Mile 261 Report
Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda
May 17, 2023
Foredune increasing south of boat ramp, foredune below condominiums continues to sluffing and expose riprap rocks below.
Report Details
Foredune increasing south of boat ramp, foredune below condominiums continues to sluffing and expose riprap rocks below. Cape continues to erode exposing more sandstone, cracks, and potential cave collapse. The state parks are monitoring and fencing off areas of concern. Some fencing has been taken down by visitors(?) seemingly to access the sink hole area.
Conditions
Temperature: 62 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 5.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 12. Walking or running: 10. Playing in sand: 3. Sitting: 4. Tidepooling: 3. Other Activities: Kite flying 2, climbing dune 5, launching boat 3,. Parking lot construction has part of lot fenced off for construction vehicles and equipment.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 15. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 4.
Notable Wildlife
Orange crowned warbler singing in trees at top of cape, pigeon guillemot on cliffs, violet green swallows near cape.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). high tide line along the mile has many dead flying ants creating a dark line.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Erosion continues exposing more sandstone and cracks in all sections of cape, summer wind and tides are building the foredune south of ramp. North of ramp toward cape sand bluff continues sluffing off. Two sink holes have emerged this spring on top of cape. The fenced-off area has been extended south so that the sink holes are not accessible or visible.
Actions & Comments
The shore line was mostly garbage free. Locals are removing garbage.
Top of Cape Kiwanda looking north toward fenced areas, note fence to the right has been taken down
South of boat ramp showing dune rebuilding. Monday post weekend crowds
Report Images
beattieb
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