Mile 199 Report
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
March 25, 2016
It was a very nice day to be on the beach.
Report Details
It was a very nice day to be on the beach. This was most evident by the number of people on the beach and the variety of activities that they were doing from digging holes and writing in the sand, playing in the surf, to meeting with strangers, to walking dogs to picking through the high tide line. The ocean was calm, much calmer than the most recent storms. There did not seem to be hardly any fishing vessels working the area today. There should be plenty of items that can be picked up tomorrow for beach cleanup day but most is relatively small. The largest item I found was the tire/rim just south of Little Creek. Except for the smelly V. velella, the expanse of the beach is very clean with not much wood (logs etc) except way up at and beyond the high tide line. Especially at Little Creek and some near Beachside. Finding the glass float was pleasing to us.
Conditions
Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 0.7 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 40. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 20. Playing in surf: 7. Playing in sand: 8. Other Activities: It appears that many beach walkers, etc., came from Beachside State Park campground, recently reopened for the season..
Concerns
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Notable Wildlife
About two dozen seagulls
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. Seagull
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. A large amount of Velella velella (by-the-wind sailors) on the beach from the low tide line to the high tide line.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). Tire on rim, various fishing floats including a 4" glass one, various plastic items (bottles, baskets, unknown plastic parts)
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune.
Actions & Comments
No. One set of beach stairs from a residence down onto the beach is in the process of being removed/replaced after being virtually destroyed by the high surf.
Report Images
seagazer
CoastWatcher
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Mile 199
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
It was a gorgeous sunny day after all the rain. The barnacle log that I have been observing for months is still on the beach.
Sandra Mathis
Mile 199
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
Clean beach, no changes noted.
MathisS
Mile 199
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13 people and 2 dogs on my mile.
MathisS
Mile 199
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
Barnacle log in same location.
MathisS
Mile 199
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
These have not been the highest waves of the storm season so far but they are still moving rock and scouring sand from the base of un-rip rapped foredune.
seagazer
Mile 199
Beachside SP, Waconda Beach, Little Creek
I was unable to walk the entire mile.
MathisS
