Mile 314 - Cannon Beach, Ecola Creek, Chapman Beach south - September 18, 2017

Report Details

A sunny fall day at the beach. Lots of people walking for the most part. Only new observation was the application of ground cloth to the base of the dune at Breaker PT. condos and Ecola Creek. Some of the new beach grass plantings may have been eroded. Before photo in prior report with current included in this report. A picture of beach N of the mouth of Ecola Creek is included to show the lack of Brown Pelicans this year. In the past this beach is normally covered with them. I only saw a flight of 6 and another of 12 Brown Pelicans during my whole walk. Unusually few for this time of year.

Conditions

Temperature: 63 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.4 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 314. Number of dogs: 20. Walking or running: 254. Playing in surf: 9. Playing in sand: 9. Sitting: 54. Photography: 2. Other Activities: Kite flying- 4. Numerous dogs off leash and harrassing birds. 1 human chasing birds

Concerns

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 53. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. 1 Commom Murre

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea).

Man-made Modifications

New riprap or shoreline protection structures. some ground cloth has been applied to base of the dune at Ecola Cr and Breaker's Pt condos. This may have been in response to erosion.