Mile 240 Report
Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
January 11, 2025
The minus tide after a King Tide with fairly good weather brought a lot of visitors out to the beach!
Report Details
The minus tide after a King Tide with fairly good weather brought a lot of visitors out to the beach! The minus tide exposed lots of flat sand and healthy looking tide pools and rocks covered with barnacles, anemones, shells, and star fish. Many people were out photographing and enjoying them and a pretty sun set! A few misty clouds provided some pretty rainbows over the dunes and flat sand beaches.
Conditions
Temperature: 48 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: -0.7 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 85. Number of dogs: 42. Walking or running: 65. Sitting: 18. Tidepooling: 12. Other Activities: The earlier King Tide and good weather brought a lot of people to the beach! About 20 people were playing a game of volleyball. Most people were looking for agates, shells and out for a walk.. Several electric bikes were quickly weaving around people, logs, gravel areas and beach grass areas. One person almost got hit by an ebike.
Concerns
Apparent violations: Many dogs were running loose / off leash, some were running at sea gulls, black oystercatchers and other shore birds..
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Notable Wildlife
A normal winter mix of sea gulls, a few black oystercatchers, cormorants, off shore sea ducks, wrens and pigeons.
Driftline Content
A few washed up "sea pickles" and jelly fish were observed.
Natural Changes
In most areas, the beach has flattened out due to sand movement. In a few areas, the upper large rocks and cobble stones are being covered with sand. Many of the logs have been moved around or concentrated in a few areas. Erosion below the Easter Lea motel continues with root ball sections sliding down, visible cracks and continuing exposed bedrock. Below the newly constructed house (mentioned before), the beach sand has eroded down to the bedrock and a ~6 foot tall sand cliff has formed as the vegetation is eroding where the track hoe had traveled down onto the beach.
Looking north along the flat sandy beach, basalt and bed rocks to a rainbow. People were looking for agates.
Looking south from rocks toward Siletz River.
Looking east toward Ester Lea motel and erosion.
Tide pool and basalt rocks covered with sea life.
Eroding hill below Ester Lea motel.
Erosion below new house down to bed rock, sand cliff and exposed plant roots.
Report Images
SCOTT TURKLE
CoastWatcher
All Mile 240 Reports
Mile 240
Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
The minus tide after a King Tide with fairly good weather brought a lot of visitors out to the beach!
SCOTT TURKLE
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
32 people fishing; 15 enjoying the beach; 4 dogs
Jane Mulholland
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The day started very foggy but cleared up into a beautiful day and a lot of people were enjoying being on the beach.
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
A large track hoe was digging in the beach, dune and beach access road at the northwest end of SW Anchor Court.
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
Nothing unusual or concerning noted.
Jane Mulholland
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
People were enjoying a good spring day on the beach after an early afternoon rain.
Scott Turkle
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Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek
This was the first sunny and warm day of spring, and lots of visitors filled the beach; almost like a summer day! Significant sand erosion had recently occurred and many logs have been moved higher onto the beach.
Scott Turkle