Mile 184 - N of Ocean Beach Picnic Area, S of Squaw Creek - 03/27/2024

Report Details

Ocean Beach was COVERED in Velella, By the Wind Sailors. I have never seen so many on one beach. I have observed some on this beach in the past but nothing like this. From the base of the stairs, the Velella looked liked rock fields often present on this beach. I noted a landslide toward the north end of the beach that has created a small waterfall and stream. The stream is flowing over long buried driftwood. The slide cut the bluff pretty far back. I also collected more trash than usual for this beach. I was unable to remove two large crab traps but they were not tagged and appeared like they had been in the ocean for a while.

Conditions

Temperature: 46 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.67 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 9. Sitting: 2.

Beached Birds

I filed a report with COASST.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Ocean Beach was COVERED with Velella, By the Wind Sailors. I've never seen so many in one place. The wrack line was approximately 46 paces at several points on the beach and there were virtually no areas free of Velella. From the base of the stairs, I initially thought the beach was covered with rocks.

Driftline Content

Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Lots of plastic bottles, two large crab traps, bigger pieces of plastic

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls. The landslide noted was toward the north end of the beach. It appears to have made a new waterfall and a small stream is flowing over long buried driftwood.