Mile 257 - Porter Point, Nestucca River - May 20, 2017 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

We have walked this beach routinely in recent months and have noticed that there are several people, other than us, picking up debris! This was a wonderful morning, almost no wind, light fog, and a very very low tide, exposing portions of the sea floor that we haven't seen in a while with the contours not at all simple. As before, only a small amount of debris (one grocery bag and a couple of larger chunks), nothing that was identifiably Pacific rim. Several parts of a lawn mower! One dead gull, much eaten. Many beaches have alarming amounts of plastic bits but we saw almost none here. Many seals and sea lions in water and on the north bank of the Nestucca River. The several storms of last winter removed a lot of sand which is now building up again, so there is a distinct slope now to the beach, but the dunes and plateaus of two years ago have not been reestablished. The damage/erosion of storms two winters ago has mostly healed. One huge storm last winter with an attendent tidal surge and a very high tide surged well over the beach grass and into the parking lot and removed almost all of the beach logs which are only now being replaced.

Conditions

Temperature: 56 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Tide Level: -2.2 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 15. Number of dogs: 6. Walking or running: 14. Fishing: 1. Light walkers along the beach, many walking dogs. Tracks of a motorcycle/motorbike. Most dog walkers cleaning up after their dogs. Some driftwood 'assemblies' to entertain.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 10.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Actions & Comments

There was nothing alarming and a quite wonderful morning. Beach is in great shape, with little debris and no evidence of abuse.