Mile 254 Report
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
December 16, 2010
Human Activities: Crisp sunny day, wonderful for walking, but only saw one person and her dog enjoying the beach.
Report Details
Human Activities: Crisp sunny day, wonderful for walking, but only saw one person and her dog enjoying the beach.Shoreline Wildlife: Flocks of small shore birds were foraging in the drift line and also up higher on the beach around piles of bull kelp and sea grasses. Saw a small shark (about 40 inches long) providing meals for gulls and crows. It may have been a salmon shark but seemed to short/small.Physical Changes: No new man-made changes. There has been significant erosion of the dune face in one section of beach between the two northern-most beach accesses.
Conditions
Temperature: 38 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SE. Tide Level: 6.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 1. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 1.
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Several flocks of small shore birds (Western Sandpipers?)
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 4. Northern Fulmars
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Small shark, about 40 inches long, apparently quite tasty. Gulls and crows feasting.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. About 20 small pumpkins
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Evidence of wave overtopping. Significant erosion of dune face between 2 northernmost beach accesses; waves in that area have been bigger than usual (and wonderful!) according to a local surfer.
All Mile 254 Reports
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
It was a beautiful day with many people walking, sitting and playing on the beach. Where the significant erosion of dunes occurred last March, two sets of stairs have been built into and down the face of the dunes. I have pictures of both ladders.
Heidi Heidenreich
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
There has been additional erosion since I reported the significant loss of dunes and trees in March.
Heidi Heidenreich
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
The north 1/2 mile of 254 was recently eroded to the point that I did not recognize it.
Heidi Heidenreich
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
see previous box for the most salient observations!
Heidi Heidenreich
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
One cannot help but notice the 120+ large clumps on entangled kelp all along mile 254.
heidenreichh
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
The north half mile of 254 (after the end of the rip rap )has experienced serious erosion.
heidenreichh
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
There is a marked difference between the 1/4 mile of rip rapped beach with its gentle slope and 2' shelf of sand blown against the rocks AND the north 3/4 mile where the dunes are receeding and are eroding in height.
heidenreichh
Mile 254
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
It has been two months since my last observation and, of course, there have been many storms, a great deal of rain and high winds in that time.
heidenreichh