June 6, 2023

Temperature: 65 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: -1.7 feet.

Number of people: 4. Number of dogs: 1. Other Activities: Clamming and driving the beach (illegally past the sign going south.). Walked 4 miles from Sparrow Park Rd to the north umpqua jetty. 2 ATV's same family were past the do not enter sign and heading south towards the jetty.

4 Eagles feeding on a dead seal carcass

Unusual concentration. Lots of Dungeness crab had been brought in by the bigger tide. All were dead and many were whole and intact. This was in the mid section of mile 147.

Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam.

The bluff just before the jetty had been entirely filled with sand so that one could walk right up to the top of the foredune. In the past it was a steep bluff. See pictures

The snowy plover fencing has fallen down along miles 148-149. the ATVs might have pulled them over as I saw wheel tracks running past the lines. It did not look like anyone had cleaned the beach of larger pieces of garbage during the Beach Solve clean up a few weeks ago. This could be because of the nearly impassable Sparrow Park road access.

Blowing sand has packed in around the jetty and the bluffs leading to the jetty on mile 147. There are no longer steep bluffs but more of a rolling sand dune approach to the top. The jetty instead of climbing up the big rocks one can walk right to the top on sand.

Sparrow Park Road leading to the beach is in terrible condition. I had to recruit a friend with a bigger SUV to take me down the 3 mile road to the beach this time. The section that is in private hands and the forest service section of road have not been maintained in years. The Forest Service has an easement to the private section but has not responded to requests to grade the giant holes. The upper section of the road is maintained by the county and it is in good shape.  One can't visit the area once it rains and it is still very difficult in the dryer months.  I am not sure how many more times I can get people to drive the road to help me get to the beach.  Other CoastWatch miles that might be affected would be miles 154=147.  Next fall I will try and canoe over to the mile 147 from the Winston harbor.  I have visited this beach since 1980 and the road is in the worse shape it has ever been.  The Forest Service and maybe the Oregon Parks and Recreation have taken the 3 Mile Lake trailhead sign down and have removed the yellow with black number mile post where the road comes out to the ocean.  I am thinking they are giving up on providing access to this area of the shoreline.  There is a newer post marking the Oregon Coast route as you come out to the ocean from the Sparrow Park parking area.