December 21, 2016

I had to do the survey from two different access points (north at Wade creek, and south near Moolack creek) since a short section of the beach was cut off by high water, north of Coal creek.

Report Details

I had to do the survey from two different access points (north at Wade creek, and south near Moolack creek) since a short section of the beach was cut off by high water, north of Coal creek. There were a lot of drift logs (compared to the usual) piled up at the Wade creek outlet. The sea lion carcass that was there through the past three surveys was finally gone! A lot of vegetation and roots have slid down from the top of the bluff about .2 miles south of Wade Creek. The drift in the north section wrack line had a very large amount of small plastic pieces, the most I have seen on this beach. The sand cover was still pretty high, while south of Coal creek a lot of rock is now exposed, thus, several people were rock-hunting. The surf was impressively high, and I enjoyed being mesmerized by the view from the parking lot before I left (and wished I had my camera with the zoom lens!)

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: E. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Activities

Number of people: 21. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 9. Sitting: 4.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 7.

Notable Wildlife

Black scoters in surf

Wrackline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Wood pieces, Plastic debri (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Erosion of vegetated foredune.