Mile 224 - Beverly Beach north, Johnson Creek - September 24, 2013

Report Details

Walk of mile several days after a low-level storm on Sunday (today is Tuesday). Human litter almost absent from beach (except for a few pieces of the driftwood) although there were some of the almost ubiquitous plastic bits in the driftline. Many clumps of seawhips, grass, etc. Many small clear jellyfish. Condition of beach indicated that storm surge had reached the base of the beach bluff that lines this beach in a number of places. Ocean still rough on Tuesday afternoon. Overall the beach seems to be shifting from lower to high energy beach. What looked like gradual sand movement offshore towards south end of mile (but may just have been more noticeable there).Ongoing erosion of beach bluffs, perhaps somewhat accelerated by the recent very high tide (8.8') plus storm surge plus rain & some wind. Only sprinkled during first 5-10 minutes of time on the beach, and overall a great day on a beautiful beach w/a ball retrieving Golden Retriever--who cares if the skies are gray?, there were some cool cloud formations out over the ocean to watch along w/the ocean, etc. Very few people, only one other walker (I included myself in number of people on beach and the dog was my dog), rest of people were surfing, or trying to.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 7.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 2. Surfing: 3. Estimated # of parked vehicles. Most vehicles were parked a block or so away, by the overlook & near Mo's. Only 2 other vehicles in lot I parked in (lot closest to beach stairs) when I arrived, about 4 & one pickup w/camper in the bed when I left. Vehicles not permitted on my mile w/out a permit.

Concerns

Apparent violations: none observed.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 17. RVs/Buses parking: 2.

Notable Wildlife

Saw two small brown birds, one a finch of some kind, unsure of the other. Both flitting down to beach and then flying away as I got closer. There were quite a few insects attracted by the many clumps of seawhips & other seaweed & perhaps the birds were attracted by them, although finches are usually seed eaters.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Saw only a very few parts of crab shells but a large number of jelly fish in the secondary driftline (not the storm driftline, which is still visible, but a more recent high tide drift line), mostly fairly small (approx. 2" at widest point) but I did see some (perhaps 5% of those observed?) that seemed to be about 4" wide at the widest point.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass. small bits of plastic, large clumps of seawhips & seagrasses, sometimes seawhips still attached to large cobbles.

Man-made Modifications

none observed

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Landslides/major boulder falls.

Actions & Comments

Usual erosion, somewhat accelerated by the recent weather "event" and accompanying very high tide (8.8 on Sunday) plus storm surge. I was on beach from about 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. High tide at Yaquina Bay was predicted to be 8.0 ft at 3:59 p.m. I tried to walk this mile yesterday around 1 p.m. or so, got probably a bit over 1/3 of the mile and went up off the beach via a path because the storm surge was so much stronger/pushing the water up higher then I'd thought it would be. It was interesting to stand on the path, about 10' above the beach and watch one of the far reaching waves that seem to be a synchronization of several waves come up to the base of the path (bluff) and toss 10' long driftlogs around like they weighed 5 lbs. The water was probably all of 1'-2' deep by the time it got that far up the beach. Seen it before, always impressed. Ocean still looked rough today but there was a lot more beach (not wholly accounted for by the later & lower high tide, etc.).

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