Mile 274 - Cape Lookout SP - March 23, 2014 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

Less people than we would have expected on Spring Break weekend but the people who were on the beach were having a mellow afternoon. The beach was very clean (day after SOLV Clean-up) - even the tide line didn't have much content. Looked like many of rocks brought in to protect dunes are working their way out to the ocean - beach studded with them. Also a few new tree trunks on the beach. Wear and tear continuing as expected. Most notable was the amount of sand in the campground - more than we're used to seeing after winter storms. Road and driveways into camping spots covered - no concrete visible. Park in process of plowing sand into piles. Also, dunes planted to protect park looking quite worn down.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 100. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 65. Playing in sand: 5. Sitting: 30. Mellow day at the beach. People walking, playing frisbee, flying kits, etc. Saw a couple of teens climbing on bluff below picnic area near day use area. Didn't appear to be causing any further erosion

Concerns

Climbing bluffs/seastacks

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 33.

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. sand dollars, sea grass, jelly

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Evidence of wave overtopping, Visible retreat of solid bluff.

Actions & Comments

Area A of campground closed. Road covered in sand. Park in process of clearing it out of campsites - big piles along the road. At one campsite the sand build up on pull-in pad looked to be about a foot deep. Couldn't find anyone to ask about it - assume there was major overtopping during winter storms. Have never seen this much sand in campground. The dunes where they've planted grass looked pretty battered.