Mile 239 - Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay - 09/01/2025 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

The marine layer stayed offshore while we were walking our mile so it turned out to be a nice day. The salmon must have been running because there were many fishermen on the bank of Taft beach. The harbor seals had abandoned their regular place at the tip of the Salishan Spit, but I presumed it was because of all the activity in the water (several boats coming and going). Picked up only a few small pieces of trash.

Conditions

Temperature: 65 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Activities

Number of people: 7. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 3. Sitting: 5.

Other Activities: Est. 105 people and 4 dogs on the Taft side of the Siletz River but we did not walk that side. 20 of those were fishing from the north bank of the mouth of the river..

Concerns

Apparent violations: Approx. 8 kayakers were making their way across Siletz Bay and were coming close to where the harbor seals were resting on the bank..

Notable Wildlife

At least 9 pelicans in with the flocks of seagulls. Est. 30 harbor seals on the bay side of the tip of the Salishan Spit.

Wrackline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass.

Natural Changes

Steep slope from access to water's edge - seasonal variation.

Report Images

Salishan Spit with the Inn at Spanish Head in the distance. You can see the slope from where the driftwood is down to the water line.

Pelicans among the seagulls.

Fisherman along the riverbank in Taft.

A lot of activity at the mouth of the Siletz today (Labor Day).

Juvenile gull, maybe a Western gull ... but many species look alike in the juvenile phase in our bird book.

Report Images

Linda & Clyde Reid

CoastWatcher

All Mile 239 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 95 reports

Mile 239

Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay

November 30, 2025

Our mile has become very hard to get to, as most of the beach accesses in the Salishan community have been eroded by a combination of king tides and winter storms.

Linda Reid

Mile 239

Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay

September 1, 2025

The marine layer stayed offshore while we were walking our mile so it turned out to be a nice day.

Linda & Clyde Reid

Mile 239

Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay

August 10, 2025

This dispatch covers the entire spit - miles 237, 238, 239 There were no remarkable events: people, nature, trash, marine life It was just a wonderful walk to the tippy end of the spit, where a crowd of lounging dudes greeted us. We walked out three miles on the ocean side and walked back through the neighborhood, which borders the bay side.

Marney