Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
December 24, 2020
This survey was actually over two days, Dec.
Report Details
This survey was actually over two days, Dec. 23 and 24, 2020. The weather was very nice both days, although a bit windy on Dec. 24. Owing to the remote location of this beach, there was very little human activity. We only saw a three person family with a young child and another adult with a dog, and only on the first day. Everyone was acting responsibly. Our main observation, and this was primarily concentrated on the northernmost end of the beach, was a considerable amount of human debris, which we gathered up and took away. This continues to be a beautiful beach, in very good condition, but it does receive debris from primarily ocean and river traffic.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light.
Human Activities
Number of people: 4. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 4.
Concerns
Apparent violations: None.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 3.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, 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), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Various pieces of plastic, including pieces of broken patio furniture, water bottles (two filled with urine, probably tossed from a fishing boat-pretty disgusting), plastic toys, two boat paddles, a few pierces of plywood (painted, so we removed them), and assorted cellophane wrappers and pieces of plastic- most concentrated at the north end of the mile, closer to the Salmon River. We suspect some or most of this debris was associated with boating.
New Development
None
Man-made Modifications
None
Natural Changes
Near the south end of the beach there is usually modest erosion, associated with landslides and water run-off. Nothing out of the ordinary was present this time around.
Report Images
jayenhollytag
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