Mile 204 - Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek - June 17, 2023

Report Details

I haven't walked Driftwood Beach regularly since the PacWave South wave energy project completed work underground in the Driftwood parking lot. Despite this being a beautiful Saturday, the huge parking lot was almost empty, as was the beach itself except for a few dog walkers, a family complete with a tent, and a pair of walkers with backpacks and staffs looking like they might be hiking the Oregon Coast Trail. My usual turnarounds, Fox Creek and Buckley Creek, are both running low with the dry weather, and the low, rolling summer dunes have begun to form. The most striking sight today was north of the beach access where a homeowner atop the hillside apparently has not only removed vegetation to improve his view but has cut away part of the hillside as well. I took a photo with GSP coordinates and sent it to our local State Parks beach ranger, however it's unclear whether the vegetation and hillside removal is west of the Statutory Vegetation Line at this location and therefore subject to State Parks' jurisdiction.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 4.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 6. Walking or running: 8. Playing in sand: 1. Sitting: 2. Photography: 1.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5.

Notable Wildlife

No birds seen except an Osprey flying north over the ocean. Two roped nest enclosures for Western Snowy Plovers were seen in the distance on Mile 205.

Driftline Content

Small rocks.

New Development

The PacWave South wave energy project has begun constructing its Utility Connecting And Monitoring Facility east of Highway 101.

Man-made Modifications

At a property just north of the Driftwood Wayside beach access, a homeowner has apparently removed vegetation to increase his view and appears to have cut away part of the hillside as well.

Actions & Comments

I photographed the above vegetation and hillside removal and sent the information to our local State Parks beach ranger.

Report Images

Driftwood Beach Wayside parking lot

Driftwood Beach from ADA viewing platform

Summer dunes beginning to form

Fox Creek entering beach

Buckley Creek entering beach

Vegetation and hillside removal

Family enjoying beach

Western Snowy Plover roped nest enclosure

Construction of PacWave South Collection/Monitoring Facility

Report Images

Jon French

CoastWatcher

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