Mile 317 Report
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
June 7, 2024
An early morning walk on this mile revealed evidence in the wrackline of the previous week's stormy June weather (wind and rain) with many creatures, algae and hydroids, washed up.
Report Details
An early morning walk on this mile revealed evidence in the wrackline of the previous week's stormy June weather (wind and rain) with many creatures, algae and hydroids, washed up. The northern end of the beach had many interesting tidepools. People were surfing, enjoying the mild weather, and exploring the tidepools.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.4 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 23. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 2. Sitting: 14. Tidepooling: 2. Surfing: 5.
Notable Wildlife
Today, the wrackline was impressive and plentiful with biota because of the recent storms this week including an unusual June atmospheric river bringing heavy rainfall and winds to the Oregon Coast. Species in the wrackline included Rockweed, Giant Kelp, and multiple clumps of hydrozoans in the family Plumulariidae. Additional species washed up on the sandy beach included Victoria's Crystal Jelly and Shiner Surfperch. The morning low tide revealed some fantastic tidepools at the northern most end of this beach, including a constellation of Ochre sea stars (many juveniles!), 1 juvenile six-rayed star (Leptasterias), Frilled dogwinkle snails and their eggs, Barnacle-eating dorids with eggs, Black Leather Chiton, Hind's Chiton, Leather Bryozoan, Green Spongy Cushion (Codium genus) and an incredible abundance of Giant Green Anemones. These tidepools were truly other-wordly and beautiful!
Driftline Content
The rocky basalt cobble substrate and significant wood zone at this beach acts like a "sticky zone" or "sieve" to attract a significant amount of marine- and ocean-based debris, including a broken surfboard far up on the rocky beach.
Natural Changes
Sand is starting to build-up as the summer season begins. The sand levels towards the south end of this beach are still low, making tidepool access past Submarine Rock challenging. I did see one person (a beach runner) climb and scramble over the rocks here at the low tide, but there is not as much sand build-up yet this year for easier access to this section of the beach.
Report Images
sultanym
CoastWatcher
All Mile 317 Reports
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
An early morning walk on this mile revealed evidence in the wrackline of the previous week's stormy June weather (wind and rain) with many creatures, algae and hydroids, washed up.
sultanym
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
In terms of biota, a morning walk at Indian Beach during an out-going low tide revealed some fascinating rocky intertidal pools at the northern end of the beach near large rocky outcroppings with ochre sea star, giant green anemone, striped shore crab, thatched barnacle, Haliclona sponge, eccentric sand dollar, gooseneck barnacles, southern stiff-stiped kelp, as well as 2 types of nudibranch, or sea slugs: Aeolidia (Shaggy Mouse) & Acanthodoris nanaimoensis (Nanaimo Dorid). In terms of beach topography and geography, Indian Beach has a significant wood zone, as well as rocky basalt cobbles, and multiple streams that lead to the ocean. A large wooden pallet was seen washed up on the beach on the basalt cobbles near a small stream.
sultanym
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
Collected 4 Ikea bags of debris from beach just north of Indian Beach, mostly fishing gear, single use plastics, and golf balls.
DeniseH
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
Black Oystercatchers are currently raising three chicks on Submarine Rock and birds' behavior was noted to change due to tidepoolers.
SeagerG
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
A drone hovered very close to the Black Oystercatcher nesting site on Submarine Rock for nearly 15 minutes (definitely affecting the behavior of both parents and chicks) and nearly hit a juvenile Bald Eagle;The Steller pup was in a high traffic area and even with relocation of the sign from the Seaside Aquarium, people either couldn't see him, or still wanted to get close to take photos.
SeagerG
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
An endangered Stellar sea lion pup has been continually harassed by visitors and dogs for several days, and the same behavior continued today.
tabeag
Mile 317
Indian Beach, Canyon Creek, Indian Point
I'm wondering if better protection can be put in place for endangered seal and sea lion pups.
SeagerG