March 15, 2013

Report Details

Found some possible invasive species--bivalve or shellfish.I did not find it easy to report this finding. When I got home (around 5pm) I did an online search for a tsunami debris site, first one I found supposedly had an e-mail address I could use to report possible tsunami debris w/an invasive species attached. When I clicked on the address, I went to a page that stated it wasn't working. Next I found a site listing the 211 or 800 SAFENET number (I did attend a tsunami debris workshop/meeting but couldn't find what few notes I took or any other information). Called that number, got a recording. Recording supplied an e-mail address--an OR state parks e-mail address. Sent an e-mail to that e-mail address w/two photos attached & location information. That e-mail was returned as undeliverable as it was "too large". That was w/only two photos attached. Information found on another site indicates this e-mail address is supposed to accept location information and "photos." Resent w/a single photo, that e-mail got through and I received a response that indicated that copies of the e-mail would be sent to NOAA & ODFW if the e-mail concerned biologic debris/invasive species. I tend to doubt if that will happen until someone reviews it and since I was on the beach on Friday afternoon, my guess is that no one will review the e-mail until some time this Monday (03/18) at the earliest. The woody debris (weathered column/part of a post) to which the bivalves were attached was above the current high tide level (I was on the beach during high tide and it seemed to be resting about 5' above the reach of the high tide) but not above a higher high tide or high tide plus storm surge. It was too heavy for me to drag further up the beach w/out assistance and there was no one nearby to ask for help. I did what I could to report the finding, but unless the debris stays in place (no one moves it, I'm right about the reach of the tide, etc.) until at least Monday, I don't know if anyone w/expertise will locate & examine it any time soon. I looked online re: native species of clams, etc., on the OR coast and what I found doesn't look like any of commercially or recreationally harvested species. However, the bivalves also didn't look like any of the invasive species listed in a Puget Sound invasive species handbook that I found online or any information I found re: invasive species on the OR coast. Note: when I returned to the parking lot, some surfers had arrived & were on their way to the long stairway down to the beach. The beach at the base of the stairs (Devil's Punchbowl state park beach access, south side) is a popular surfing area. High tide today was 7.4' and occurred at 3:48 at the HMSC according to the tide table. I was on my mile from approximately 3:30pm to 4:30 pm.