Mile 247 Report
South Spit Salmon River, Tillamook/Lincoln county line
September 20, 2020
This survey was about two weeks later than we had intended.
Report Details
This survey was about two weeks later than we had intended. It was delayed because of the Echo Mountain Complex Fire. By the time of this survey, the local air had cleared and people were out enjoying a fresh air Sunday on a beautiful beach. We saw more people than we usually see, but still not many owing to difficult access. We saw remarkably little evidence of plastic waste, either from people on the beach or washed in from the surf. Not sure of the cause for this positive development, although fewer people recreating this year, and interruption of the cruise line industry because of Covid-19, may be causing less trash on our beaches generally.
Conditions
Temperature: 68 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 6.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 12. Other Activities: Most if not all of the people present had arrived via boat or kayak along the Salmon River..
Concerns
Apparent violations: None.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 3.
Driftline Content
We saw an unusually high number of Mermaid's Purses (egg cases).
New Development
This beach is often dynamic and on this day wave action had carved a ledge along the surf line near the northern end of the beach. We expect the beach to look different on our next survey.
Natural Changes
One or two trees had apparently been blown down at the top of a cliff, possibly related to the recent windstorm that had fanned local fires.
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 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
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