Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
May 10, 2024
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.
Report Details
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. The survey team walked around the northern point of the spit and down the ocean side of Mile 247 taking photos and noting any debris for pickup on the way back. Observations on the walk south included a very smooth, gradually sloping beach from the back barrier to the waterline. Also, recent wave activity displaced sand at the south end of the beach mile, exposing more rocks leading toward the keyhole area of the rocky habitat. 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. During this 15 minute count, the survey team observed 275 ochre sea stars in the southernmost sea star observation area and 110 ochre sea stars in the northernmost "cave" observation area. The team noted both sites had a high concentration of juvenile ochre sea stars 3 cm in diameter and under. 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.
Conditions
Temperature: 54 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -1.4 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Walking or running: 2. Sitting: 2. Tidepooling: 2. Kayaking: 2. Other Activities: N/A. Tire tracks (possibly from an ATV type vehicle) observed on sand at south end of beach mile near the back barrier.
Concerns
Apparent violations: N/A.
Notable Wildlife
Notable birds: Canadian geese (approximately 8) and 1 unidentified small, brown shore bird with pointed beak. Notable Invertebrates: sea slater isopods (4), black leather (1), giant acorn barnacle (1). Notable Invertebrates (too many to count): california mussels, mossy chitons, shield limpets, northern striped dogwinkle snails, purple encrusting sponge, thatched barnacles, sharp acorn barnacles, gooseneck barnacles, giant green anemone, encrusting tunicates.
Beached Birds
N/A
Stranded Marine Mammals
N/A
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
One small, silver colored, unidentified fish in wrack line.
Driftline Content
There was a higher concentration of giant mole crab casings/moults than survey participants had seen in previous monthly surveys. A large tangle of rope from a fishing boat was in the wrack like at the southern end of the beach mile.
New Development
N/A
Man-made Modifications
N/A
Natural Changes
N/A
South end / rocky hobitat. Northernmost sea star observation site, 110 ochre sea stars observed on rock face and inner cave area during 15 minute timed count.
South end / rocky hobitat. Southernmost sea star observation site, 275 ochre sea stars observed on rock face during 15 minute timed count.
In red circle: sea slater isopod observed in "keyhole" area of the rocky habitat at the south end of Mile 247.
Chiton, limpet, purple encrusting sponge and giant green anemones observed in the rocky habitat, south of the "keyhole" area of the rock face. Survey participants noted this chiton is much more "spiny" than similar chitons observed in previous surveys.
The view from inside the cave area of the rocky habitat, looking south. Survey participants noted more room in the cave from the sandy 'floor' to the cave 'ceiling' than in recent surveys.
View of the Salmon River Estuary from the Salmon River Spit at the start of the survey, looking inland.
View of Three Rocks from the Salmon River Spit. Survey participants noted the exposed high tide line on the rocks.
Canadian geese (approximately 8) observed at the south end of Mile 247, on the north side of the rocky habitat.
Survey participants are taking photos of the rocky habitat from approximately the same area during each survey to compare sand and water levels over time. Participants noted that sand displacement had occurred since the last survey, exposing more rocks leading up to the "keyhole" area of the rocky habitat.
Juvenile ochre sea stars, chiton, giant green anemones purple encrusting sponge observed in the rocky habitat at the south end of Mile 247.
CoastWatcher Nancy standing by marine debris (ships rope) found in the wrack line. Rope was carried out of the tide line to the entrance of Camp Westwind for disposal.
Report Images
Nancy Newman
CoastWatcher
All Mile 247 Reports
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
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Survey participants accessed Mile 247 - Salmon River spit via kayaking/paddle boarding across the Salmon River Estuary.
Mile 247 - Salmon River Spit
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Sitka Center team member Nancy and Sitka Center artists in residence Evan, Rose, Katrina, Tim, Maria and M accessed the site via kayak.
Nancy Newman
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Sitka Team members and Sitka Center artists in residence accessed Mile 247 via kayak, walked south taking observations of the beach mile and met Camp Westwind Team members near Mile 247's rocky habitat.
Nancy Newman