Mile 233 - Boiler Bay, Rabbit Rock, Fogarty Creek SP - June 16, 2014

Report Details

20 people were on Fogarty Beach, most agate hunting.2 well behaved dogs on beach. All but 2 of the people were adults. No wildlife issues except that starfish have virtually disappeared from the rocky shores and tidepools, I have observed only small amounts of wasting disease but the starfish are gone. (I go to this beach a few times a week.) Erosion is obvious with rock falls, exposed fence posts, new "caves" opening up in the bluffs.No actions were taken except for trash clean-up

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: -2.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 20. Number of dogs: 2. Playing in sand: 4.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 8.

Notable Wildlife

Nothing notable

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. While few "bodies" have been seen, there has been a virtual disappearance of Pisaster starfish from the tidepools/rocky shorelines; while in recent times hundreds would be visible without much effort, only about 10 were seen and 2 of the live ones showed signs of wasting disease. The others seemed healthy. 3 starfish that were on beach were dead and overturned by seagulls probably; two of these were missing limbs and showed signs of the disease.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. Small amount of debris, some tsunami

Man-made Modifications

None new

Natural Changes

Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Evidence of wave overtopping, Visible retreat of solid bluff, Landslides/major boulder falls. erosion is evident with exposed fence posts, newly eroded scarps, rockfalls

Actions & Comments

No action to be taken