Mile 188 - Neptune SP, Strawberry Hill Picnic Area - July 14, 2018

Report Details

We decided to explore this stretch of beach due to the significant minus tide on July 14th. Many others apparently had the same idea. Most people were taking advantage of the conditions to check out the tide-pools and hunt for rocks/agates but there was one sizeable group from OSU which was conducting "hundreds of studies" including monitoring the algae and oxygen level of the ocean as well as "relocating sea stars." The usual harbor seals were not seen until the tide was coming in (around noon) but what was perhaps strangest about this trip were the hundreds of small green crabs noted on the north end of Strawberry Hill Beach. Otherwise, there were, as usual, scores of anemones, mussels, birds (including one osprey), and sea stars (I'd heard that the condition of the sea stars was "not good" but I have no experience as to evaluating the health of these creatures).

Conditions

Temperature: 61 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: -1.8 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 42. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 42. Playing in sand: 3. Tidepooling: 28. Other Activities: Due to the minus tide, many people were taking advantage of the situation to check out the tide-pools as well as hunt for agates along the beach. Among this large group was a fairly sizable contingent (approximately 25) from OSU who were conducting "hundreds of studies" including monitoring the oxygenation and algae of the ocean as well as "relocating sea stars." This group was also replacing several of the "pot scrubbers" that were noted in the last report (please see pictures).. The parking lot at Strawberry Hill was fairly full for the entire three hours that we were there. There were only four or five vehicles at the Neptune South parking lot.

Concerns

Apparent violations: None noted..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 24.

Notable Wildlife

There were the usual species of birds (including one osprey) but what was lacking were the harbor seals who did not make an appearance on the rocks until the tide was coming back in - approximately noon. There were many anemones, mussels, and sea stars observed due to the low tide but what was most unusual were the hundreds of small, green crabs seen scurrying over the rocks and tide-pools on the north end of Strawberry Hill beach.

Beached Birds

None noted.

Stranded Marine Mammals

None noted.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

There were the usual crab and mussel shells along the tide line but these did not seem to be more than have been usually spotted.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces. Perhaps what struck us the most was the near absence of debris of any kind seen along the beach - no trash, plastic bottles, micro-pellets, etc. Only one large rope was seen on the rocks along the southern edge of Neptune South Beach.

New Development

As noted in the previous report, there are no human structures/developments along this stretch of beach.

Man-made Modifications

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls. The bluffs above the beach showed evidence of fairly recent but small landslides; there was also some evidence of re-vegetation on these and other, older landslides. The usual seepage and few small (very small by comparison with the previous report) waterfalls were observed.

Actions & Comments

None taken.