Mile 325 - Clatsop Plains, Gearhart south - September 23, 2009

Report Details

Beach clean and uncrowded on this mid week walk. Most distinguishing items are many dead herring like fish washed up at the high tide line and the northward meander of the Necanicum river which has carved cliff faces into the dunes.

Conditions

Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 1.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 4. Sitting: 2. Other Activities: walking, throwing balls for dogs. Typical Gearhart midweek, a few people, some dogs all under control

Concerns

Apparent violations: none.

Notable Wildlife

Few birds, seagulls, but quite a few seagull some pelicans sitting peacefully on the spit on the south side of the necanicum

Beached Birds

Seagull in the hundreds, pelicans in the dozens

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. hundreds of small (six to eight inch) fish dead at the high tide line. Possibly herring. Fish kill was the most notible feature of this walk.

Driftline Content

Beach had experienced a seven foot tide the night before and was generally clean--with the notable exception of dead fish noted

Natural Changes

Visible retreat of solid bluff. Necanicum meander

Actions & Comments

Over the summer the Necanicum has cut into the dunes creating cliffs along the river's north shore. The cliff faces are sloughing modestly. This is along the river shore, not the ocean front.