Mile 138 - Oregon Dunes NRA, south of Tenmile Creek - December 13, 2007

Report Details

A sunny day with small breeze. No signs of vehicle incursion into the closed area other than a likely agency patrol vehicle. Two sets of dog tracks present. Three sets of deer tracks. Two cow elk were seen in the lagoon on 11/24/2007. The usual amount of shells and molted exoskeletons were present on the beach, and the remarkable thing was the lack of expected kelp piles and ocean drift debris from the recent storms. Compared to the vehicle traveled beach adjacent to the south, this closed section had much more plant material extending beachward for some 75 feet from the seawall. The bad news is that 99.9 percent of it was European Beachgrass which they are trying to eradicate in the area. Perhaps they should consider opening the beach to vehicles during the winter to assist their efforts? The ropes and related signage protecting the plover breeding areas were all removed. Thirteen snowy plovers were observed on the beach. Low human impact (0).

Conditions

Temperature: 42 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 7.5 feet.

Human Activities

One set of apparent agency patrol vehicle tracks.

Notable Wildlife

One indistinguishable marine mammal corpse in last stages of decomposition. No skull found. Size would indicate a harbor seal. Thirteen snowy plovers were present, along with a dozen surfbirds, a gull and one white egret. The beach was unremarkable with little drift.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. One northern fulmar, light phase was found.

Stranded Marine Mammals

See wildlife above.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Molted shells of molecrabs, dead and scavaged dungeness crabs, razor and other clam shells, sand dollars and the like were present in usual numbers.

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells.

Man-made Modifications

Tenmile Creek outlet remains the same but the creek appears to be cutting an extended sinuous path to the north behind the outlet.

Natural Changes

The seawall was breached in two places, probably by machines while removing beachgrass for snowy plover habitat. Evidence of wave and water passing through was visible. It was so close to Tenmile that any water flowed into the Tenmile lagoon.

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