Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
March 24, 2023
During this CoastWatch survey, Sitka Center Team Member Nancy and current Sitka Resident Zeyn also conducted a NOAA Marine Debris Survey as well as removal of debris from areas of the beach beyond the Marine Debris Survey Site.
Report Details
During this CoastWatch survey, Sitka Center Team Member Nancy and current Sitka Resident Zeyn also conducted a NOAA Marine Debris Survey as well as removal of debris from areas of the beach beyond the Marine Debris Survey Site. Weather during our time at Mile 247: Salmon River Spit fluctuated from sun with blue skies to dark clouds and hail.
Conditions
Temperature: 39 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 0.7 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Walking or running: 2. Tidepooling: 2.
Concerns
Litter
Notable Wildlife
We observed 7 small, brown shorebirds at the south end of the sand spit. We also observed 2 playful harbor seals in the estuary when we paddled to/from Mile 247.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
There was a single, small, translucent, dead bait fish halfway between the back barrier and the water in the Marine Debris survey area.
Driftline Content
Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). There was a large concentration of small purple velella velella in the tideline.
Actions & Comments
We observed large debris including a roughly one meter piece of harvested wood, a ship's ladder, a ship's life ring and two ship's buoys. These items were to heavy to remove from the beach so we set them above the tide line and emailed the nearby property owners to coordinate removal.
Sitka Team Member Nancy paddles to Mile 247 while a curious harbor seal observes from a distance.
Rocks at the south end of the ocean side of Mile 247: Salmon River Spit. Image captured by Sitka resident Zeyn Joukhadar.
Sitka Team Member Nancy finds a broken ship's ladder at the south end of Mile 247
Sitka Team Member Nancy poses with her new boat buoy friend. Other survey participants said the buoy looks like it has "ears"
CoastWatchers discover a boat buoy near the south end of the sand spit
A life ring found at Mile 247
CoastWatchers were caught in a brief hail shower at Mile 247
CoastWatchers find some sealife holding on to a small plastic float
CoastWatchers found a small dead bait fish midway down Mile 247's Marine Debris Survey site.
CoastWaters Nancy and Zeyn find small purple velella in the tide line
CoastWatcher and Sitka Resident Zeyn Joukhadar finds a life ring at the south end of Mile 247, about 30 yards from the tide pools
Report Images
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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