Mile 213 Report
Henderson Creek, South Beach SP south
March 25, 2025
On a sunny day with strong wind from the north, there were more people on the beach than normally seen but this was during school vacation time. People mostly walking along the coast although there was one family enjoying a day at the beach with chairs/igloo tent and the 3 boys playing in the channel water.
Report Details
On a sunny day with strong wind from the north, there were more people on the beach than normally seen but this was during school vacation time. People mostly walking along the coast although there was one family enjoying a day at the beach with chairs/igloo tent and the 3 boys playing in the channel water. Wildlife wasn't noticed but lots of velella velella in area south of Henderson Creek. Stretches of tidal levels with many small pieces of wood mingled with velella velella and sometimes microplastics. An area to watch iare the dunes in front of the new housing south of Southshore Beach Houses where the dunes aren't high and not probably will not provide much protection from winter storms.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 0.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 20. Number of dogs: 7. Walking or running: 5. Sitting: 15. Other Activities: There was a family camped out with the 3 boys playing in the channel water. near Surfland beach access. When I returned to leave the beach, a fire had been made encircled by stones and it looked like they were toasting marshmallows. More activity as one approached Southshore beach homes just south of South Beach State Park..
Concerns
Fire
Apparent violations: Although there was a fire started by a family, it seemed to be well constructed, protected and not in vegetated areas/.Notable Wildlife
Saw no wildlife except 2 crows flying overhead.
Driftline Content
What was more apparent in the area north & south of Henderson Creek was tidal lines with lots of very thin, small wood pieces oaten accomplished by bleached velella velella and microplastics. The sticks resembled match sticks. Don't remember seeing these sticks before; if so, not in the abundance seen today.
New Development
Steps down bluff. An old stairway leading to the beach has suffered serious destruction probably by winter storms. See photo.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. An area to watch are the dunes in front of the new houses just south of Southshore residential area. They seem to be too low and not solid enough to withstand winter storms. Already there are pieces of trees at the top of the dunes as seen in a photo. Lots of wood pieces have spread further southward and not concentrated in the same areas.
Dune in front of new housing doesn't provide much protection.
Lots of this on the beach at past tide levels -- micriplastics often seen along with many velella velella
Stairway from house to beach has been damaged.
Dune in front of new house showing erosion.
Report Images
Julia/Paul
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