Mile 335 - Columbia Beach, Coffenbury Lake, Fort Stevens SP - March 17, 2015

Report Details

Weather fair with a light breeze. Fairly quiet on mile 335; a couple clam diggers, a family playing and a walker (on a cell phone). It was nice NOT to see a lot of plastic debris on the beach. Most of the shoreline was covered with organic debris; wood (all sizes), grass and reeds, animal casings, etc. Lots of crab castings, broken large sea shells, and several unbroken sand-dollars. There were a lot of burnt tree stumps and large pieces of wood. This could be due to all the nice weather and people building fire.Only one dead Common murre.On the way home, about 3.3 miles south of the Ft. Stevens State park entrance there was a dead sealion on the beach. I noticed it because several ravens were on it. There was also an eagle watching nearby. The birds seem to be doing a good job consuming it (3/4 gone), so I didn't report it. The body still had it's intestines, flippers, back and head, but the ribs and underside were licked clean.I wanted to state that the dunes between Ft. Stevens to Sunset beach entrance had SEVERAL 4-wheel drive tracks running up and down them. More than usual.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 2. Playing in surf: 4. Sitting: 1. Other Activities: clam digging 3, coast watch 2. Mainly clam diggers and dog walkers.

Concerns

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 4.

Notable Wildlife

Over 800 sandpipers and sanderlings,ghost shrimp,small amount of seaweed

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Did not see any bands, etcCommon murre

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces.

New Development

Bluff development.

Man-made Modifications

4 wheel drive tracks up and down dunes.

Actions & Comments

I picked up a small amount of plastic debris. Most of the shoreline was covered with organic debris; wood (all sizes), grass and reeds, animal casings, etc.