Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
December 3, 2019
Overall, Mile 247 continues to be an an exceptionally clean, pristine beach, owing largely to its remote location.
Report Details
Overall, Mile 247 continues to be an an exceptionally clean, pristine beach, owing largely to its remote location. In addition to what was noted above, we saw two dead seals or sea lions and about a dozen or so live harbor seals at the north end of the beach on the south bank of the Salmon River. Although this is a very clean beach, close examination of the high tide line did disclose a large number of tiny pieces of plastic, as well as a few sectons of rope and one float. The cage we had seen the last time, which WestWind was using to try to capture a stray dog, is no longer there. We have learned that the dog was captured. This beach is in generally fine condition.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Fishing: 2.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 13.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, 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.).
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. The banks along this beach show signs of longstanding erosion and occasional slides. What we observed was more of the same and did not seem to be a reason for concern.
Report Images
jayenhollytag
CoastWatcher
All Mile 247 Reports
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
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
This CoastWatch survey was conducted by Sitka Team member Nancy and 4 members of the Sitka Center 2024 resident cohort: Thomas, Erin, Christian and Fran.
Nancy Newman
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology team members Nancy and Alison conducted this CoastWatch survey.
Nancy Newman
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
During this survey there were no visible Ochre Sea Stars in the rocky habitat at the south end of Mile 247.
Nancy Newman
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
As stated above, notable wildlife on the estuary side of the sand spit included 2 herons, 1 harbor seal and many small (approx.
SitkaCenter21
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
The group of 6 survey participants consisted of Sitka Center & CoastWatch staff, and community members.
SitkaCenter21
Mile 247
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
The site was accessed by kayak and the survey team walked around the north end of the sand spit to the ocean side of the monitored mile.
SitkaCenter21