Mile 141 Report
Oregon Dunes NRA
December 23, 2008
This mile is typical of the Oregon Dunes beaches - grassed foredune, vegetated deflation plain, and large parabolic dunes inland.
Report Details
This mile is typical of the Oregon Dunes beaches - grassed foredune, vegetated deflation plain, and large parabolic dunes inland. A classic large "tree island" with mature spruce, pine, and rhodies sits inland off Mile 141. The foredune structure here is much lower than the foredunes at Miles 166 to 174 (Florence area).Other than US Forest Service signage, ship-based debris and crab pot floats, there was no sign of human use on this beach today. Two solitary Snowy Plovers were feeding in the surf line, along with several small flocks of Sanderlings. Brown Pelicans are still migrating southbound. Shells, animal casings, kelp/algae, wood pieces, and ocean-based debris in driftline. The beach was heavily littered with Sea Nettle jellies. Low human impact(1)-walking.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 1. Walking or running: 1.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 1.
Notable Wildlife
Observed several flights of 4-6 brown pelicans flying south along the wave fronts. Several gulls, 2 snowy plovers, and a small flock of sanderlings feeding in the near shore surf.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Bad day for Sea Nettle jellies. The beach was heavily littered with 3-6" Nettles. One large moon jelly washed up.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces. Horse clam shells, butter clams, razor clam, a few strands of bull kelp, and lots of Sea Nettles
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune.
Actions & Comments
My first visit to Mile 141 via the John Dellenback beach trail, a 2 1/2 mile slog thru the sand. The trail thru the rhodie/pine forest near the parking lot is graveled, the western 2 miles on the sand following trail marker poles. Wet winter sand is much easier to travel on! The recent storm and high tides have began eroding away the beach grass covered foredune, exposing grass roots, buried logs, and shells. Kudos to unknown prior visitors who gathered up nearly a dozen crab pot floats and assorted debris and stashed them back off the beach.
Report Images
oldMGguy
CoastWatcher
All Mile 141 Reports
Mile 141
Oregon Dunes NRA
Not the best of conditions for a beach walk in July so no surprise that noone else was present.
KerrieP
Mile 141
Oregon Dunes NRA
Miles 141 and 142 provide nice solitude and good wildlife viewing.
KerrieP
Mile 141
Oregon Dunes NRA
This mile is typical of the Oregon Dunes beaches - grassed foredune, vegetated deflation plain, and large parabolic dunes inland.
oldMGguy
Mile 141
Oregon Dunes NRA
Pleasant day, notable erosion of foredune - not unexpected after the winter and spring storms this year.
KerrieP
Mile 141
Oregon Dunes NRA
The weather was crazy; as we hiked across the two mile expanse of dunes to access our mile, the weather went from somewhat sunny to hail and wind, to rain and back to sunny.
KerrieP