Mile 154 - Oregon Dunes NRA, west of Butterfly Lake - May 23, 2019

Report Details

Eight Eugene Hikers parked in Tahkenitch Campground lot and hiked trail to beach access at Sign 115. (See picture 12). The group accessed beach for Mile 154 at about 11:00 am and left about 1:00 pm at Three Mile Lake Trail at Sign 115A. A snowy plover protection area was marked along bank for entire Mile 154. (See picture 13). There was better signage on the beach than at previous times. Eugene Hikers did not observe other people, dogs, or birds. At the north end, there was evidence of continued erosion of the bank. The group observed some driftwood, broken sand dollars, other shells, some dead "Purple Sailors", and seaweed. Eugene Hikers observed, collected, and removed human and ocean-based debris.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 8. Other Activities: The 8 persons were Eugene Hikers. There were no other people seen on the beach. We took some pictures and picked up the small amount of litter we saw. (See Pictures 1 & 2). Observed one set of tire tracks on sand in prohibited area. This set was probably from an official vehicle.

Concerns

Litter

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 3.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Observed broken sand dollars and other shells. (Pictures 3 & 4) Also observed dead "Purple Sailors" (Velalla Velalla). (Pictures 5 & 6). Eugene Hikers observed and picked up a relatively small amount of human and ocean-based debris.

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Erosion of vegetated foredune, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Continued erosion of bank near beach access (Sign 115). (See pictures 7-11).