Mile 289 - Kincheloe Point, South Jetty Tillamook River - June 15, 2007

Report Details

Mile 289 continues to be stable and human activity is limited. Bayocean Spit is popular with equestrians. The Tillamook Bay jetties are problematic. As the swells rise, there are breaking waves that can endanger boats entering and leaving the bay.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

2 of the vehicles were towing horse trailers. Bayocean Spit is popular with equestrians.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5.

Notable Wildlife

Large flock of gulls were resting near the south jetty.

Beached Birds

We also do COASST reports on mile 286. That mile has only 20 dead birds in 2007. That's a very low number. In previous years you could find 20 on one survey.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), 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. typical stuff

Actions & Comments

Beach was cleaner than usual, but the usual suspects were there. Plastic bottles and containers were scattered here and there. I noticed only 1 glass bottle. There was a large chunk of orange styrofoam, marine flotation type. Woody debris was concentrated near the jetty due to south wind and current during the winter.The wreckage of the crab boat Catherine M has all but disappeared. The only recognizable piece is the mostly buried stern. The other crab boat sinking, the Starryglavin, never produced much beach debris due to it having a steel hull. The only item I found that might have originated from the Starryglavin was a small table/counter top. As far as I know the hull is still sunk on the south side of the south jetty.Mile 289 is again showing signs of sand accretion. Small dunes are forming in front of the main foredune. Vegation is beginning to grow on these new dunes. There is a rock on the south jetty that stands up higher than the others, and it can be used as a reference. Sand now has built up and it is a much shorter climb to the top of the jetty than it has been in the past. In fact, the sand is at the same level as the top of the jetty for about half the distance of the east - west section of the jetty. I don't know if this is a problem as far as maintaining a navigation channel.