April 17, 2021

Tide was just coming in, and the wet sand area was very clean, but up higher there were a lot of plastics in the process of breaking down - smaller pieces and broken things.

Report Details

Tide was just coming in, and the wet sand area was very clean, but up higher there were a lot of plastics in the process of breaking down - smaller pieces and broken things. Lots of driftwood up high, old wood, likely driven in during winter storms.

Conditions

Temperature: 48 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 1.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 6. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 6. Kayaking: 1. Other Activities: 5 ladies picnicking up at the table by the parking lot. Kayaker was picking up the boat with his pickup, which was up on the sand. The kayak had a crab pot and fishing pole. Several boats were being launched from the crane on the dock.. The one vehicle was a pickup whose driver was collecting his kayak.

Concerns

Shellfish or invertebrate collection

Apparent violations: 3 people appeared to be clamming..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 9. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 1.

Notable Wildlife

There was a hermit crab in the sand, well away from the rocks, but he was alive. There were also ladybugs in the drift line, some floating in the water. I rescued a couple of them. The barnacles on the rocks near the port dock were clicking. Saw some small kelp ribbons that had white ends, which I think was a little strange.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Not sure but I think it was a cormorant. Long beak, dark feathers.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). Not much in the way of big trash, but lots of micro-plastics, plastic debris from things that had been bigger.

New Development

n/a

Man-made Modifications

n/a

Natural Changes

n/a