March 2, 2008

Report Details

We observed no significant erosion or changes due to winter weather or human activity, hardly surprising considering the rocky nature of the shoreline on this mile. As happened last year there was some minor slumping of bluff edges at the south end of the mile and at the mouth of Gender Creek, but really not much erosion. There were new accumulations of driftwood at all inlets, and some marine debris and garbage, but less than we have seen previously. Most sandy deposits on the rocky shelves adjacent to the water are gone, but most of these same rocky areas within 100 feet or so of the water are thickly carpeted with barnacles. Mussel colonies are abundant and there are many of the dark colored ochre seastars. Deposits of mussel shells, particularly at the inlet at the south end of Yachats, are evidence of many birds feeding. There was much bird activity, noteably several flocks of, we think, black turnstones feeding among the rocks and bathing in the numerous pools of water. There were also several oystercatchers, some rock sandpipers,surf scoters and a grebe or two in the water. In the rocks south of Yachats Ocean Road access we found numerous "beach balls", those spherical conglomerations of sticks, seaweed and other debris that are formed by wave action and average in size 4-6 inches in diameter. Interestingly, the majority of these started forming around bits of rope, netting, or other debris of human origin. This is the first time we've seen these here, and we found them only in this one area the mile.