Mile 287 - Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2 - September 21, 2020

Report Details

While it was overall a lovely day, it was deeply concerning to observe recent tire tracks along this stretch of beach. This was the first time I've seen evidence of vehicles in the closure area in my 10 years of visiting regularly. Over the course of the summer, the privately-owned property adjacent to the beach in the center section of the mile has been more fully developed as a large campsite, complete with a large camp stove/oven and large picnic table covered with a canopy. Several pipes, apparently inserted to serve as flagpole bases, have been drilled into the sand at the top of the foredune immediately west of this campsite. Another first was finding the carcass of a dead sturgeon on the beach. Photos of notable findings are attached.

Conditions

Temperature: 64 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 5.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 8. Sitting: 1. Fishing: 1. A relatively quiet day - the majority of the few people visiting were strolling or sitting next to the surf. Of concern, there were two sets of vehicle tire tracks in the sand (no vehicles were observed, just fresh tracks). In the ten years I've been monitoring this mile, it's the very first time there has been evidence of vehicle traffic on this stretch of the BayOcean Peninsula. I wondered if reduced beach patrols due to Coronavirus-related cutbacks to State Park staff were emboldening some people to risk driving outside allowed areas.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 14. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

Several flocks of brown pelicans were sighted soaring over the surf. There were elk tracks and droppings on the northern half of the mile, but no elk were seen.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. common murre

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

One dead sturgeon, about 4 feet long, was observed on the southern end of the mile.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces. There was relatively little trash visible anywhere on the mile.

Man-made Modifications

Dune modification/removal. In the foredune immediately west of a privately-owned section of peninsula land, several pipes have been drilled vertically into the top of the dune. The pipes apparently serve as bases for flagpoles of some sort (one large metal flagpole was lying next to the largest of these pipes). Over the course of the summer, this privately-owned property in the center section of the mile has been more fully developed as a large campsite, complete with a camp stove and large picnic table covered with a canopy.

Natural Changes

Summer sand accretion has completely filled in all of the previously eroded areas of the foredune.

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