January 19, 2024

Temperature: 42 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 1.14 feet.

Number of people: 9. Walking or running: 9. Sitting: 9. Tidepooling: 5. Kayaking: 5. We observed tire tracks in the sand at the south end of Mile 247, on the ocean side of the sand spit. We also observed a large piece of harvested treated lumber in the high tide line. It was about the size and length of a railroad tie with pieces of metal flashing nailed to it.

Litter

We observed an eagle, several great blue herons, sea gulls, a cormorant, giant green anemones, a chiten, two Ochre Sea Stars, acorn barnacles and mussels.

Total dead birds: 18. We observed 10 dead Cassin's Auklets in the high tide line all along the mile with a higher concentration of them at the south end of Mile 247, on the ocean side. No leg bands were present on any of the birds.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). The wrack line was where the majority of the dead Cassin's auklets were observed. During this survey there was a high concentration of ocean-based debris from ships (nets, buoys, crab line, etc).

Erosion of vegetated foredune. We observed a lot of sand displacement of the foredune. During this survey, the gradual slope of the foredune to to beach was more of a 90* angle and many dune grass roots were exposed.