Mile 204 Report
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
November 19, 2023
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.
Report Details
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. In October 2020, I counted its hundred rings and included it in my report, but then it disappeared, later reappearing north of Buckley Creek, where I next saw it in February 2021. Later that year, it disappeared again. By January 2023, it had returned to the beach north of Buckley Creek, but then it disappeared for the third time. Now it's back once more, resting high on the beach north of Buckley Creek as testament to the tides and offshore currents here. Compared to my usual Mile 202 north of Alsea Bay, Driftwood Beach doesn't change much unless you count the transient graffiti etched into the Buckley Creek sand cliff, which comes and goes like the old driftwood log.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Tide Level: 4.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 8. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 8.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 4.
Notable Wildlife
Like usual, just a few gulls.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. Northern Fulmars
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Just a few jellies
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt).
New Development
Work continues on PacWave South's energy collection station east of Highway 101, see photo.
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. The section of dune cliff removal which I observed on 6/17/2023 and reported to the State Parks beach ranger remains as before. Apparently it is east of the Statutory Vegetation Line and not within State Parks jurisdiction.
Natural Changes
See Summary regarding changes in driftwood.
Report Images
Jon French
CoastWatcher
All Mile 204 Reports
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
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.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
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.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
I haven't walked Driftwood Beach regularly since the PacWave South wave energy project completed work underground in the Driftwood parking lot.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
By the time I got to Driftwood Wayside, a lot of people had already arrived for their New Years Day beach walks, some 30 vehicles in the parking lot and 30 - 40 people down on the beach, accompanied by at least half as many dogs, almost all leashed.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
This was probably the last dependably dry Mile 204 walk before the rains begin in earnest.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
After the morning fog lifted and before the marine layer moved in, I walked from Seal Rock on Mile 205 to Beach Access 66C on Mile 203.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
The PacWave South wave energy project hosted a BBQ today at Driftwood Wayside for staff and neighbors to celebrate the completion of construction work here and the reopening of the Wayside later this month.
Jon French