Unity of the Valley Environmental Action Team Beach Clean-up Report
Read more about our group here: https://uv-environmental-action-team.blogspot.com/ We meet every second-Sunday at Unity of the Valley, noon-1pm in the Garden Room.
On June 2, 2024, nine volunteers from Unity of the Valley Environmental
Action Team participated in a beach clean-up for Oregon Coastwatch (https://oregonshores.org/miles/). We focused on the mile stretch of beach
between Carl G. Washburne SP,
Blowout Creek (181) and south to 180, Hobbit Trail and Heceta Head. The
weather tested our commitment as heavy rains and winds made it very difficult
to trek two miles on the beach. We endured,
including some of our eldest members of Unity. It was a remarkable
demonstration of love and grit.
We picked up bags of small chunks of plastic (plastic lids, bottles, and shattered bits of plastic and styrofoam) and other miscellaneous trash. No unusual types or amounts of trash were identified on the stretch of coastline, 1-mile south of Carl Washburn State Park.
We also made observations of recent erosion. Erosion of the sandstone cliffs along this
stretch of the coast is common. Just north of Heceta head, the sand beaches and
sandstone cliffs are epic. Below, you can see two photos capturing recent
erosion.
We also counter the number of other visitors at the beach during
our wet and windy stroll. In addition to the nine of us, we observed two small
groups of people on strolls with dogs (6 adults and 2 dogs). One person was a former student of Michael’s.
The Gritty Nine: Michael, Chloe, Allie, Moose, Joe, Betsy,
Denice, John, and Ruth.
A sample of the trash we gathered.
Erosion on the bluff, ¼ mile south of Carl Washburn Day Use parking:
Joe gets soaked, and stays cool
Our brave leader, Betsy Priddle, with Ruth and Allie
Moose finds a golf ball
