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CoastWatch Mile 173 County Lane Description South end of Baker Beach, Sutton Creek, Heceta Beach Boundaries N 44° 4.009', W 124° 7.786' to N 44° 2.965', W 124° 7.984' Google Maps Nearby Roads, Directions to/from, Google photos, Satellite image, Terrain overlay OPRD Map Sutton Creek to Siuslaw R, to Siltcoos R (1) Vehicles • Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from the Lincoln County-Lane County line (44° 16.5774', Mile 190), southerly to the Siuslaw River (44° 00.9720', Mile 170). Weather Current Weather Conditions at nearby stations (may take a minute or two on a dialup connection) Tides The NOAA Tide Predictions site may be found here. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats. Photo Entrance to beach at Mile 172   6/4/11 cheshire

28 REPORTS FOR MILE 173: cheshire Nov 16, 2012 8:30 AM   It has been a couple of months since I have had time to visit my mile. I am shocked by how much Sutton Creek has moved during that time. It has shifted south again and is now within 100 yards of the old sign. It is quite close to the rip-rap. I have not found any tsunami debris on miles 171-173 since the summer. The beach is generally VERY clean lately, which I hope means that more people are helping with clean up. There has been an increase of bull kelp wads on the beach. Sanderlings were plentiful on this day. I found three dead birds during my walk (2 seagulls, 1 cormorant) none of which had any bands. There were no people or dogs on the beach this day as the weather was quite cold and windy.   MORE  cheshire Jul 29, 2012 4:00 PM   This is the first chance that I have had to walk this mile in several weeks. The water volume in the creek is lower than I have ever seen...even at high tide, it was possible to stroll across the mouth of the creek--no swimming, fording or sand-dune climbing required. No debris of any sort observed. Not sure if the beach is extremely clean because more people are on the lookout for tsunami garbage or if the debris stream has dried up.   MORE  cheshire Jun 24, 2012 1:00 PM   Walked miles 172-174 from south to north, then cut across the dunes inland and followed Sutton Creek back out to the ocean. There is less debris on the beach than there has been over the last month or so, but I was still able to pick up three bags of litter--flat foam pieces, Japanese and Chinese water bottles and plastic beer bottles. There doesn’t seem to be much, if any, debris left in the dunes or along the creek at this point. Hard Styrofoam fishing floats of indeterminate origin were found on the beach—two large floats, one medium, two small. None of these had any markings, but they had clearly been in the water for a significant period of time as all of the paint was worn off. I found the float pictured below by itself on a pristine section of beach at the north end of mile 173. It is hard plastic, nearly a foot in diameter and weighs three and a half pounds. I initially assumed that the marking were Japanese, but it turns out that they are actually Chinese and indicate that the float belongs to the East China Seas Fisheries Research Institute, located in Shanghai, China. The East China Sea is south and west of Japan. I am starting to see a bit of bull kelp on the beach for the first time in a while. There is also a lot of crab molt going on right now. While the snowy plover nesting area appears undisturbed, several of the fence posts cordoning off the area have come down and need to be re-buried in the sand.   MORE    Chinese Float    Description: Hard plastic float belonging to the East China Seas Fisheries Research Institute, located in Shanghai, China. Location: at high water line, high time, border of miles 173-174 Fishing Float    Description: Hard plastic float belonging to the East China Seas Fisheries Research Institute, located in Shanghai, China. Chinese Research Float    Description: Hard plastic float belonging to the East China Seas Fisheries Research Institute, located in Shanghai, China. cheshire Jun 7, 2012 2:00 PM   The beach itself is cleaner than it has been, but there is quite a bit of debris that has blown into the dunes and into the area between the dunes and the brush on the north and west sides of Sutton Creek. Most of this is plastic bottles from Japan (water, soft drink, hair care, laundry soap) and very small pieces of foam. Hauled out three bags of garbage--wish that I could have carried more. If you walk this beach please take bags with you and pick up some trash!   MORE    Japanese Lemon Soda Bottle    Japanese Hair Mousse?    Description: "Curl Water"...metal bottle, very faded, will not photograph well Hard Plastic Bottle w/Japanese Writing--Laundry Soap?    cheshire May 10, 2012 11:00 AM   Went back to Baker Beach, walking miles 172-176. Photographed possible tsunami debris and hauled two large garbage bags of trash off of the beach—mostly plastic water bottles and glass containers. The majority of the debris was on mile 173. On closer examination, much of the debris WAS Japanese (especially high-windage items), but I also found consumer products produced in China, Korea, Russia, India and Turkey. Further research indicates that most of these products could have been sold in Japan. A friend who reads Japanese was able to help me identify some of these items. However, it seems like these kinds of things could also have been discarded by sailors. So, some of what I found could have been tsunami-related, but there is no conclusive evidence that it didn’t come from another source. There is also construction debris and wood on this stretch of beach—likely from the winter storms of flood of the Siuslaw.   MORE    Suntory Takada Beer Bottle, Japan    Description: Large, high-windage bottle from Japan Location: mile 173 "Japan"    White Bottle    Description: unknown origin, no markings Arwa Bottle    Description: Brand of Coca-cola water sold in the Middle East Water Bottle with Japanese Characters    Description: �ò - "spring" (source of water). And, •v (husband/man) and ŽR (mountain)....? Date: May 10, 2012 12:00 AM Water Bottles    Description: Found many water bottles of this shape/size in the debris field. Though they have no markings, they are certainly not local. Actually, they remind me of the typical water bottles used in Peru and Ecuador. Japanese Medicine Bottle    Description: A native speaker of Japanese identified this bottle as Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Liptovan D Energy Drink. Japanese Characters    Description: A native speaker of Japanese identified this bottle as Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Liptovan D Energy Drink. Japanese Characters    Description: A native speaker of Japanese identified this bottle as Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Liptovan D Energy Drink. Finka Vodka Bottle    Description: Label in Russian Dock Section    Description: Local...likely from Siuslaw floods Location: miles 174 Tukas Jar (Canned Vegetables from Turkey)    Food Jar--Priva--from India    Water Bottle...Label in Chinese    Baker Beach    Location: mile 176 Construction Debris    Description: likely local Location: mile 175 Elk Skull    Korean Water Bottle    Date: May 10, 2012 12:00 AM Russian Laundry Soap    Japanese Coca-Cola Bottle    Whisky Bottle--Japanese Characters    Construction Debris--Local?    Date: May 10, 2012 12:00 AM cheshire May 8, 2012 4:30 PM   I was able to cross the creek and check out the part of miles 173-174 North of Sutton Creek for the first time this year. Because the beach is fairly inaccessible (unless you come in from the North on horseback) it is usually pristine and free of any human garbage. I found quite a bit of trash this time though, some of which appears to be Japanese tsunami debris. Items included three different types of foam floats (no markings, but typical Japanese), water bottles of an unusual shape, very large beer bottles (thin brown glass, 50+ oz.) and many liquor bottles with Japanese characters stamped into the glass. I also found several very large incandescent light bulbs, and a large animal skull—perhaps a horse. These are all high-windage items, so it makes sense that they might be among the first bits of tsunami debris to wash up on this mile. I did not have my camera with me on this hike, but I brought back several small floats and one of the bottles with Japanese characters stamped on the bottom. Tsunami debris has been reported to NOAA. Snowy plover nesting area has been marked and cordoned off. It appears to be undisturbed and is above the debris field.    MORE    Japanese Saki Bottle    Description: One of many pop, beer and liquor bottles on the beach with Japanese stamps or labels. Japanese Floats/Bottle    cheshire Apr 23, 2012 7:15 PM   Sutton Creek continues to migrate north, and the mouth of the creek has widened considerably. At this point, the creek is quite a ways (at least ¼ mile) north of the riprap. Water volume is very high. At high tide, the area becomes like a small bay. At this point, the creek is nearly impossible to cross without swimming, even at low tide. There is still quite a bit of wood on the beach south of the creek from the two major storms that we had this winter. Human garbage is minimal. Some crab shells.   MORE    Sutton Creek Delta    Description: Mouth of the creek near low tide Location: Sutton Creek Looking North    Description: Sutton Creek just east of the mouth. Location: Sutton Creek Date: Apr 23, 2012 12:00 AM Riprap to the South    Description: Standing on the south bank of Sutton Creek, facing south. Note how far North the creek has moved--it just to run right up against the riprap below the houses (Kla-Ha-Nee) in the distance. Location: Sutton Creek Great Blue Heron    Location: South bank of Sutton Creek Surfing Heron    Location: N. of Sutton Creek cheshire Jul 4, 2011 12:00 PM   Sutton Creek continues to shift. Beach clean but many rocks, shells and lots of wood north of the creek. See pictures for visual of aforementioned drying bushes and a visual of creek shift over time.   MORE    Sutton Creek--Dry Bushes    Date: Jul 4, 2011 12:00 AM Rip Rap    cheshire Jun 4, 2011 3:00 PM   Today was a gloriously warm day at the beach. Sutton Creek continues to shift dramatically to the north, leaving part of the old channel as a brackish backwater. Trees and other foliage continue to die in that area and almost look as though they have been burned by the lack of water. The creek no longer threatens the riprap at Klahanee as it did several years ago. A new sand drift has cropped up north of the creek. There was very little natural debris and no garbage on the beach today, except for the occasional small bit of rope. Some crab shells and one large sea star were spotted. No human beings and no animal tracks (no dogs, horses or coyotes) were seen north of the creek today. The fording depth of Sutton Creek was 2-3 feet as the high tide came in.   MORE    Entrance to beach at Mile 172    Location: 1/2 mile south of Sutton Creek Lookin North from Mile 172 Towards Mile 173    Location: South of Sutton Creek Surf at Mile 173    Location: North of Sutton Creek Sutton Beach    Location: North of Sutton Creek Sutton Beach Looking Toward Heceta Head    Location: Mile 173, North of Stutton Creek Surf    Location: Sutton Beach cheshire Sep 3, 2009 10:00 AM   Since our last visit, Sutton Creek has shifted dramatically. The creek has retreated from the riprap, curving north in a crescent and forming a small lake-like area before turning back toward the south and joining the sea. The creek depth near the ocean was only 5-6 inches today, making it easy to cross without special equipment or preparation. Unfortunately, this means that the area is now more accessible to casual beachcombers, and more apt to be sullied by their presence. Six humans and two dogs were observed on the beach. In spite of this, the section of the beach north of Sutton Creek on mile 173 remains remarkably free of litter and debris, especially when compared to the beach just south. Numerous seabirds were observed, including one dead cormorant. Horse tracks were also present—two horses traveling from north to south had been on the beach earlier in the morning.   MORE  cheshire Feb 4, 2009 10:07 AM   The beach was very clean and tranquil today. Since last month, the section of Sutton Creek between the riprap and the ocean has shifted approximately 200 yards north. In the area just above the delta, the creek depth was 10-12 inches today. Four birds which appeared to be snowy plover were observed in a small area above the high water line. The beach was remarkably free of litter and marine vegetation.   MORE  cheshire Jan 3, 2009 10:30 AM   Observer approached mile 173 from the south, crossing Sutton Creek and moving north before doubling back. Though close to low tide, the creek volume was quite high today. The mouth of creek has shifted yet again, moving from its observed location less than a month ago to a spot farther north. One human beachcomber was noted on the beach. He had one canine companion and had come from the Baker Beach Road access point. The level of crab-boat garbage observed in December was not apparent on this visit. Two floats were found, but garbage on mile 173 was minimal today. A number of large jellyfish (approx. 14 inches in diameter) were observed at the high surf line. These jellies were clear with 4 purple orifices each. The section of concrete dock noted earlier is still located to the south of Sutton Creek, on mile 172.   MORE  cheshire Dec 20, 2008 11:30 AM   We forded Sutton Creek before low tide and proceeded from south to north. There were no people or human tracks on our mile north of Sutton Creek. However, we did see animal footprints unaccompanied by a human. These were most likely coyote tracks. Sutton Creek had a much lower flow rate today than during our previous report. The creek has shifted significantly in the last month. As it turns and begins to move toward the ocean, the creek has moved south and is currently touching the riprap. Below, the end of the creek has moved a bit north of where it was on the previous visit. In the area where the creek runs parallel to the beach, significant erosion is occurring in the sandy bluff. Tree roots have been exposed and the trees are red, dry and dying. In the crook of the creek, there is somewhat less driftwood and detritus than on previous visits. A large section of concrete dock that was in this area is no longer here—it is now on the beach to the south, in mile 172. There was a great deal of marine garbage on the beach today, especially from crab boats. We found numerous crab bait containers of various types. We also found many floats from commercial crab pots. Additionally, there was quite a bit of household/kitchen garbage that might have come from a boat—soap containers, beer bottles, liquor bottles, etc.   MORE  cheshire Nov 17, 2008 9:30 AM   Observers moved from south to north on mile 173, fording Sutton Creek near the surfline just after low tide. GPS measurements indicate that the creek has shifted significantly south from its location on the map supplied by CoastWatch. The current location of Sutton Creek is just a few yards north of where mile 173 begins. The south side of the creek is near the Klahanie retaining wall. To the north, two previous outlets for Sutton Creek can be noted based on topographical features. There was significant driftwood and detritus near the bend in the creek on the north side, just before it reaches the ocean. Debris included one very large rectangular concrete block which appears to be one section of a concrete dock. Some of the driftwood had been deeply charred by fire. Along the mile, five dead crabs were observed in discrete locations. These were whole, not molted, Dungeness crabs which had been touched by avian predation. No dead birds were found on mile 173 on this day. No other dead wildlife was observed. The beach was remarkably free of litter. We forded Sutton Creek again at the end of the observation, moving south. The crossing was more challenging this time, as the tide was coming in at this point.   MORE  LCosko Aug 24, 2008 10:30 AM   This past week, there have been greater than usual beached birds on Heceta Beach. Mainly Common Murres, but also Gulls. There have been a few exhausted Cormorants. There was a dead shark, possibly a 5-Gill, that had washed up onto Baker Beach. It looked like something had taken a big bite out of it.   MORE  ZASovers Mar 10, 2008 11:00 AM   A cloudy morning with wind from Southwest. Many logs all along the shoreline, some long and straight,like telephone poles. The sand is still out, the roots of one stump visible. Sutton Creek has curved up to Klahanee rip rap and has two separate mouths as it enters the ocean. A flock of sea gulls are sitting at the mouth of the creek facing into the wind.   MORE  LCosko Feb 26, 2008 8:30 AM   It was a perfect, sunny morning. The tide was low providing a wide beach. The waves were quiet and low. There was a slight breeze of approximately 1-2 miles per hour coming from the east. The beaches were clean. Some areas had quite a bit of scattered shell pieces. The mouth of Sutton Creek had shifted approximately 900 feet to the south since my last report, 3 months ago. I sighted my first whale spouting off of Baker Beach for this new year. Any driftwood was up near the dunes. The beach slope to the sea was virtually non-existant...it was pretty flat.   MORE  oldMGguy Jan 1, 2008 10:00 AM   Walked Mile 172, south half of Mile 173 to Sutton Creek. Due to east wind, excellent sealevel visibility - 15+ miles, no sea mist/fog, minimal surf. One seal observed in surf, lots of seagulls and sanderlings. Sutton Creek has shifted its outlet northward since last visit early December '07. Many walkers/sightseers today. Cluster of plastic bottles washed ashore at north end of Mile 172, otherwise very clean beach.   MORE  LCosko Nov 22, 2007 8:30 AM   It was Thanksgiving morning, the sun was out and the skies were clear. Starting out, the temperature was 33 degrees. By the end of the walk, the temperature had risen to 42 degrees. There was little to no wind. The tide was extremely high, as were the waves. The water went all the way up to the dunes. Sutton Creek basin was completely flooded. I was unable to cross over to Baker Beach. There were a lot of people out by Driftwood Shores Resort...mostly families watching the waves and taking pictures. There were many large logs that had been washed up on shore. I also noted quite a few dead birds, but they may have previously been scattered along the shore and just pushed up by the tide and concentrated along the dunes. There were a few birds out, but not as many as I typically see.   MORE  LCosko Nov 20, 2007 8:15 AM   It was a cool, sunny morning. There was a slight breeze of about 5-6 miles per hour. The tide was high and had washed up quite a bit of kelp and seagrass. A lot of the kelp had been washed up in large tangled clumps. There was also a greater than usual number of razor clam shells. There were relatively few people out on the beach. They were all walking on Heceta Beach. There was no-one on Baker Beach. Sutton Creek was running rapidly. It is cutting steep banks on the north side. It also is a little deeper and narrower than it was this summer. Both beaches had very little trash, at most, a few scattered plastic water bottles. The sand was clean and soft. There were about 3 newly washed up dead birds, the few others that were on the beach had been there for several days. There were three large groups of plovers feeding along the shore. Several seals/sea lions were swimming in the waves. There were relatively few gulls. I only saw one scoter among the waves.   MORE  ZASovers Nov 5, 2007 9:00 AM   The huge flock of brown pelicans was a beautiful sight. They stayed for the following day as well, but were gone by Nov. 7. On the second day they were sitting in rows on both sides of Sutton Creek. Just a few sea gulls were among them.   MORE  ZASovers Sep 9, 2007 8:00 AM   No problems observed. Sutton creek is meandering and flowing slowly into the ocean. Sea gulls are sitting at the mouth of the creek.   MORE  Earl and Donna Aug 31, 2007 10:00 AM   Very low tide. Sutton Creek running very slowly without the usual number of gulls at the mouth. More people just walking the beach.   MORE  The Grays Jun 18, 2007 9:30 AM   Moderate use of this popular beach near a Lane County park: 11 people and 6 dogs.   MORE  ZASovers Jun 12, 2007 3:00 PM   Some erosion at the bend of Sutton Creek. Half of a live bush is on top of the bluff and the other half is sliding down same bluff.   MORE  ZASovers Mar 27, 2007 4:00 AM   There is a continual erosion of the sandy bluffs at Sutton Creek with trees falling down at the point where the rip-rap ends. This day there was only one dead puffin on the beach.   MORE  EarlandDonna Feb 9, 2007 10:00 AM   Light human impact: 9 people, 4 dogs. Sutton Creek running at moderate speed and moved even farther north.   MORE  EarlandDonna Nov 16, 2006 3:00 PM   House being built south of Sutton Creek.    MORE    House being built south of Sutton Creek