Mile 220 - Yaquina Head north, Schooner Creek south - June 17, 2011

Report Details

The beach is mainly sand now. Very little debris on the sand. In the tidal area there was a lot of kelp and many plastic items were mixed within the kelp. We did see one large plastic barrel, probably used for surplus fuel on a boat. The bluff continues to retreat. Stairs that used to provide access from Schooner's Landing and a nearby neighborhood are both gone. Many drain pipes and fabric used to stabilize the bluff showed for the first time. This was a low tide morning, but we saw only 7 people. Birds were around the shoreline and the tidal area, but not much variety.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: -2.1 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 7. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 7. Tidepooling: 7. This was a very low tide. Few people on the beach and those few were tidepooling and birding.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 3.

Notable Wildlife

A few birds, mostly seagulls. Many seastars, anenomes, mussels, barnacles etc. exposed.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Lots of plastic items mixed in with the kelp.

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Both stairs providing access to this beach are gone. Drain pipes and coaxial cable never seen before were visible.