Mile 23 - Pistol River SP north, south of Myers Creek - June 28, 2018

Report Details

I walked and was blown from north to south on this very windy day, and was very nearly deposited on the Dune myself. the wind was strong enough to pick up chunks of still wet sand and blow it! Virtually no trash present except one tire. A new informational sign on petrels has been erected on a parking area on 101. One on shore rock on the south end of the mile usually has a sand ramp on its south side in the summer but as yet does not.

Conditions

Temperature: 57 F. Wind Velocity: Strong. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 3.2 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 30. Walking or running: 5. Sitting: 1. Windsurfing: 24. Other Activities: Windsurfing includes kiteboarding and sailboarding. This is my first encounter for a huge group of windsurfers, although I have been told it is a popular site. These enthusiasts had legally parked a wide variety of interesting vehicles.

Concerns

Apparent violations: None.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 25.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 2. Probably gulls

Driftline Content

Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). The drip line was almost non-existent, just a few crab shells

Man-made Modifications

Included is a picture of the highway 101 riprap that has been there for a few years now. One large truck tire found on the beach and has been reported to Harris Beach State Park as litter.

Natural Changes

Large amounts of windblown sand being deposited onto the vertical front of the foredunes, so much so that the vertical face has disappeared. See one picture of ramp, Also south end of beach has a patch of brown and green dune grass on the beach. I don't know if it's just been uncovered or has sprouted.