March 11, 2023

Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light.

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 15. Surfing: 15. Other Activities: 2 people walking & picking up trash, one of those people was me, I was participating in a Surfriders trash pickup event, the other was a youngish man I've seen picking up trash before on this beach. By the time I left the mile there were more surfers & more walkers, at the south end of the mile the walkers were mostly likely coming from the Beverly Beach state campground or day use parking area.. I was on the beach from approximately 10:30 to 11:30 am During that time both the number of people on the beach increased, as did the number of vehicles. For example, at my access area, there are two parking lots, and on street parking near the Devil's Punchbowl overlook. I don't count all the vehicles parked on street, et al near the Devil's Punchbowl since that would require my walking a couple of blocks. I estimate the street parking was perhaps 1/2 full. The lot closest to the access stairs, where I parked was maybe 1/3 full when I arrived, full when I left--someone took my parking spot as soon as I pulled out. The other lot, when I arrived, had only a few vehicles, there were more when I left.

Total dead birds: 1.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Wood pieces, Styrofoam. Plastic bits, many many plastic bits, different colors, ranging in a few maybe 1/2 centimeter to 2" wide/long.. I don't think I've ever seen a plastic pellet, what I seem to be seeing is the effect of of UV light and/or salt water and/or impacts on various types of plastic, the plastic eventually cracks/breaks and continues to break into small pieces. The styrofoam or polystrene I see is mostly small to very small pieces, the max size I saw on this walk was perhaps 2" (longest side or edge)

Steps down bluff. Looked as though the Alpine Chalets had built a new stairway section going right down onto the beach, although it may be the type that can be pulled up during the winter, thus avoiding damage from storm surges.

Landslides/major boulder falls, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Moderate sized slide just north of the Alpine Chalet access. Trees fallen onto the beach or clearly on their way down the bluff seen in in several locations. More erosion of the beach bluffs on this mile then I've seen in years--clearly an energetic winter. The same culvert under the highway I've commented on & photographed re: deterioration continues to deteriorate, This time I noticed there seemed to be alot of either roots or plants sliding down to where they've just above/hanging over the culvert opening. There were also more then the usual number of drift logs piled up near and not so near the culvert. Steady flow of water through the culvert.

Years ago, I tried to get in touch w/someone at ODOT re: the condition of this culvert & a drain pipe (that I think may also go under the highway) located further south, near Johnson Creek.   I was unsuccessful, it seems to me that ODOT won't act until part of a road or verge collapses.     Some years ago, a section of the drain pipe broke off & was never removed.    The drain was then shorter/closer to the bluff face, so any water draining from the pipe accelerated erosion of the bluff.    In addition, some "visitors" decided to park nearby & establish a path going down the bluff close to where the drain water erosion occurs.    The human activities also accelerate erosion of the bluff.