Mile 326 - Clatsop Plains, Gearhart Golf Course, Gearhart north - 08/16/2025

Report Details

A calm, sunny day on the beach, with picnickers and waders galore! The more surprising (and stinky) visitors were 4 dead seals, in varying degrees of decomposition/scavenging. A few cars parked beyond the designated boundary, but overall, human activity was respectful and joyful. We spotted a couple of folks setting up for an imminent wedding proposal -- lots and lots of roses stuck in the sand! This being my first visit to this mile, I didn't note any clear signs of physical changes or human developments along this stretch.

Conditions

Temperature: 68 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 4.97 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 81. Number of dogs: 9. Walking or running: 18. Sitting: 56. Other Activities: Boogie Boarding (3), Wading (2), Kite Flying (1), Sandcastle-ing (1). It was a gorgeous day on the beach; relatively clear skies, a very light breeze, sun shining over the water. Picnickers were out in full force; we saw several large groups gathered in circles of camp chairs, enjoying camaraderie on the coast. The weather was warm enough that several boogie boarders braved the waves, and waders (including a wheelchair user in a very cool all-terrain wheelchair) dipped their toes. One intrepid kite-flyer tried (mostly in vain) to get a kite off the ground. The beach felt busy, but not bustling.

Concerns

People/dogs/vehicles in closure areas

Apparent violations: 3 cars were parked beyond the sign indicating the end of Open Area..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 15. Cars/trucks on beach, prohibited: 3.

Notable Wildlife

Gulls: ~7 Small, flocking birds (Possibly sandpipers?): Two large groups of ~40 ea

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 4. We observed 4 stranded seals (or sea lions, I was uncertain of the identification). They were spaced out along the mile, in varying stages of decomposition/scavenging. I reported all to the hotline, and emailed the photographs (when requested) to the Seaside Aquarium. Corpse 1: Light brown, furred, individual, maybe 4 feet long. Mostly Intact, only eyes visibly scavenged, no smell. No yet covered with sand. Corpse 2: Mostly skin/hide and spine left, heavily scavenged. Corpse 3: Partially scavenged, largely buried in sand. Corpse 4: Very fresh, liquid blood visible on sand. Large side wound with ribs sticked out, not much more visible scavenging.

Driftline Content

Wrack line was largely clear of plastic debris. Lots of jellies/jellyfish pieces in the first half of the mile, lots of crab casings in the second half (further south).

New Development

Uncertain, this is my first visit to this mile (at-large report)

Man-made Modifications

Uncertain, this is my first visit to this mile (at-large report)

Natural Changes

Uncertain, this is my first visit to this mile (at-large report)

Report Images

Cars parked beyond the boundary line.

The first of the dead seals

One of several driftwood structures erected along this stretch

The second dead seal(?)

Weather conditions

Third Dead Seal

Fourth dead seal

Totality of plastic waste collected on the mile today

Report Images

Joellen S, Bedrock Theatre

CoastWatcher

All Mile 326 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 14 reports

Mile 326

Clatsop Plains, Gearhart Golf Course, Gearhart north

August 16, 2025

A calm, sunny day on the beach, with picnickers and waders galore!

Joellen S, Bedrock Theatre

Mile 326

Clatsop Plains, Gearhart Golf Course, Gearhart north

June 6, 2024

I am submitting this dispatch report to document the presence of the deceased Hoodwinker Mola fish that washed up on Gearhart beach on June 3rd, 2024, making local news and intriguing beach visitors who flocked to this mile by foot and by vehicle to see this unusual find.

sultanym