I was in the right place at the right time last evening to view an amazing object. Sometime late Monday or early Tuesday an extreme tide at Agate Beach, Newport, Oregon, deposited this derelict dock, made mostly of cement and metal. When my friends (all members of the Nature Printing Society) and I walked the beach last evening (Wednesday, June 6) , all we knew was what had been reported: it was made in Japan, it could have come from anywhere on the Pacific, and it tested negative for radioactivity. Today's Oregonian reported that, as suspected, it is debris from last year's tsunami. Click here to read the Oregonian's report.
What we saw was amazing. Many different species of animals and seaweed covered the sides. It was fascinating to see the clear evidence of the intertidal zones, and the activity of the creatures. One of the most prevalent species was the Gooseneck Barnacle. Even though the tide was very low and the entire structure was out of the water, many of the Goosenecks had their "feelers" (actually legs) out, apparently feeding or attempting to feed. Look closely at the photo below to see that.
There are many serious issues to consider in connection with the tsunami and the multiplying tragedies that ensued. It is far from over and there is much to mourn.
I did, however, feel privileged to be present to witness this remarkable event. Everyone, scientists as well as we "civilians," are amazed that this .... ecosystem! .... traveled across the Pacific Ocean, undetected, and arrived virtually intact, organisms apparently thriving, on this continent. (As I said, at the time we didn't know that it came from Japan, but many of us were ready to make the assumption that was later confirmed.)
As luck would have it, I was with Heather Fortner, my friend and colleague from the Nature Printing Society, who is an expert in identifying, preparing, and printing seaweeds for her gyotaku artwork. Heather held several mini seminars as our group of four, along with many other curious folk, circled and examined the amazing structure.
I did, however, feel privileged to be present to witness this remarkable event. Everyone, scientists as well as we "civilians," are amazed that this .... ecosystem! .... traveled across the Pacific Ocean, undetected, and arrived virtually intact, organisms apparently thriving, on this continent. (As I said, at the time we didn't know that it came from Japan, but many of us were ready to make the assumption that was later confirmed.)
As luck would have it, I was with Heather Fortner, my friend and colleague from the Nature Printing Society, who is an expert in identifying, preparing, and printing seaweeds for her gyotaku artwork. Heather held several mini seminars as our group of four, along with many other curious folk, circled and examined the amazing structure.
After obtaining official permission from the authorities on the scene, a bit of seaweed was collected for future printing. Mine is lying out to dry for a bit on a terry cloth towel, and then I'll press it between layers of cotton fabric (paper sticks) until it is firm and dry enough to work with.
Postscript, 6:05 p.m. : I have turned on the local news just in time to see the folks from the Department of Fish and Game scraping and blowtorching the dock to remove all the organisms, which could very likely include invasive species. They're burying all the organic debris deep in the sand above the high tide/storm surge line. No decision yet what to do with the dock itself.
RSS Feed
