Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
April 1, 2025
Six survey participants (Sitka Center team, Residency Program participants and community members) accessed Mile 247 via kayaking across the Salmon River Estuary, walked the length of the beach mile observing and noting as they walked. Notes on Community Science Projects: -Ochre sea stars were observed from a distance in the outer area of the rocky habitat. -An MDMAP survey was not conducted during this excursion due to a lack of debris in Mile 247's marine debris monitoring area.
Report Details
Six survey participants (Sitka Center team, Residency Program participants and community members) accessed Mile 247 via kayaking across the Salmon River Estuary, walked the length of the beach mile observing and noting as they walked. Upon reaching the rocky habitat, they filled out a CoastWatch survey form and then walked back to the estuary side of the sand spit to return via kayak. The beach was smooth with minimal debris while walking the beach mile. The rocky habitat at the south end of the mile was inaccessible due to recent wave action displacing/depositing a great deal of sand and rocks in the area. Notes on Community Science Projects: -Ochre sea stars were observed from a distance in the outer area of the rocky habitat. -An MDMAP survey was not conducted during this excursion due to a lack of debris in Mile 247's marine debris monitoring area.
Conditions
Temperature: 48 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.5 feet.
Activities
Number of people: 8. Walking or running: 8. Sitting: 8. Tidepooling: 6. Kayaking: 6.
Notable Wildlife
Survey participants observed one bald eagle, many seagulls, many migrating geese, many Ochre sea stars, many giant green anemones, many California mussels, a purple sea urchin and 1 purple shore crab.
Survey participants walking north.
Survey participants walking south.
Looking to the north toward the Three Rocks and Cascade Head.
Looking to the south toward the rocky intertidal habitat.
The view directly west from the ocean side of the sandspit. Noting the very smooth beach.
Kayaks and gear on the Salmon River Estuary side of the sand spit.
Rocks deposited / exposed by wave action at the southern end of Mile 247.
Survey participants attempting to access the rocky habitat to observe sea stars and finding too much deposited / displaced rock at "keyhole" area.
purple shore crab.
Survey participants at the outer area of the rocky habitat, looking for sea stars.
Report Images
Sitka Center
CoastWatcher
All Mile 247 Reports
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
New/newish landslides, trash/debris and dead pelican
Joan Mahler
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Six survey participants (Sitka Center team, Residency Program participants and community members) accessed Mile 247 via kayaking across the Salmon River Estuary, walked the length of the beach mile observing and noting as they walked. Notes on Community Science Projects: -Ochre sea stars were observed from a distance in the outer area of the rocky habitat. -An MDMAP survey was not conducted during this excursion due to a lack of debris in Mile 247's marine debris monitoring area.
Sitka Center
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Overall, the beach was gorgeous and appeared to be swept clean by recent high tides.
Joan Mahler
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
A survey team of Sitka Center staff and residency program participants (Jake, Nancy, Sharita and GraySea) accessed Mile 247 - Salmon River Spit by crossing the Salmon River Estuary via kayak and paddleboard.
Sitka Center
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
A survey team of Sitka Center staff and local volunteers (GraySea, Jake, Nancy, Laurie and Bill) accessed the sand spit via kayak and canoe. The survey team accessed the south side of the 'keyhole' area in the rocky intertidal habitat (southernmost portion of Mile 247) and conducted a 15 minute timed count of ochre sea stars to submit to the MARINe program.
Sitka Team and Community Members
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
A survey team of Sitka Center staff and local volunteers (Chris, Nancy, Lilly and Melissa) accessed the sand spit via kayak and canoe.
Sitka Center Team and Community Members
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Trash and dead seal
Joan Mahler
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
A survey team of two Sitka Center team members, Jake and Nancy, accessed Mile 247 - Salmon River Spit by crossing the Salmon River Estuary via kayak and paddleboard. During this survey, the survey team was able to access the inner area of the rocky habitat and do a 15 minute timed sea star count in the two sea star monitoring sites. As the survey team walked back north noteable debris included a large tangle of ships rope, noteable wrack line content included a high concentration of giant mole crab casings/moults and small pieces of hard plastics.
Nancy Newman