Mile 95 Report
South end of Bandon State Park
September 22, 2008
The European Beachgrass is moving north and building sand dunes with the progression.
Report Details
The European Beachgrass is moving north and building sand dunes with the progression. BLM had bulldozed the dunes in 2002 and pushed the beach grass into the ocean. It's back and doing quite well. My last visit had beach grass on the south half-mile only. This visit has beach grass within 100 yards of the rivers exit. Shells, animal casings, kelp/algae, small rocks, wood pieces and ocean-based debris in driftline. Four Sanderlings and Two Snowy Plover on dry sand. Four dead Crows and one Western Gull on beach. ATV tracks on beach from Lost Lake Trail, maybe a government ATV. Low human impact (0).
Conditions
Temperature: 62 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.
Human Activities
There were ATV tracks from the Lost Lake Trail to New River, crossing New River and going North and South then returning from each direction and finally going back up the Lost Lake Trail. The only vehicle seen was a State Government truck at the west end of Lower Four Mile Trailhead. The door was open, no person visable.
Concerns
Litter
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 1.
Notable Wildlife
Four Sanderlings feeding on the dry sand beach area.Two Snowy Plover interupted while hiding from the wind behind driftwood.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 5. Four crows badly decomposed.One Seagull also badly decompossed.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces.
Man-made Modifications
Beachgrass planting or removal, Stream modification. The beachgrass and the sand dunes are moving northward.
Report Images
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All Mile 95 Reports
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Unusual number of people, saw what we took to be a family of three walking south along the west bank of the New River and a fisherman, first seen walking north, then in the water at the mouth of the New River fishing.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Beach fairly clean, occasional pieces of bull kelp and a frilly kelp on the wet sand.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Saw a large pelican with an injured wing and at least three (but probably more) pinnipeds in the New River near where it joins the sea.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Saw one pinniped in the surf and found a dead Steller's Sea Lion about eight feet long on the dry sand.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Saw what appeared to be perhaps a dozen Harbor Seals in the surf at the mouth of the New River and several solitary ones and one pair we took to be a mother and pup further south.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Driftline very clean, no jellies, less than a dozen pieces of mussel and crab shells, some small wood pieces, virtually no seaweed.
John Hull
Mile 95
South end of Bandon State Park
Two guys with two fishing rods on ATV.
John Hull