Mile 287 - Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2 - May 31, 2014

Report Details

With exception of large quantities of marine debris, conditions and human activities were typical of prior visits. Most notable about this visit was the extent of likely tsunami-related marine debris that was washed up along the mile. There were extensive deposits of objects marked with Japanese symbols (gas cans, plastic bins/basktes, plastic and glass bottles, plastic packaging, shoes/shoe parts, several different types of light bulbs, land-based timbers and building materials, refrigerator doors, bait holders, medication containers, pump action bottles, a TV monitor, even a toothbrush), as well as items that were not marked with Japanese characters but appeared to have been in the water for extensive periods of time, including fishing line, floats, buoys, plastic jugs, foam of all types, small plastic pellets, automobile tires. Several of these objects, including two large fishing floats and 3 automobile tires, were covered with a barnacle resembling a common goose barnacle (see attached photos). We had visited with the intention of carrying out any trash we encountered, but there was simply too much debris for that to be possible. We hauled out two bags of trash, and also created 5 piles of debris along the mile (above the high tide line on the foredune) in the hopes that someone authorized to bring a vehicle on the beach could pick up the debris and transport it to a dump site.

Conditions

Temperature: 62 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 21. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 12. Playing in sand: 4. Sitting: 4. Other Activities: 1 horseback rider. Peaceful, dry day at the beach. Most folks were visiting for the day; one couple was tenting for the night.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 22.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), 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. very large amounts of marine debris, much of it with Japanese markings

Report Images

C Nelson

CoastWatcher

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Mile 287

Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2

March 17, 2024

The cloudy marine layer that was present when we first arrived eventually burned off, providing us with a pleasant but breezy sunny afternoon for our visit. 1) We encountered an intact hull of a fiberglass boat on the mid-section of the mile; photos and location information was provided to the State Park Ranger so it could be retrieved from the beach. 2) There had been a massive influx of velella velella (by-the-wind sailors) washed ashore several days before our visit. 3) Given the number of folks in the parking area when we arrived, we had expected to see more folks on mile 287 but encountered just a typical number of visitors. 4) There was more detritus on the beach than we've seen in recent previous visits.

C NELSON