March 14, 2024

Beach could use a cleanup as Cape Blanco is a known "catcher beach". Erosion was very evident in multiple places including slides on rock bluffs and slumping of clay-based bluffs at the northern end of the beach.

Report Details

Beach could use a cleanup as Cape Blanco is a known "catcher beach". We collected and removed one large SOLVE bag and a plastic grocery bag full of larger plastic debris as well as 110' of commercial crab pot line, a 5-gallon plastic jerry can, and a large plastic bin. We couldn't possibly carry out everything we found, unfortunately. The 3 large soft foam mats were a surprise since we have never seen anything like them on any beach, and here we found 3. Erosion was very evident in multiple places including slides on rock bluffs and slumping of clay-based bluffs at the northern end of the beach.

Conditions

Temperature: 45 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 0.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 3. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 3.

Concerns

Apparent violations: None.

Notable Wildlife

1 Bald Eagle (3-1/2 year old), 7 Canada Geese, 2 Song Sparrows, 1 Surf Scoter, 2 Black Oystercatchers, possible River Otter tracks (we have seen one here before; photo will be downloaded)

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

None

Driftline Content

Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Microplastics including nurdles in wrack lines, and 3 large (~4'x8'x3") soft white foam mats (not styrofoam). Also noted a tire on rim, and a crushed recreational crab pot.

New Development

None

Man-made Modifications

None

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls, Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Bluff erosion, slumping, and rockfall were all evident from heavy rains this winter.