Mile 157 - Oregon Dunes NRA, west of Perkins Lake - March 5, 2013

Report Details

A rainy day; we had the beach to ourselves. Storm seemed to have brought in a lot of mostly plastic debris; much may have been tsunami in origin, but couldn't confirm. Lots of styrofoam in all types and sizes, lots of plastic bottles (some with Japanese writing), some glass bottles, parts of foam fishing floats, scattered dimensional lumber, some with nails sticking out, some unidentifiable molded plastic items, one with a lot of styrofoam insulation attached. In addition, clam shells (razor and otherwise), some kelp, many large, old stumps and other driftwood. But seriously, a lot of plastic garbage. Hauled off what we could carry, which was a fraction of the total. I walked with Melissa Willenborg, a film student working on a documentary about tsunami debris.

Conditions

Temperature: 45 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 2. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 2. A rainy day with no one on the beach or even in the parking lot but the two of us.

Notable Wildlife

Saw one snowy plover at far north end of mile; may have seen a pair at south end as well. Otherwise a few gulls, a duck or two on the creek.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Very predated; Couldn't ID.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Lots of debris (see summary).

Man-made Modifications

Oyster shells strewn by USFS on bulldozed dune for plover habitat.

Natural Changes

High sand volume (fishing boat buried).

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