlings and three gulls were observed.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 2. Both were Northern Fulmars. Two weeks earlier a total of nine dead fulmars were counted.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Lots of large sized driftwood was present. Most of the wood appeared to have been washed out of the sand during winter erosion

Natural Changes

Winter storms have eaten the sand back, forming a 3 foot vertical wall along about 1/3 of the beach.

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