Mile 240 - Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek - 04/15/2025 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

Nice spring weather and a zero tide brought out a lot of visitors to the beach. The zero tide exposed lots of rocks covered with lots of stars, anemones, barnacles, mussels, crabs, etc. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the beach!

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 69. Number of dogs: 19. Walking or running: 45. Sitting: 24. Tidepooling: 6. Other Activities: The recent good weather encouraged a lot of people to walk the beach with some searching for the Lincoln City glass art floats, agates, rocks, shells, and enjoying the wild life.. Most of the dogs were off leash.

Concerns

Apparent violations: none.

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Notable Wildlife

Approximately 20 seals were visible sunning themselves on the beach across the Siletz River. Numerous seals were popping their heads up to watch us as they fished in the ocean and the mouth of the Siletz River. Many large and small "v's" of spring migrating birds passed overhead, including: Canada geese, ducks, cormorants, pelicans, and other shore birds. Black oystercatchers, gulls, more cormorants and an osprey were flying around the beach areas.

Driftline Content

Many velella velella had washed up on the recent hide tide and were drying out.

Man-made Modifications

The before mentioned newly being built house on SW Anchor Street continues to have shoreline hillside erosion within the old track hoe ruts.

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune. Much of the recent sand deposits on the beach has again been eroded away, including some additional beach grass erosion and 6 to 10 foot tall sand cliffs are present in certain areas. The Siletz River has carved a secondary channel into the beach near the mouth into the Pacific.