Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
August 22, 2024
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.
Report Details
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. 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 they collected/removed debris from the beach. An MDMAP survey was not conducted due to a lack of debris within the MDMAP survey site. Noteable debris removed from the beach included rusted remains of a crab pot. Noteable/unusual wrack line content included ochre sea stars, thick pieces of yellow/white film, bones, clusters of California mussels and rhododendron clippings. Survey participants noted several driftwood forts created recently by people enjoying the beach. Evidence of several bonfires and tire tracks were observed on the ocean side of the sand spit. Recent wave action had displaced sand, creating a sandbar and small "lake" area on the ocean side of the sand spit.
Conditions
Temperature: 61 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.4 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 20. Walking or running: 20. Sitting: 20. Tidepooling: 12. Kayaking: 4. Other Activities: 2 people rock hunting and 4 people doing photography.. There was a group of young people enjoying the beach on the ocean side of the sand spit, most likely attendees of Camp Westwind. Survey participants noted tire tracks in the sand at the south end of the beach mile on the ocean side. Participants also noted several driftwood "fort" structures created recently by people enjoying the beach.
Concerns
Apparent violations: N/A.
Notable Wildlife
Noteable (live) mammals: (N/A) Notable (live) birds: approximately 10 seagulls. Notable quantified invertebrates: A combined total of 340 ochre sea stars were observed (during a 15-minute timed count) in the two sea star monitoring areas of the rocky intertidal habitat at the south end of the sand spit. Notable invertebrates in numbers to great to quantify: California mussels, limpets, northern striped dogwinkle snails, thatched barnacles, sharp acorn barnacles, gooseneck barnacles, lined chitons and giant green anemones.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. No leg bands observed. 1 possible seagull. A long, narrow length of connected vertebrae were observed near the area where survey participants found a possible dead California pelican last month. Survey participants posited these vertebrae to be the neck bones of said pelican. See composite photo.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Very little is left of the California sea lion carcass observed near the back barrier during the last two surveys. See photo.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
N/A
Driftline Content
Unusual items observed in the wrack line on the ocean side of the sand spit: rhododendron clippings, 1 sand shrimp, 2 bones, a corn cob, 10+ yellowish / white pieces of gelatinous film approximately 12-15cm, 15+ ochre sea stars, clumps of California mussels, portions of a dark purple seaweed (not previously observed by current survey participants) and 2 dead moon jellyfish.
New Development
N/A
Man-made Modifications
N/A
Natural Changes
The loose rocks on the south side of the "keyhole" area of the rocky habitat were greater in number / their placement was closer to the "keyhole" area than the previous month.
Sitka Center
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
