Our third stop of the day was at Roosevelt Beach, located at the north end of the Columbia River Littoral Cell at 3:30.  The sand layer in this area was very shallow, but thick enough to drive along the beach in a 14 passenger van.  It was questioned whether the sand deposited on this beach came from the sediment load of the Columbia River or from another source, but now answers were definite.  Slump deposits and undercutting occurring in winter and large storms were markers of this erosional coastline.  Eroded areas were evident near the cliff face where open sandy areas sat in between beachgrass and shrubby growth.  Restabilization by grasses was noted in some of these blowout areas.   Adam walking down Roosevelt Beach   Beach cliff at Roosevelt Beach   Beach cliff at Roosevelt Beach   Vegetation near the cliff and on top of the cliff all grew inland due to strong winds moving inland off of the ocean.  Vegetation on top of the cliff near the edge suffered from further stressors.  These plants  were dead due to salt spray and root exposure.  Homes built along the eroding cliff edge were another example of human ignorance in regards to urban planning and natural erosion processes.

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Website created by Beth Guse, Megan Erickson, and Tracey Gilbert

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Geog 401

2003