Mile 261 Report
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
April 1, 2010
Due to spring break a good number of people on the beach.
Report Details
Due to spring break a good number of people on the beach. All in all a nice way to enjoy the coast. There was a large amount of plastic and rope ( both very large and small ) in the drift line. Small plastic made up the majority of debris.The beach clean up was just completed so it was disappointing to observe so much trash.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 7.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 100. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 75. Playing in surf: 6. Playing in sand: 3. Sitting: 12. Photography: 2. Tidepooling: 2. Surfing: 2. Other Activities: Kite flying 6. Start of Washington State Spring Break. Lots of out of State cars. Washington the majority, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Oregon plates in the minority. Lots of people and kids on the beach even with a fair wind blowing.
Concerns
Climbing bluffs/seastacks, Litter
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 60. RVs/Buses parking: 6. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 5. Cars/trucks on beach, prohibited: 2.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
none
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam. drift line was very messy even after Beach Clean up. Lots of plastic and styrofoam.
New Development
Steps down bluff.
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal, Sand removal. Winter storms deposited large quanties of sand on the Kiawand County Parking Lot. This sand was removed and placed on the toe of dune in front of Resort ( Cottages at Cape Kiawanda)
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune.
Actions & Comments
Even with the high surf the last quarter very little beach erosion. Overall the sand is much higher then normal for the end of winter.
Rouses
CoastWatcher
All Mile 261 Reports
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
Nice, sunny 48 degrees 5 mph wind from the NE.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
Nice sunny 55 degree day, calm if any winds.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
66 degrees, sunny, calm wind. 4 beached birds found.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
The beach looked great as far as litter, and erosion.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
Wonderful sunny day 65. degrees. New construction in the State parking lot at the north end of the mile. Found 1 beached (dead) bird; a Brown Pelican in the high bare zone, middle of the Mile.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
A rather nice day, 55 degrees, clouds and no wind.
Eric Matthews
Mile 261
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
Wow what a change from last month! State Parking lot is closed for a couple of months while construction on the new parking lot and restroom continues. The tree ( object I show as a measure of sand deposition ) is really getting uncovered! Survey also for COASST, no beached birds or mammals found. The beach access point at the north end of Bob Straub State Park is still unusable for vehicles, due to a massive erosion event and 5 foot sharp edges to the beach.
Eric Matthews