Mile 254 Report
Kiwanda Beach, Neskowin Crest
February 27, 2012
Human Activities: 6 people and 2 dogs enjoying walking/playing and surf fishing during this respite from rain and wind.
Report Details
Human Activities: 6 people and 2 dogs enjoying walking/playing and surf fishing during this respite from rain and wind.Shoreline: Wrack lines contained the usual shells, wood pieces and abundant amounts of plastic and styrofoam. I did not see any debris that could have been from the Japan tsunami. Groups of sandpipers (Sanderlings?) were foraging from surfline to dune face. There were 4 dead Rhinoceros auklets, one of which was tagged with a COASST survey ID from 2-23-12. (4 Rhinoceros auklets were identified on the 2-23 COASST survey.) This seems like a larger number than usual. There was also a large amount of bull kelp on the beach in both single pieces and large bunches.Physical Changes: There did seem to be a little more erosion on the north half of the beach with some recent tree and bush dislodgement.
Human Activities
Number of people: 6. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 4. Playing in sand: 1. Fishing: 1.
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Sandpipers (sanderlings?) actively foraging in the surfline and all the way up to the dune face. Lots of bull kelp on the beach, both singly and in large piles.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 5. 5 Rhinoceros auklets. (4 dead Rhinoceros auklets seen on COASST dead bird survey, same mile, on 2-23-12.) Only one of the dead birds seen today had a COASST tag on it.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune, Newly exposed roots/trees falling.
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