March 14, 2024

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light.

Number of people: 11. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 2. Other Activities: 1) There were military personnel doing survival training on the beach in Mile 288. They were fully outfitted with weapons and backpacks. Based on the scattered burned firewood and split pieces of driftwood across the foredune, it appears the group had been practicing starting fires using driftwood. 2) Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) were conducting sand surveys using an 8 wheeled ATV. 3)Oregon State Parks were installing posts/signs for the snowy plover nesting area and reached the site with two trucks. 3) E-bikes are a common violation for the Bayocean Spit, and one was observed during my visit.. It was a very busy day for Mile 288 the day before snowy plover nesting season began.

Litter

Dozens of plovers were seen on the wet sand during low tide in Mile 288.

Total dead birds: 1. Seagull

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). I collected roughly 5 large garbage bags of debris including buoys/fishing bait boxes, multiple fluorescent light bulb tubes, foam, and a significant amount of plastic bottles. Since Oregon State Parks were installed snowy plover posts in Mile 288, they agreed to remove what I collected with their trucks!

Dune modification/removal, Beachgrass planting or removal. A large several-acre area in the dunes had been cleared roughly 50 feet east of the bluff directly north of Mile 288 to be used for staging during the south jetty reconstruction project.

Erosion of vegetated foredune, Evidence of wave overtopping.

I notified Cheryl Strong with US Fish and Wildlife of its proximity to plover nesting habitat. She was aware of the location and indicated the noise from heavy equipment operation should not disturb/disrupt the plovers.