Mile 240 - Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek - 06/02/2025 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

It was a beautiful sunny day but suspect the very strong wind reduced the number of visitors. The zero tide showed a lot of rocks, layers of bed rock and sand. The change of Baldy Creek is limiting the visitors using the SW 35th Street access and parking lot onto the beach. Unfortunately, one dead baby seal was near the high tide line at the mouth of the Siletz River.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Strong. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Activities

Number of people: 98. Number of dogs: 28. Walking or running: 68. Sitting: 18. Tidepooling: 15.

Other Activities: Searching for locally hidden glass floats, agates, shells and one visible tent camping site. Over half of the dogs were observed to be off leach.. Several bags of "picked-up dog waste" were found left on the beach. One bag of various litter was picked up and disposed of..

Concerns

Litter

Apparent violations: One tent / camp site has been present for many weeks below Ocean Terrace Condos. It is just above the high tide line. No one was visible..

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Notable Wildlife

Several black oystercatchers, many cormorants, gulls, pelicans, unknown black birds and a king fisher were flying around or on the rocks. Seals were popping their heads up occasionally along the shore and in the Siletz River. Dozens of seals were sunning on the beach across the Siletz River, away from people. Sea stars, anemones, barnacles, crabs, mussels and little fish were visible on or near the rocks during the low tide.

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. One small dead seal pup was found up by a log near the recent high tide line and near the mouth of the Siletz River. It had been dead for some time and did not have any markings, tags or bands.

Wrackline Content

A few velella velella were present in the wrack line. Several jelly fish have been washed in by the waves.

Natural Changes

Recent incoming sand has formed a sand dune in front of the mouth of Baldy Creek. This has changed Baldy Creek to flow for at least 250 yards south along the rock riprap before it turns west and into the Pacific Ocean. Visitors parking at the SW 35th Street access have to walk around the changed creek and several people were heard commenting or complaining.

Report Images

Low tide at "Spanish Head rocks", looking north.

Low tide showing nice marine sea stars, anemones, mussels, barnacles, etc.

Low tide showing exposed bed rock, looking south from Baldy Creek. Agate and shell collectors enjoying the search.

New Baldy Creek flowing south from SW 35th Street access.

New Baldy Creek mouth into the Pacific Ocean, over bed rock and looking back toward the sand dune, houses and motels.

The mouth of the Siletz River showing lots of sand during low tide. As typical, many logs are being creatively used to build log shelters.

Colorful plastic bag of "picked up dog waste" left on the beach beside a log. One of several found.

Looking east up the Siletz River and bay. This person was enjoying the many seals in the water and sunning across the Siletz River.

One dead baby seal near the high tide line and logs.

Low tide showing exposed rocks. Birds moved further off shore to another rock.

Report Images

SCOTT TURKLE

CoastWatcher

All Mile 240 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 39 reports

Mile 240

Taft, Nelscott south, Baldy Creek

January 23, 2026

The recent flooding and landslides on the Siletz River has deposited many times the amount of trees, logs and root balls! Several beach drift wood structures already include house debris pieces! I triple checked on the pelican since most had already gone south for the winter.

SCOTT TURKLE