Mile 137 Report
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
March 12, 2009
Sharing the beach with other users is a pleasure when the vehicles, pets, and humans are under control and enjoying the same glorious weather.
Report Details
Sharing the beach with other users is a pleasure when the vehicles, pets, and humans are under control and enjoying the same glorious weather. Twelve vehicles included six trucks and six ATVs. Six adults were fishing for surf perch and six were riding or walking for pleasure. The driftline was full of beachgrass eroded from the sea wall, plus some bullkelp and the usual shells, wood and debris. Birds were absent but their tracks were visible around one dead and badly decayed marine mammal. The usual winter erosion features were present with carved out vertical sand faces followed by flatter areas which collected the eroded grasses and wood debris. The vehicle entrance at the north end was too steep for some vehicles.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 6.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 3. Fishing: 6. Other Activities: ATV enthusiasts. Six adults were surf perch fishing with limited success. Four were riding ATVs and two were walking with their dog.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 3. ATVs/OHVs parking: 2. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 3. ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 4.
Notable Wildlife
The usual scattering of shells and casings were visible along with some bullkelp. No birds were present, and one very decomposed pinniped was noted.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. 1 very decomposed pinniped.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. The south and north ends of the area showed wave erosion of the vegetated sea wall, leaving vertical banks up to ten feet . Lots of eroded European beachgrass was visible on the beach
comubp
CoastWatcher
All Mile 137 Reports
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
The humans were all riding southward along the tideline in four ATVs and one OHV.
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
It was a beautiful sunny, windless afternoon at the beach.
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
Thirty-seven humans were observed during the hour and one/half spent recording data on the 16 dead birds present(new birds included 9 Common Murre, 1 Northern Fulmar and 4 gulls and two birds were "refound" Common Murre).
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
Sharing the beach with other users is a pleasure when the vehicles, pets, and humans are under control and enjoying the same glorious weather.
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
The beach area appeared winter normal with wrack present high on the beach in places, and very thin, if any, surf line debris, mostly small wood and a few shells.
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
A beautiful sunny day at the beach with tolerable wind velocity.
comubp
Mile 137
Oregon Dunes NRA, west of [Coos] Clear Lake
Sunny day with mild breeze.
comubp