Mile 204 Report
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
August 19, 2007
An ailing sea lion was on the beach.
Report Details
An ailing sea lion was on the beach. OSP were called -- final disposition unknown.
Conditions
Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 6.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 50. Walking or running: 40. Playing in surf: 2. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 3. Photography: 2.
Concerns
Fire
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 12.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 3. Gulls
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Sea lion, live but ailing. OSP called.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. "Dead somethings, 1,000's - cased in sand" -- unidentified
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Small amount of litter - pretty clean overall
New Development
Drainage pipes.
Man-made Modifications
Beachgrass planting or removal. Long poled logs, 20 or so; must have fallen off of a ship.
Actions & Comments
The sea lion coughed likes it's chest was full. People and dogs pretty much gave it space. OSP was called, but on a Sunday I doubt if anyone came. It moved when the tide came in, but not much.
guyfaust@hotmail.com
CoastWatcher
All Mile 204 Reports
Mile 204
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Today marked my latest sighting of the old growth driftwood log that I've admired and whose comings and goings from Driftwood Beach I've documented since June 2020, when I first photographed it high on the beach south of Buckley Creek.
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I had read that the 265-foot vessel Seacor Lee would be anchoring a mile off Driftwood Beach in support of OSU's PacWave South wave energy testing project, positioned so that divers from the ship could perform work on previously installed seafloor conduits.
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Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.
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