Mile 242 Report
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
May 10, 2024
The low tide and the number of sea stars made tide pooling an educational experience for many families.
Report Details
The low tide and the number of sea stars made tide pooling an educational experience for many families. The team collected eight pounds of litter. We were pleased to share the Adopt-A-Mile program with others in the hope that it would encourage them to participate. The sunny weather brought many people to Lincoln City as they escaped the heat of the valley.
Conditions
Temperature: 74 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -2.0 feet.
Activities
Number of people: 300. Number of dogs: 64. Walking or running: 200. Sitting: 300. Tidepooling: 100.
Other Activities: This minus tide and the warm weather attracted many people to the coast. Our team had a difficult time counting each individual, so the estimate was 300 plus on Mile 242 today. The activities enjoyed were wave jumping, wading in the water, sunbathing, kite flying (10), horseback riding (3), electric bikes (2), volleyball, small trampoline, wheelchair accessibility area, canopies and tents (24), portable firepit, and sandcastle building. People were walking the mile in search of glass floats.. The team observed electric bikes on both sides of D River. Individuals on electric bikes were riding through tidepools and posted areas where motorized vehicles were prohibited..
Concerns
Litter, Climbing bluffs/seastacks
Apparent violations: People were climbing the bluff where signs were clearly posted..Vehicles
Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 27.
Notable Wildlife
The team spied 6 chitons, 2 kelp crabs, lots of hermit crabs, many sea stars and anemones. We noted many pools with thousands of zooplankton. We observed a Bald Eagle, White Crown sparrows, pelicans, and some Black Turnstone, Along the wrack line, were many lady beetles and a Golden Buprestid beetle. There were beach hoppers, one that was as large as a human thumbnail.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. The dead bird was a cormorant.
Wrackline Content
Shells, Animal casings or molts, Wood pieces, Plastic debri (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). The team noticed many invertebrates in the wrack line. This year there seemed to be an abundant number of winged carpenter ants, small beetles, and lady beetles.
Natural Changes
Uncovered by natural changes; there was a vertical log from the wrack line to the bluff. Newly eroded sandstone cliff on the southern side of Mile 242. Large boulder piles were settled on the shelf.
Report Images
Teachers: Annette, Maureen, Bobbie, and Sally
CoastWatcher
All Mile 242 Reports
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
A damp, foggy coastal day resulted in fewer visitors and their pets enjoying the beach than on a typical summer day. Tide pool habitats were teeming with sea stars, anemones, mussels, limpets, and other marine organisms. Unfortunately, graffiti continues to spread across the sandstone cliffs and seawalls, diminishing the natural beauty of the area and creating an ongoing concern. Litter collection was especially productive during this survey.
Teachers Bobbie, Bill, Sally, Annette, Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
What began as a foggy morning along the coast soon became much clearer when we spotted a familiar face educating the public at the tide pools near Mile 242. Annette, a member of our group, took the opportunity to educate families about the Lincoln City Glass Floats program, encouraging participants to explore areas outside of protected habitats to increase their chances of discovering one of the treasured glass floats while minimizing impacts to sensitive coastal resources. The high volume of visitors also resulted in a significant amount of litter. As the fog lifted, the coastline came alive with activity.
Teachers Bobbie, Annette, Bill, Sally, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
CoastWatch volunteers develop highly trained observational skills. Our monitored mile has changed dramatically as shifting sands have buried portions of the tidepool habitat. Construction of the new visitor center is also underway near our monitoring area.
Teachers Annette, Bobbie, Sally, Bill, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
Anyone missing a sock?
Bobbie, Annette, Sally, Bill, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
During our field observation at the Oregon shore, unseasonably warm weather conditions coincided with increased recreational activity.
Teachers Bobbie, Annette, Sally, Bill, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
During the observation period, favorable coastal weather conditions attracted numerous visitors seeking relief from colder valley temperatures.
Teachers Bill, Sally, Bobbie, Annette, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
At low tide, breakfast at the coast offered a view of the natural world awakening.
Teachers Sally, Bobbie, Annette, Kaily, and Maureen
Mile 242
Lincoln City, D River SW, Devils Lake SP, Oceanlake
Over the weekend, a large number of visitors escaped the 100-degree valley heat and headed to the cool Oregon coast, where tidepooling proved especially popular.
Teachers Sally, Laurie, Bobby, Annette, and Maueen
