Mile 239 Report
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
May 11, 2014
A nice afternoon to be out on the beach but I was stunned by the amount of plastic debris at the high tide line.
Report Details
A nice afternoon to be out on the beach but I was stunned by the amount of plastic debris at the high tide line. Many small plastic bits ... other larger pieces that were obviously part of a container, like a laundry basket ... also entire large containers such as baskets, soft-sided tubs, gasoline cans, bottles. It was constant for the entire mile. We did our CoastWatch walk one month ago and NONE of this was here. I felt bad I had forgotten to bring a debris-collection bag with me but I could not have collected 1/100th of one percent of what was there. I have only been in CoastWatch for a short while but we have lived here for over seven years and occasionally walk this strip of beach. Normally there is very little plastic to pick up. This is no doubt evidence of Japanese tsunami debris. I photographed a few items printed with Japanese characters which I will attach.
Conditions
Temperature: 61 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 4.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 16. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 8. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 6. 125+ people counted on the north side of the mouth of the Siletz, but I did not walk that side.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 8.
Notable Wildlife
Harbor seal colony in normal location at tip of Salishan Spit.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2.
Driftline Content
Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea).
Report Images
ORbeach
CoastWatcher
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