Mile 217 - Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south - June 4, 2019

Report Details

Last month we had contacted State Parks regarding the need for a Doggie Poop Station. To our great surprise in just a couple of weeks they installed the station as well as a new pedestrian bridge. A big thanks to State Parks. They also visited the homeless camp near the mid-point of Mile 217 and cut away the willow hiding the camp from view. Unlike our previous walks we saw only Seagulls, one Osprey and a group of a dozen brown Pelicans. The sands that comprise the beach change day to day. Most recently the dunes have become shorter and the high tides have left small ponds of water high up the beach. In and around the Cow Parship we also found some Sea Watch or Wild Celery, and Ovate spike rush, both near the entrance to Agate Beach Wayside and found near the other small drainages along the bluff. Although we did find plastic, plastic bags and other garbage in our several outings, it was less than in our first report despite the fact that many people visited the area.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 38. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 30. Playing in sand: 8. Other Activities: picture taking.

Concerns

Litter

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 14.

Notable Wildlife

Variety of Seagulls. One Osprey. group of brown Pelicans

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Vallela vallela, hundreds washed ashore

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Natural Changes

Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Visible retreat of solid bluff. active erosion near Jump-Off Joe

Actions & Comments

Mile 217 beginning at Agate Beach Wayside walking south to Jump-Off Joe the bluff is lined with homes near the top edge of the bluff but well vegetated with shore pine and a shrub layer. There are breaks in the line of homes where small drainages make there way to the beach. In these areas mature spruce trees survive limiting the effects of erosion. But midway, walking south, the vegetation ceases and the exposed slope shows signs of active erosion. In photos we document one large crack in the slope as well as the incremental wasting of the sandstone in and around Jump Off Joe. Question - Where the use of rip-rap and other environmentally damaging and ineffective techniques are not used to limit erosion, does the State of Oregon use other techniques to restore degraded slopes?

Report Images

digincommunity

CoastWatcher

All Mile 217 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 69 reports