Mile 143 Report
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
February 3, 2021
There was much more plastic trash this time, than when we went in October.
Report Details
There was much more plastic trash this time, than when we went in October. There was a more defined bluff along part of the beach, indicating sand had been piled up. There was a lot of driftwood and trash on the top of the bluffs, less on the wet sand beach. The tide line had lots of small bits of plastic and styrofoam. I would like to know if I should have taken the full plastic bottle of black oil I found to hazardous waste disposal. I feel guilty that I didn't think of it, at the time. I put it in the parking lot dumpster, with the rest of the plastic trash. We only found about 6 glass bottles (3 were hard liquor bottles I found on the top of the bluff, near a campfire ring--from a local party, most likely). Everything else was plastic. The amount and variety of plastic trash is truly dismaying, but it feels very good to pick it all up. We walked farther than 1 mile, maybe 2 or 3.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 7.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 4. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 4. Sitting: 1. Other Activities: we picked up 4 bags of trash. Very little human activity. There were a few dune buggies on the dunes, but they are not allowed on the beach. When we were leaving the parking lot, 2 people with 2 german shepherds on leash were headed for the beach.
Concerns
Litter
Apparent violations: none, no other people were on the beach, except at the very end of our walk.Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 4.
Notable Wildlife
Shore birds (sandpipers, no seagulls today)
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Much plastic trash (we filled 4 bags for the parking lot dumpster). Some bottles had japanese calligraphy on them. I found a full bottle of stinky, thick black oil. I thought it was a water bottle (same size as a plastic water bottle), so I opened it, but didn't spill any of the yucky oil. Should I have taken this bottle to hazardous waste at a recycling center? I didn't. I threw it in the parking lot dumpster, with all the other plastic bottles and trash we picked up.
New Development
none seen
Man-made Modifications
none seen
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. I am not sure what wave overtopping is, but the short bluff we walked on (tide was coming in fast) had a few spots where one could tell the waves had come up over the top of the little bluff (wet sand on edges of bluff).
kmwifish
CoastWatcher
All Mile 143 Reports
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
The only time we saw other people was at the entrance to the beach, by the tsunami number sign.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
The day was uneventful, the garbage not as plentiful as other times.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
10 people on beach, including 5 birdwatchers, 2 dogs (one of which was off leash), people walking with off leash dog allowed dog to chase gulls and were pushing a flock of sandlerings down the beach in front of them.
mruggiero
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
We arrived at Wincheser Bay smack dab in the middle of Dune Fest.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
There was much more plastic trash this time, than when we went in October.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
The beach was mostly deserted and there were few birds.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
The biggest thing I found was the water heater tank.
kmwifish
Mile 143
South Umpqua Lighthouse SP
We saw 5 other humans (2 when we started walking south and 3 when we returned) and one dog, besides we two and our dog.
kmwifish